Apply Now: Doctoral Programmes for Healthcare Professionals (UK and Ireland)

Deadline: 10-Feb-2026

The Wellcome is accepting applications to fund Doctoral Programmes for Healthcare Professionals registered in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

The aim of this call is to support doctoral programmes that will train the next generation of healthcare professional academics in world-leading research environments across the UK and Republic of Ireland, and retain these talented researchers in the dual career pipeline. They welcome applications from teams who propose to host and administer such a programme at their institution(s) over multiple intakes of fellows.

The exact amount awarded will depend on the size and scope of the programme proposed. They expect to fund approximately 12 programmes with an average award value of £12 million.

Funding will support five intakes of three to five fellows per programme, with each fellowship lasting three years. Wellcome will cover PhD/DPhil registration fees at the home student rate, college fees, fellows’ salaries, and fixed contributions toward research expenses, training, travel, career progression activities, recruitment, and overseas allowances. Administrative costs and salaries for programme directors or supervisors will not be funded.

Applications can be made to renew an existing programme or secure funding for a new one, and must come from a team of established researchers with a lead Director and up to seven co-directors forming the leadership team. The applicants must demonstrate extensive experience in providing doctoral-level research training to healthcare professionals and an understanding of their specific training needs.

The team must include the expertise, technical skills, and organisational support necessary to deliver the proposed programme while fostering a diverse, inclusive, and supportive research environment.

The lead applicant should have a permanent, open-ended, or long-term rolling contract at an eligible host organisation in the UK and be recognised as a research leader with a strong track record in training and shaping positive research culture.

Coapplicants must meet similar criteria and make significant contributions to the design and delivery of the programme. Collaborators can also be involved to share expertise, provide mentoring, placements, or matched funding, though they are not paid or required to meet eligibility requirements.

Administering organisations must be based in the UK, able to sign up to Wellcome’s grant conditions, and may include higher education institutions, research institutes, healthcare organisations, or not-for-profit research bodies. Non-degree awarding organisations must apply as part of a consortium with degree-awarding partners. Each organisation can administer only one single-institution programme and one consortium programme.

Doctoral programme proposals must fit within Wellcome’s Discovery Research remit, include plans for recruiting diverse applicants, and provide specific career progression support for fellows. Programmes should be open to all healthcare professionals registered in the UK or Republic of Ireland, unless designed for a particular professional group.

The proposed programme may have a disciplinary or interdisciplinary focus, include collaborations with industry or global partners, and be hosted across multiple organisations or at a single institution.

Applications will be assessed on three main criteria: the quality and vision of the training programme, the team’s skills and experience and programme management plans. Reviewers will evaluate the strategic case for the programme, integration with clinical practice, training quality, approach to equality, diversity and inclusion, recruitment strategies, and institutional support.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview, where the lead applicant and up to two coapplicants will present their proposal to an external committee. Final funding decisions will be made by Wellcome, with notifications expected in Summer 2026.

The deadline for applications is 10 February 2026.

For more information, visit Wellcome.