Professional Doctorate Clinical

Application Effort: Application requires completion of detailed sections including research proposal, career development plan, supervisor statements and cost justification.

Application Platform: UKRI Funding Service. Applications cannot be submitted through the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

Assessment Process: Applications are checked for eligibility and scope, reviewed by independent experts, shortlisted applications proceed to interview, and final funding decisions are made by MRC.

Decision Risks: Applications may be rejected if eligibility or scope requirements are not met or if required information is missing.

Decision Timeline: The assessment process aims to be completed within approximately eight months after submission.

Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be a registered healthcare professional, be at an appropriate stage in training to undertake a PhD, demonstrate ownership of their research project and plans to pursue a clinical academic research career, request a minimum of 24 months full-time equivalent funding, have the support of an eligible research organisation, and intend to be clinically active in the UK during or after the award.

Eligible Expenses: Salary appropriate to training level; tuition fees at standard home student rate or supervisors’ time; up to £25,000 per year for consumables, equipment and travel; additional specific costs such as training placements or certain research-related costs when justified.

Eligible Scope: Research projects across the MRC remit to improve human health, ranging from basic research to translational and clinical research.

Funding Intensity: 100% of justified costs funded by MRC.

Funding Rate: 100% of justified costs funded.

Important Notes: Applications are open to applicants of any nationality but must be hosted by an eligible UK research organisation. Fellowship awards may be held part-time in certain circumstances.

Ineligible Applicants: Applicants are not eligible if they applied for an MRC fellowship within the last year or twice before, if another UKRI fellowship application of the same type is currently under assessment, or if the fellowship will not be based at an eligible UK organisation.

Interview Stage: Yes. Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview.

Key Requirements: Applicants must explain why a fellowship is the best route for their research career and demonstrate appropriate skills, experience and supervision arrangements.

Match Funding Requirement: No requirement for institutional matched funding.

Project Duration: Usually three years and never less than two years. Up to four years may be requested for certain patient-oriented projects.

Project Start Date: Expected start between February 2027 and May 2027.

Publication Date: 2026-01-15 00:00:00

Renewal Rules: Applicants may only apply twice for any MRC fellowship scheme.

Required Application Documents: Research proposal sections; supervisor statements; host organisation support statement; project partner letters if applicable; data management plan; ethics information; cost justification.

Research Category: Clinical research training fellowship supporting doctoral research.

Total Fund Available: Not specified in the document.