Professional Doctorate: Clinical Research Training Fellowship
Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) · United Kingdom. Fellowship must be based at an eligible UK research organisation. (UK Research and Innovation)
Fellowship funding to support registered healthcare professionals to undertake a PhD or equivalent higher research degree focused on improving human health within the Medical Research Council (MRC) remit. (UK Research and Innovation)
Summary
Deadline
8 Apr 2026
Updated
16 Oct 2026
Fellowship funding to support registered healthcare professionals to undertake a PhD or equivalent higher research degree focused on improving human health within the Medical Research Council (MRC) remit. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligibility
Applicant types
See eligibility requirements
Industries
Clinical research, biomedical sciences, healthcare.
Match funding
No institutional match funding required. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible applicants
Registered healthcare professionals including nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacists, clinical psychologists, doctors, dentists, general practitioners and veterinarians. Applicants must be at an appropriate point in clinical training, demonstrate ownership of the proposed research, request at least 24 months full-time equivalent funding, have support from an eligible UK research organisation and intend to remain clinically active in the UK during or after the fellowship. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding and scope
Benefit amount
No upper funding limit specified. Applicants must fully justify all requested costs. (UK Research and Innovation)
Total fund available
Not specified. (UK Research and Innovation)
Funding intensity
100% of justified project costs. (UK Research and Innovation)
Payment type
Not specified
Eligible scope
Research addressing any aspect of human health within the MRC remit, from fundamental discovery research through translational and clinical research. (UK Research and Innovation)
Eligible expenses
- Salary appropriate to training level; tuition fees at standard home student rates (or supervisor costs); up to £25,000 per year for consumables, equipment and travel; additional justified research training costs, including placements and clinical research-related costs where appropriate. (UK Research and Innovation)
Ineligible costs
Not specified
Application and risks
Application platform
UKRI Funding Service. Applications cannot be submitted through the Joint Electronic Submission (Je-S) system. (UK Research and Innovation)
Competitiveness
Not scored
Decision timeline
Assessment generally completed within eight months of the application deadline. For the April 2026 round, interviews are scheduled for 11 to 12 November 2026. (UK Research and Innovation)
Assessment process
Eligibility screening followed by independent expert peer review, applicant shortlisting, interview and final funding decision by MRC. (UK Research and Innovation)
Required documents
- Research proposal; supervisor statements; host organisation support statement; project partner letters (if applicable); data management information; ethics information; resources and cost justification. (UK Research and Innovation)
Appendices
Not specified
Assessment criteria
Not specified
Decision risks
Applications may be rejected if eligibility requirements are not met, required information is incomplete, or the proposed research falls outside the MRC remit. (UK Research and Innovation)
Timeline and partners
Opening date
15 Jan 2026
Project duration
Normally three years, with a minimum of two years. Patient-oriented research projects may request up to four years where justified. (UK Research and Innovation)
Project start
Not specified
Project end
Not specified
Additional guidance
Document research last revised 2026-08-04.
Minimum Award
Not specified.
Eligibility Criteria
Research must fall within the MRC remit, including infections and immunity, molecular and cellular medicine, population and systems medicine, neurosciences and mental health, translational research, global health, methodology and public health. (UK Research and Innovation)
Research Category
Clinical Research Training Fellowship (Professional Doctorate).
Application Format
Applicant CV; Career History; Clinical Activities and Training; Career Development Plan; Supervisor Statements; Resources and Cost Justification; Ethics and Responsible Research and Innovation; Project Partners (if applicable). (UK Research and Innovation)
Interview Stage
Yes. Shortlisted applicants are invited to interview. (UK Research and Innovation)
Key Requirements
Applicants must explain why a Professional Doctorate Fellowship is the most appropriate route, demonstrate clear research ownership, provide a strong clinical academic career development plan, identify suitable supervisors and show host organisation support. (UK Research and Innovation)
Important Notes
Applications are open to applicants of any nationality but must be hosted by an eligible UK research organisation. Fellowships may be held part-time where appropriate. The Pre-doctoral Clinical Research Training Fellowship has been replaced by this Professional Doctorate Clinical Research Training Fellowship. Future application rounds are offered throughout the year according to the published MRC fellowship timetable. (UK Research and Innovation)
Application deadline in source document
8 April 2026, 4:00 PM UK time. (UK Research and Innovation)
Official source
Quick facts
- Status
- Closed
- Deadline
- 8 Apr 2026
- Funding amount
- No upper funding limit specified. Applicants must fully justify all requested costs. (UK Research and Innovation)
- Funding band
- Not specified
- Funding type
- Fellowship
- Payment type
- Not specified
- Audience
- See eligibility requirements
- Industry
- Clinical research, biomedical sciences, healthcare.
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Published
- 15 Jan 2026