MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship (Capacity Building)

About this opportunity

This Medical Research Council fellowship is for qualified healthcare professionals who completed a PhD some years ago — usually five or more — but have not done substantial research since, and who now want to return to research as part of a clinical academic career. It covers your salary and project costs for three years; MRC pays 80% of the full economic cost.

The research can be in any area of MRC's remit, from basic studies of disease mechanisms through to translational and clinical research. Nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacists, clinical psychologists, doctors, dentists, GPs and veterinarians can all apply, provided they meet the professional requirements for their group.

Applicants of any nationality are welcome, including people not currently in the UK, but the fellowship must be hosted by an eligible UK research organisation, and you need registration with the relevant UK regulatory body (or firm plans to have it by the start date). You must also intend to be clinically active in the UK during or after the award. This makes it most relevant to clinicians who are planning, or already making, a move into UK clinical academia.

Purpose & benefits

• Salary and project costs for three years.
• MRC funds 80% of the full economic cost.
• Joint funding from one of MRC's collaborating organisations is possible.
• Can be held part-time or with flexible working arrangements.

Eligibility

You must:

• be a registered healthcare professional (for example a nurse, midwife, allied health professional, healthcare scientist, pharmacist, clinical psychologist, doctor, dentist, GP or veterinarian);
• hold a PhD or equivalent, usually awarded five or more years ago, without substantial research since;
• be at an appropriate point in your clinical training, with plans to pursue a clinical academic career;
• have the support of an eligible UK research organisation that will host the fellowship;
• intend to be clinically active in the UK during or after the award.

International applicants: all nationalities are welcome, including people outside the UK, but you need registration with a UK regulatory body (such as the GMC or HCPC) or plans to have it by the award start date.

• Nationality: open to all nationalities.
• Country of residence: any country.
• Where it takes place: United Kingdom.
• Field of study or work: Any area of the Medical Research Council’s remit (human health)

Residency requirements

The fellowship must be hosted by an eligible UK research organisation, and you must intend to be clinically active in the UK during or after the award.

Required qualifications

Registered healthcare professional with a PhD or equivalent (usually five or more years ago). Doctors and dentists are expected to be in specialty training with membership exams (or equivalent) completed.

Who should consider applying

PhD-qualified clinicians and allied health professionals who stepped away from research and want to restart a research career in the UK — including professionals from Nigeria and elsewhere who are, or will be, registered and working in the UK.

Important restrictions

• You cannot apply if you have applied for an MRC fellowship within the last year, or twice before.
• Only one fellowship application of the same type can be under consideration across UK Research and Innovation at a time.
• The fellowship must be based at an eligible UK organisation.
• Veterinarians' projects must be relevant to human health.
• If you want to do a PhD rather than refresh existing research skills, MRC directs you to its Professional Doctorate fellowship instead.

How to apply

1. Confirm with an eligible UK research organisation that it will host you, and involve its research office early.
2. When the call opens (21 October 2026), select “Start application” on the official UKRI page and create an account on the UKRI Funding Service.
3. Complete the application with input from your research office, which checks and submits it to UKRI.
4. The research office must submit before 13 January 2027, 4:00pm UK time.

Preparing a strong application

• Check your eligibility early by emailing fellows@mrc.ukri.org if you are unsure — MRC invites this before you start.
• Allow time for your research office's costing and checks; it, not you, submits the application.
• If you are outside the UK, sort out UK professional registration in good time.
• Explain clearly why you need to re-acquire research skills and how the fellowship fits your clinical academic career.