Eligible professions
You can apply if you’re a registered healthcare professional. This includes, but is not limited to:
- nurses
- midwives
- allied health professionals
- healthcare scientists
- pharmacists
- clinical psychologists
- doctors
- dentists
- general practitioners.
We also invite veterinarians to apply if they have equivalent qualifications, providing their proposed project is relevant to human health.
Types of funding available
We welcome both predoctoral and postdoctoral applicants.
Predoctoral applicants
The aim of this scheme is to support clinically active healthcare professionals to undertake a higher research degree, such as a PhD or MD.
You must:
- be able to demonstrate ownership of your project and your ambition to follow a clinical academic career
- be at an appropriate point in your clinical training to study for a PhD, with clear plans for completing your specialty training
- show you would be no more than one year into your PhD course when starting your fellowship award
- have the support of an eligible research organisation.
You do not need to have registered for a PhD at the time of your fellowship application.
If you have spent more than one year on the course, you must explain within your proposal why you are a suitable candidate. If you have spent significantly more time than one year on your PhD course, we will consider your application only in exceptional circumstances.
You do not need to have held a position which includes formal research time, for example an academic foundation or an academic clinical fellowship.
If you are clinically qualified, we will expect you to be undertaking your specialty training and have completed your membership of the Royal College of Physicians’ exams or equivalent. You should consult your deanery about studying for a PhD and your plans for completing specialty training before you apply for a clinical research training fellowship.
If you are a veterinarian, you may apply if you are a registered vet and a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
If you are a clinical psychologist, you must have a professional doctorate-level qualification in clinical psychology that is accredited by the British Psychological Society before starting the fellowship.
If you are a non-medical healthcare professional (such as a nurse, midwife or allied health professional), you must have completed your professional training and hold a research master’s degree or equivalent postgraduate research-oriented qualification.
Postdoctoral applicants
The aim of this scheme is to offer applicants who already have a PhD, but have not been active in research since, an opportunity to progress to a clinical scientist fellowship level by undertaking a new research project.
You can apply if you:
- have received a PhD or equivalent, usually five or more years ago
- are at a similar career stage to predoctoral applicants and undertaking your specialty training
- have not undertaken substantial periods of academic research since your PhD (we may also consider your application if you have a National Institute for Health Research academic clinical fellowship or similar since your PhD)
- have the support of an eligible research organisation.
If you have completed your PhD within the last few years and are not eligible to apply for a clinical research training fellowship, you should consider the clinician scientist fellowship.
We will take into account any career breaks, flexible working and changes in discipline when assessing your research experience and current track record. Read our guidance on career breaks and flexible working (PDF, 41KB).
You do not need to have a specific period of postdoctoral experience.
You can find out more in our guidance for fellowship applicants. Our frequently asked questions page also has further details on eligibility.
If you’re not sure if you’re eligible, email us before beginning your application: fellows@mrc.ukri.org.
Global Talent visa
Clinician research training fellowship holders are eligible for a Global Talent visa under the ‘exceptional promise’ category for future research leaders.
Find out about the Global Talent visa.