Professional doctorate: clinical research training fellowship

Any nationality, including applicants currently outside the UK. An eligible UK host is required, with UK professional registration by the award start and plans for clinical activity in the UK during or after the fellowship.

Clinically active healthcare professionals seeking a PhD/MD or comparable research degree, hosted by a UKRI-eligible UK research organisation. Applicants of any nationality may apply, including from outside the UK, but must hold the relevant UK statutory professional registration or have plans to obtain it by the award start, and plan to remain clinically active in the UK during or after the award. An existing PhD holder seeking research-skills reacquisition must use the separate capacity-building call. Applicants must own their proposed project, demonstrate a clinical academic career plan and fit the training career stage, have host support and a suitable host-department supervisor, and request at least 24 months' full-time-equivalent PhD funding. PhD registration is not needed at application; significantly more than one year already spent on a PhD requires exceptional consideration and advance MRC contact. Doctors/dentists normally should be in specialty training with MRCP or equivalent exams completed and a deanery-supported completion plan; earlier or later applicants must justify their timing and should discuss it with MRC. GPs normally qualify up to three years after qualification. Veterinarians must be registered RCVS members and propose research relevant to human health. Clinical psychologists need a BPS-accredited professional doctorate before the fellowship starts. Other healthcare professionals, including nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, must have completed professional training and hold a research master's or equivalent research-oriented postgraduate qualification. Only one UKRI fellowship application of the same type may be under consideration. Applicants who applied for an MRC fellowship within the last year, or twice before, are normally ineligible; reapplication within one year needs programme-manager permission. A UK host is mandatory. Part-time awards can accommodate personal commitments; specified non-medical professionals and GPs may request part-time clinical work arrangements, but medically qualified applicants cannot use part-time awards to continue higher specialist training. The expected award start is October 2027–January 2028; other dates require prior MRC discussion.

1. Use the UKRI Funding Service application linked from the official call. The host organisation must be registered; this call does not use Je-S. Confirm your role as the fellow and complete the call's questions and required uploads with your supervisors and research office.
2. Send the completed application to your research office for checking and submission. Only the lead research organisation can submit to UKRI. Follow its internal deadlines and enter justified costs in the required exceptions category.
3. MRC must receive the application by 13 January 2027 at 4:00 p.m. UK time. Applications cannot be submitted after the deadline or amended after submission. Consult the linked MRC fellowship handbook, host-eligibility guidance and complete call requirements before starting.