Health and Care Research Wales Doctoral Fellowship

The Health and Care Research Wales Doctoral Fellowship Award is open for applications, providing funding to support individuals pursuing a PhD in health, social care, or public health research in Wales. This opportunity aims to build research capacity by funding salary costs, tuition fees, and project expenses. Applications close on 7 January 2027, at 13:00.

Opportunity at a Glance:

- Provider: Health and Care Research Wales

- Opportunity Type: Doctoral Fellowship

- Funding Amount: Up to £300,000

- Eligible Applicants: Pre-doctoral researchers in Welsh Higher Education Institutions or NHS/social care organizations

- Eligible Countries: Wales

- Deadline: 7 January 2027, 13:00

- Project Duration: Up to 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time

About the Opportunity

The Doctoral Fellowship Award supports the completion of a PhD by enabling researchers to undertake projects in translational, clinical, or public health disciplines that benefit public health, policy, and social care services in Wales. It aims to develop research skills and build capacity in the health and social care sectors.

Funding and Benefits:

- Financial Support: Covers salary costs (excluding overheads), PhD tuition fees, and research project expenses.

- Project Duration: 3 years full-time or 4-6 years part-time.

- Funding Limit: Up to £300,000 per award.

Who Is Eligible?:

- Applicants must be employed by a Welsh institution or organization. - Must be supported by a PhD supervisor and ready to start by 1 October 2027. - Must not have been registered for a PhD for more than 12 months full-time equivalent. - Proposals must focus on research benefiting Wales. - Projects must align with Welsh Government priorities.

Eligible Activities or Priority Areas:

- Research should address health, public health, or social care needs. - Projects must have potential for practical application and policy relevance. - Involvement of public partners in developing research questions is required.

Why This Opportunity Matters:

This fellowship provides valuable resources for researchers to contribute to health and social care improvements in Wales. It supports innovative research that aligns with national priorities, fostering advancements in public health policies and practice.

How to Apply:

- Prepare Application: Complete the application form using the Wales Research Awards Management System.

- Submit Documents: Include project proposals, costings, and training/development plans.

- Deadline: Ensure submission by 13:00 on 7 January 2027.

- Confirmation: Ensure all required signatures are obtained before submission.

Application Tips or Common Mistakes:

- Ensure proposals are aligned with Welsh Government priorities. - Clearly demonstrate public and service user relevance. - Provide detailed and justified project costings.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the funding limit per award? The funding limit is up to £300,000 per award. Who can apply for this fellowship? Pre-doctoral researchers employed at Welsh Higher Education Institutions or NHS/social care organizations. When is the application deadline?

Applications must be submitted by 13: 00 on 7 January 2027.

What areas does the research need to focus on? Research should focus on health, public health, or social care disciplines that benefit Wales. How long is the fellowship period? The fellowship can last up to 3 years full-time or up to 6 years part-time.

Next Steps:

Interested applicants should carefully review the official guidelines and prepare their application in line with specified requirements. Ensure all documents are complete and submitted via the Wales Research Awards Management System by the deadline. For further details, consult the Health and Care Research Wales website.