Wellcome Trust (Wellcome) is a major UK-based global charitable foundation that funds research to improve human health and wellbeing. It invests heavily (planning around £16 billion from 2022–2032) across discovery research, climate and health, infectious disease, and mental health.

It does not primarily run traditional “scholarships” for general study. Instead, it supports researchers through structured schemes, PhD programmes, fellowships, and targeted studentships. Individual PhD studentships or Master’s fees are generally not funded unless part of a specific opportunity.

Key Current/Relevant Opportunities

Undergraduate level

  • Biomedical Vacation Scholarships: 6–8 week paid summer research placements for undergraduates (mainly middle years of a relevant degree) at UK/Republic of Ireland universities. Focus on hands-on biomedical research experience, with priority for underrepresented groups. Provides a stipend at the real Living Wage plus limited support for travel/accommodation and project costs. Students apply directly to participating universities (not centrally to Wellcome). Deadlines are typically in early 2026 for summer 2026 placements (e.g., late February at some institutions).

PhD / Doctoral level

  • PhD Fellowships for Health Professionals (via funded programmes): For registered health professionals (doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, dentists, etc.) seeking research training. These are offered through university-led programmes across the UK. Funding typically covers a clinical-scale salary, home-rate PhD fees, research costs, and related expenses (usually ~3 years full-time equivalent; part-time possible). Apply directly to the individual programmes, not Wellcome. New large-scale investment (£155 million) is supporting multiple doctoral programmes for healthcare professionals, with first intakes around autumn 2027 in some cases.
  • Older Four-year PhD Studentships in Science programmes have largely closed to new applications.
  • Some partner or institution-specific awards (e.g., certain Cambridge Trust or programme-linked studentships) still exist in connection with Wellcome-funded research.

Early- to mid-career research funding (fellowships rather than traditional scholarships)
These are the main open competitive routes and have moved (or are moving) toward more flexible/rolling applications:

  • Wellcome Early-Career Awards: For researchers ready to develop an independent research identity (typically after PhD or equivalent experience, usually limited postdoctoral years with adjustments possible). Covers the applicant’s salary + up to £400,000 research expenses, usually for up to 5 years. Open to applicants based at eligible organisations in the UK, Republic of Ireland, and certain low- and middle-income countries (eligibility details and geographic scope have been refined).
  • Wellcome Career Development Awards: For mid-career researchers with potential to become international leaders. Longer duration (around 8 years), covering salary + research costs (typically under ~£250k per year excluding salary).
  • Wellcome Discovery Awards: For established researchers and teams pursuing bold ideas.

Applications are submitted via the Wellcome Funding Platform. Success rates for early-career schemes have been in the mid-teens percent range in recent cycles.

      Field(s) of Study:

  • Public Health
  • Tropical Medicine

Level(s) of Study:

Master’s Degree

How to Find and Apply

  • Official starting point: wellcome.org/research-funding or the schemes page at wellcome.org/grant-funding/schemes.
  • Check individual university/programme pages for PhD and vacation scholarship details, as recruitment is decentralised.
  • Eligibility, exact deadlines, and geographic rules can change; always verify on the official site.
  • Wellcome emphasises inclusive research culture, diversity, and support for underrepresented groups in many schemes.

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