Wellcome Early-Career Awards 2023

This scheme provides funding for early-career researchers from any discipline who are ready to develop their research identity. Through innovative projects, they will deliver shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing. By the end of the award, they will be ready to lead their own independent research programme. 

• Table of Content
• About Wellcome
• Wellcome Postgraduate Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of Wellcome Postgraduate Scholarship
• Requirements for Wellcome Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Wellcome

Wellcome exists to improve health by helping great ideas to thrive. They support researchers, we take on big health challenges, we campaign for better science, and we help everyone get involved with science and health research. Wellcome is a politically and financially independent foundation. Their founder, Sir Henry Wellcome, was a medical entrepreneur, collector and philanthropist. How they work today reflects the breadth of his interests, and his conviction that health can be improved when research generates, tests and investigates new ideas. Their governance is based on an updated version ... continue reading

Wellcome Postgraduate Scholarship

• Category Postgraduate
• SponsorWellcome
• City to study -
• School to study -
• Course to study Not specified
• Application Deadline October 5, 2023

Aim and Benefits of Wellcome Postgraduate Scholarship

A Wellcome Early-Career Award provides a salary for the grant holder and up to £400,000 for research expenses.

Requirements for Wellcome Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification

• Applicants must be early-career researchers and they are ready to design, plan and deliver their own innovative research project that aims to advance understanding in their field and/or develop methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research.
• Candidates should build a collaborative network with other researchers in their field to develop their people management skills.
• Candidates should advance their understanding of how to complete research responsibly and promote a positive and inclusive culture.
• At the point of submitting an application, candidates must have completed a substantive period of research training relevant to their discipline.
• Researchers should be able to demonstrate a good understanding of research methodology and evidence of project delivery and analysis.

Application Deadline

October 5, 2023

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Wellcome on login-funding.wellcome.org to apply

Stages of application

1. Before you apply

   Make sure you read everything on this page.

   You may also want to watch a recording of a webinar that took place on Monday 12 April 2021.

   Get some tips to help you write your grant application.

   You do not need to contact us before you write and submit your application.

2. Submit your application to your host organisation for approval

   Complete your application form on Wellcome Funding.

   View the sample full application form for Wellcome Early-Career Awards [PDF 1.9MB].

   Submit it to the 'authorised organisational approver' at your host organisation for approval. Make sure you leave enough time for the approver to review and submit your application before the deadline. The approver may ask you to make changes to your application.

3. Host organisation reviews your application and submits it to us

   Your application must be submitted by 17:00 (GMT/BST) on the deadline day. Check with your research office if the industrial action announced at UK universities will affect their approval of your application. We are unable to offer deadline extensions in relation to this action, so you should agree when you’ll need to submit your application for them to approve it by the deadline. Watch a recording of a webinar demonstrating the new Wellcome Funding Platform from Thursday, 4 May 2023.

4. Shortlisting

5. We will check your eligibility for the scheme and that your application demonstrates how you will meet the aims of the scheme. If your application is ineligible or does not demonstrate how you will meet the aims of the scheme, we will withdraw your application and contact you to explain why.

   One of the following Early-Career Advisory Groups will review your application, depending on your area of research:

   • Molecular, Cellular and Physiological Sciences
   • Brain and Behavioural Sciences
   • Infection and Immunobiology
   • Population and Public Health 
   • Medical Humanities
   • Social Sciences.

   If shortlisted, we will invite you for interview.

6. Written expert review

   We'll seek external written expert review on shortlisted applications. Only the proposed research will be reviewed.

   Reviewers will be chosen based on their expertise within the relevant research field and not on their level of seniority.

   Unattributed comments will be sent to you before your interview.

7. Interviews

   The Early-Career Interview Committee will interview shortlisted candidates at the Wellcome offices in London. Accessibility requirements will be accommodated. Those who cannot attend in person can participate remotely.

   We will provide information on the structure of the interview, layout of the room, and interview committee membership.

   Shortly before the day of the interview, you will need to provide us with your presentation slides. You will be asked to give a presentation at the start of your interview.

   The focus of the interview will be on questions and answers. The committee will assess across a set of criteria rather than one specific aspect of the proposal.

8. Funding decision

   Final funding decisions will be made by the Discovery Research Decision Board.

   You will receive an email notification of the funding decision soon after the decision has been made.

9. Feedback

   Written feedback will be provided to all unsuccessful applicants at each decision point, including the reasons for a decision.

Disabled applicants

If you are disabled or have a long-term health condition, we can support you with the application process.

Start your application