Wellcome Trust’s £400,000 Fellowship for Researchers

Scholarships for International

The Wellcome Trust is offering a prestigious funding opportunity for early-career researchers from a wide range of disciplines, supporting them in developing their research identity and implementing innovative projects that contribute to advancing our understanding of life, health, and human well-being.

Fellowship Details

Funding Institution

Wellcome Trust

Type of Funding

Full funding that includes the researcher’s salary and up to £400,000 to cover research expenses.

Duration of Funding

Usually 5 years (shorter for some disciplines; may be extended for part-time study).

Key Dates

Application Deadline: 30 September 2025, 15:00 BST.
Shortlisting Stage: December 2025.
Candidate Interviews: 10–12 March 2026.

Who Can Apply?

Early-career researchers who have completed appropriate research training for their discipline.
Applicants holding a PhD or equivalent (must have passed the viva by the deadline).
Or those with at least 4 years of research experience if they don’t hold a PhD (especially in humanities and social sciences).
Postdoctoral experience must not exceed 3 years at the time of application, unless due to extenuating circumstances (e.g., part-time work, career breaks, COVID-19).
Applicants must have a solid understanding of research methodologies and show evidence of their ability to design, execute, and analyze research projects.

Who Cannot Apply?

Individuals with a fully funded permanent position for the duration of the fellowship (unless based in a low- or middle-income country).
Those who have already applied for this fellowship and are awaiting a decision.
Applicants who have received or accepted a comparable fellowship.
Applicants intending to transfer the funding to mainland China.

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What Does the Fellowship Cover?

Researcher’s salary
Up to £400,000 in research costs
Additional support includes:
- Overheads
- Travel allowances
- Accessibility support (e.g., assistive technology)
- Visa-related costs
Also covers:
- Mobility and relocation expenses
- Participation in conferences
- Materials and equipment
- Training
- Community engagement activities

Application Evaluation Criteria

1. Research Proposal (50% of evaluation)

Bold, innovative, and brings genuine knowledge advancement or significant development in research tools, methods, or concepts.
High quality, well-structured, and evidence-based.

2. Skills and Experience (25%)

Quality of previous research outputs.
Research and methodological skills.
Plan for developing leadership and management abilities.

3. Research Environment (25%)

Level of support from the host institution.
Contribution to a positive and inclusive research culture.

What Types of Research Are Funded?

Wellcome Trust places no narrow restrictions on the nature of supported research. The Discovery Research Fellowships are intended to back novel ideas that can make transformative contributions to our understanding of human life, health, and well-being.

Research topics may vary in discipline and methodology but must focus on basic/discovery research.

Examples of eligible research areas:

Fundamental biological processes that explain how life works.
Human health and disease complexity, including clinical and population-based studies.
Disease burden and risk factors that open new avenues of knowledge.
Development of methods, tools, or techniques that enhance health research.
Understanding the values and priorities of communities affected by disease or health disparities.
Social, cultural, political, and economic dimensions of health and illness.

What Types of Research Are Not Funded?

While the fellowship supports a wide range of topics, some areas are excluded, including:

Large-scale clinical trials or public health interventions intended solely to develop a treatment/product or implement it at scale.
Development of tools or technologies used directly in diagnosis or treatment unless primarily serving a health research purpose.
Research on non-human diseases that cannot be transmitted to humans or don’t serve as human disease models.
Projects focused only on resource or database creation without being part of a broader research question.

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Eligible Academic Fields:

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Clinical sciences and health-related professions
Experimental medicine
Epidemiology, Public and Population Health
Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Bioethics

Research can be conducted in labs, clinics, or field settings, whether experimental, theoretical, or observational. Interdisciplinary projects that provide creative solutions to complex challenges are especially welcome.

How to Apply?

Register on Wellcome's funding platform.
Complete the application form (a filled-out sample form is available Here for reference).
Upload the following documents:
- Letter of support from your current supervisor
- Letter from clinical training supervisor (if applicable)
- Letter from the finance officer if requesting additional costs

Note: Applications must be submitted before 15:00 BST on the deadline day. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Application Process

Eligibility check and alignment with the fellowship's goals.
Review by a subject-specific advisory committee.
External peer review by field experts.
Final interview (in London or online).
Decision by Wellcome Trust’s Board.

Additional Notes

This fellowship cannot be renewed.
If the fellow later secures a permanent contract including salary, the remaining salary portion may be reallocated to research costs.
Fellowship recipients are eligible to apply for the UK Global Talent Visa.