The scheme historically supported practising health professionals who wanted to undertake health-related humanities or social science research, including:
- PhD-level research
- Postdoctoral research
- Research into health, disease, society and wellbeing
However, applicants should be aware of one critical point:
this fellowship scheme is closed.
Wellcome states that the programme closed in 2021 and that the final application rounds have already passed.
The scheme should therefore be treated as a historical funding programme, not as an open 2026 opportunity.
Wellcome Research Fellowships Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | Wellcome |
| Scheme | Research Fellowships for Health Professionals |
| Status | Closed |
| Closing Year | 2021 |
| Target Group | Practising health professionals with research experience |
| Research Area | Humanities or social science research in health |
| Career Stage | Postgraduate training and postdoctoral research |
| Funding Duration | Up to 3 years |
| Funding Amount | Usually up to £400,000 |
| Salary | Covered |
| Research Expenses | Covered |
| PhD Fees | Covered where applicable |
| Visa Costs | Potentially covered under eligible circumstances |
| Host Locations | UK, Republic of Ireland or eligible low- and middle-income countries |
| Application Route | Wellcome Trust Grant Tracker |
| Current Applications | Closed |
What Was the Wellcome Research Fellowship for Health Professionals?
The scheme was designed for practising health professionals who wanted to carry out research using:
- Humanities methods
- Social science methods
in any area connected to health.
Wellcome stated that the programme aimed to improve understanding of:
- Health
- Disease
- Wellbeing
- Social influences on health
- Political influences on health
- Cultural understandings of illness
- Modern biomedicine
The fellowship could support either PhD-level training or postdoctoral research.
Who Could Apply?
Applicants needed to be:
practising health professionals
with some research experience.
They also needed to propose a research project focused on improving understanding of health and disease through humanities or social science approaches.
PhD Route
Applicants seeking PhD support needed:
- A relevant master’s degree or equivalent research experience
- An offer of a place on a PhD programme, or evidence that an offer was expected
- An eligible host organization
The host organization needed to be located in:
- The United Kingdom
- Republic of Ireland
- An eligible low- or middle-income country
with mainland China excluded.
Postdoctoral Route
For postdoctoral research, applicants needed:
- A relevant PhD or equivalent research experience
- Sponsorship from an eligible host organization
The same general host-country framework applied.
What Research Topics Were Eligible?
Wellcome listed examples such as:
- How social structures affect health
- How environmental structures affect health
- How political structures affect health
- How governments respond to disease
- How communities respond to disease
- How individuals pursue wellbeing
- Cultural meanings of health and sickness
- Challenges of modern biomedicine
The programme was broad within humanities and social science approaches to health.
Could the Research Be Applied?
Yes, but only to a degree.
Wellcome stated that proposed research could include applied elements, but applied research should not be the main focus.
For example, the scheme was unlikely to fund a project primarily focused on:
developing an intervention.
How Applications Were Assessed
Wellcome assessed several areas.
These included:
- Significance of the proposed research
- Originality
- Suitability of the research approach
- Relevance of the methodology
- Applicant track record
- Publications
- Conference papers
- Public engagement
- Policy-related work
- Suitability of the host organization
Who Could Not Apply?
Applicants were not eligible if they:
- Held a permanent academic post
- Had already received support for doctoral studies from another funding body
The scheme also prohibited grant funds from being transferred into mainland China.
Host Organization Requirements
Applicants needed a strong institutional support structure.
This included:
- A sponsor with an established post
- Supervisors or mentors with strong research records
- Appropriate research space
- Access to required resources
- Ongoing research guidance
Opportunities Feed Analysis
This was important because Wellcome was not only funding a project.
It was also investing in the applicant’s development as an independent researcher.
How Much Funding Was Available?
The scheme stated that an award would not usually be above:
£400,000.
Funding could last up to:
three years.
The exact award depended on:
- Salary
- Research costs
- Training costs
- Host circumstances
- Project needs
Was Salary Covered?
Yes.
Wellcome stated that it would fund the total cost of the fellow’s salary for the grant period.
The salary was determined by the host organization and could include:
- Basic salary
- Employer contributions
- Pension costs
- Incremental progression
- Locally recognized allowances such as London allowance
Were Research Expenses Covered?
Yes.
Eligible research expenses could include a wide range of costs.
Examples included:
- Research staff
- Materials
- Consumables
- Equipment
- Shared facility access
- Travel
- Subsistence
- Fieldwork
- Data collection
- Statistical analysis
- Specialist publications
- Public engagement materials
Was Computer Equipment Covered?
Yes.
The scheme allowed funding for:
one computer or laptop per person up to £1,500.
Were Visa Costs Covered?
Potentially, yes.
If Wellcome was funding the fellow’s salary, applicants could request support for:
- Visa costs
- Work permit costs
- Visa costs for a partner
- Visa costs for dependent children
- Immigration Health Surcharge
- Essential visa-application travel expenses
Was Relocation Support Available?
Yes, under certain circumstances.
Applicants who needed to move to take up the fellowship could request:
£1,000
toward personal removal expenses, subject to justification.
Were Travel Costs Covered?
Yes.
Eligible travel support could include:
- Conferences
- Research travel
- Fieldwork
- Archive visits
- Collaborative visits
- Overseas research
Conference attendance support could reach up to:
£2,000 per year.
Were Caring Costs Covered?
Potentially.
Applicants could request up to:
£1,000 per person per conference
for additional caring responsibilities, where the conditions were met.
Overseas Research Support
The fellowship could also cover additional costs for researchers working outside their host country.
Potential support included:
- Travel
- Freight
- Medical insurance
- Travel insurance
- Visas
- Vaccinations
- Accommodation
- Subsistence
- Housing security
- Family-related allowances
Medical and Travel Insurance
Wellcome stated that it would cover:
- Medical insurance
- Travel insurance
for eligible overseas research arrangements.
Emergency evacuation cover could also be included for researchers working in low- and middle-income countries.
Accommodation Support
Depending on the duration of overseas work, support could include:
- Short-term accommodation
- Rental costs
- Long-term housing
For some researchers from low- and middle-income countries working in high-income countries for more than one month and up to twelve months, support of up to:
£10 per day
could also be requested for additional costs such as transport and incidentals.
Support for Partners and Dependants
For longer overseas placements, Wellcome could provide certain allowances for partners and dependants.
These could include:
- Travel
- Shipping
- Education
- Housing-related support
- Annual leave travel
The exact eligibility depended on duration and personal circumstances.
Education Support for Children
Under certain long-term overseas arrangements, the scheme could fund:
- Nursery fees
- School fees
- International school fees
- Boarding school fees
Boarding school support could reach up to:
£30,000 per year per child
for eligible published term fees.
PhD Funding Benefits
For applicants pursuing a PhD, Wellcome stated that support could include:
- Salary
- PhD registration fees
- Research expenses
- General training costs
Global Talent Visa Support
For eligible postdoctoral fellows from outside the UK who were hosted in the UK, Wellcome stated that successful award holders were guaranteed endorsement for a:
Global Talent visa
application.
How Long Did the Fellowship Last?
The scheme provided funding for:
up to three years.
Awards could also be held part-time over a longer period.
Application Process
Applications were submitted through the:
Wellcome Trust Grant Tracker.
The process included several stages.
Stage 1 — Preliminary Application
Applicants first submitted a preliminary application.
Wellcome assessed:
- Eligibility
- Suitability
- Competitiveness
Successful candidates were then invited to submit a full application.
Stage 2 — Full Application
Applicants who passed the preliminary stage completed a full application.
The application then needed approval from the authorized organizational approver at the host institution.
Stage 3 — Review and Shortlisting
Expert review groups assessed applications according to the proposed research area.
Successful applicants progressed to the next stage.
Stage 4 — External Peer Review
Wellcome sought written comments from external experts.
Applicants could receive unattributed reviewer comments before final assessment.
Stage 5 — Funding Decision
Final shortlisted candidates were assessed before funding decisions were made.
The historical page notes that some interview procedures changed during Covid-19.
Final Application Dates
The final round of the scheme took place in:
2021.
Key dates included:
- Preliminary deadline: 16 June 2021
- Full application deadline: 24 August 2021
- Shortlisting: November 2021
- Interviews: January 2022
Is the Fellowship Open in 2026?
No.
The scheme is explicitly labelled:
Closed.
The page states that the fellowship closed in 2021.
Applicants should not prepare a 2026 application for this specific scheme.
Why Is the Old Page Still Useful?
Opportunities Feed Analysis
Although the programme is closed, the page remains useful for understanding the level and type of research Wellcome historically supported.
It also shows how a major funder structured support around:
- Salary
- Research costs
- Visa support
- International research
- Family-related expenses
- Career development
Researchers can use this information to understand Wellcome’s historical approach while searching for newer schemes.
What Should Applicants Do Instead?
The source itself directs researchers to:
- Wellcome postgraduate training opportunities
- Wellcome postdoctoral research schemes
- Wellcome’s funding scheme finder
Opportunities Feed Guidance
Researchers interested in current opportunities should focus on Wellcome’s active funding schemes rather than this closed programme.
Current Wellcome Priority Areas
The Wellcome website identifies current strategic priorities including:
- Climate and Health
- Infectious Disease
- Mental Health
- Discovery Research
Researchers looking for newer opportunities may find stronger alignment by exploring funding connected to these areas.
Who Would Have Been a Strong Candidate?
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The scheme was particularly suitable for health professionals who:
- Had genuine research experience
- Wanted to move into academic research
- Had a strong humanities or social science question
- Had institutional support
- Had clear career-development goals
- Could demonstrate originality and research potential
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Researchers should avoid:
- Treating this scheme as open in 2026
- Using the 2021 deadlines as current deadlines
- Assuming old application forms are still valid
- Calling the fellowship a current Wellcome programme
- Assuming £400,000 is available through a current equivalent
- Applying through the old scheme without checking current Wellcome guidance
- Presenting historical benefits as guaranteed under newer programmes
How Competitive Was the Fellowship?
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The programme included:
- Preliminary screening
- Full applications
- Expert review
- Peer review
- Final assessment
This indicates a selective process.
However, the source does not provide:
- Applicant numbers
- Acceptance rates
- Success percentages
No numerical competitiveness estimate should therefore be invented.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Wellcome Research Fellowship for Health Professionals?
It was a research fellowship for practising health professionals pursuing humanities or social science research related to health.
Is the fellowship still open?
No.
When did it close?
The scheme closed in 2021.
How long did funding last?
Up to three years.
How much funding was available?
Awards would not usually exceed £400,000.
Was salary covered?
Yes.
Were research expenses covered?
Yes.
Could the fellowship fund a PhD?
Yes.
Were PhD fees covered?
Yes, under the PhD route.
Could postdoctoral researchers apply?
Yes, if they met the eligibility rules.
Were visa costs covered?
Potentially, where eligible.
Was relocation support available?
Yes, up to £1,000 in justified circumstances.
Were conference costs covered?
Yes, with support of up to £2,000 per year.
Was family support available?
In some overseas-research circumstances, yes.
Were travel and insurance covered?
Certain overseas travel, medical insurance and travel insurance costs could be supported.
Could applicants from low- and middle-income countries apply?
Yes, subject to the host and eligibility requirements.
Could permanent academics apply?
No.
Could researchers apply in 2026?
No. The scheme is closed.
Opportunities Feed Verdict
The Wellcome Research Fellowships for Health Professionals represented a substantial funding opportunity for practising health professionals moving into humanities or social science research.
Historically, the programme could provide:
- Salary
- Research expenses
- PhD registration costs
- Travel funding
- Visa support
- Overseas allowances
- Family-related support
with awards lasting up to three years and usually not exceeding £400,000.
However, the most important fact for readers in 2026 is that:
this scheme is closed.
The final funding round ended in 2021, and the page should not be presented as a current fellowship opportunity.
For current applicants, the best use of this page is as a historical reference showing the scale and structure of Wellcome support.
Researchers looking for live opportunities should instead explore Wellcome’s active funding portfolio and current priorities in:
- Climate and Health
- Infectious Disease
- Mental Health
- Discovery Research
The opportunity is therefore valuable as a research-funding reference, but not as an active application call.
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