NIHR Doctoral Award 2026

A 3-year doctoral fellowship that funds early career health and social care professionals to complete a PhD by research. The program supports research across any scientific discipline that contributes to improving health, public health, and social care. You'll receive full salary funding, research costs, conference support up to £3,000, training and development funding, community engagement costs, and up to £1,000 for equipment. This is designed for career development in health research.

• Must have prior research experience or training to prepare for a PhD and not already hold a PhD by research. Must propose substantive employment with a recognised higher education institution (HEI), NHS body, local authority, or other publicly or third-sector funded health or social care provider in England. If applying to the Addictions Healthcare Goals Programme partnership award, must have an equivalent UK-wide contracting organisation in the devolved nations. If planning to undertake clinical/practice time as part of your award, or if your host organisation is not a HEI, a partner organisation must be listed in the application. If already registered for a PhD, must not have been enrolled for more than 12 months full-time by the award start date. Proposed research must be within NIHR remit for personal career development awards. No longer requires 1st class or 2:1 degree - PhD institution determines suitable qualifications.
• Graduate student
• Working (full-time or part-time)