Funding to support PhD research in any scientific discipline or sector that contributes to improving health, including public health and social care, within the NIHR’s funding remit.
NIHR is particularly interested in receiving applications that will develop skills within its strategic themes:
- social care
- mental health
- public health
- health data science
- researchers working in a Local Authority setting
- applicants hosted by post-92 HEIs and non University Hospital practice settings
Applications received under these strategic themes will still have to meet the same quality threshold required for funding but will be given priority if the number of fundable applications exceeds the maximum that can be funded.
See also themed calls and highlight notices for other priority areas.
*Please note that this award replaces the NIHR Doctoral Fellowship, NIHR Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship, and NIHR Doctoral Local Authority Fellowship. It merges the former fellowships into a single, streamlined scheme designed to enhance accessibility and simplify the application process.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for the Doctoral Award, you must:
- hold a 1st class or 2:1 bachelor’s degree or equivalent (if you do not meet this requirement, you must normally have a master’s degree)
- your proposed host organisation must be a recognised Higher Education Institution (HEI), NHS body, local authority, social care organisation, or another provider of health or care services in England
- you should have some prior research experience or research training
- if you are already registered for a PhD (or MPhil with transfer to PhD), you must not have been registered for more than 12 months full-time (100% WTE) by the time the award starts
Applicants can come from overseas but must be based in England at their contracting organisation for the duration of the award.
VALUE AND DURATION
There is no set limit on the total budget you can request, as long as your costs are fully justified to support your research and can demonstrate value for money.
However, some costs have specific caps:
- conference attendance – capped at £3,000 for the entire award duration
- computer – capped at £1,000
- PhD fees – must be costed at the UK Home Fees rate
Funding is for three years full-time, with part-time options available at 5% increments between 50%-100% FTE.
KEY DATES
Deadline: 10 June 2025 (this call is repeated twice a year)
You must propose to commence your award on the following dates:
- 1st April 2026
- 1st May 2026
- 1st June 2026
- 1st July 2026
- 1st August 2026
- 1st September 2026
Further details, including application guidance, can be found below and on the opportunity webpage.
Grants previously awarded under this scheme can be viewed on Pivot-RP.