Funding for early to mid-career researchers who want to gain specific skills and experience to underpin the next phase of their research career.
DSE awards are intended to help you develop the relevant and required skills to make a competitive NIHR personal award or NIHR research grant application.
ELIGIBILITY
In addition to demonstrating how this award will support you to develop the skills you need to make a competitive application to the NIHR (e.g. career development awards or research funding programmes), you must also:
- have completed any relevant pre-registration training (if you are applying as a clinical academic)
- have a proposed English contracting organisation that is an HEI, NHS body, or other provider of health and/or care services
- hold a relevant PhD or MD, or have submitted your thesis for examination at the time of application (you must have been awarded your PhD or MD by the time you start the award)
- have not submitted a DSE application in the previous submission window
Of particular interest are applications that will develop skills and experience within the DSE award strategic themes:
- HCPs developing practitioner academic careers
- knowledge mobilisation and implementation science
- health data science (HDS)
- clinical trials
- entrepreneurship and working with industry
You should state in your career development plan if you are proposing an application for a specific DSE strategic theme.
VALUE AND DURATION
DSE awards provide funding for:
- salaried time to undertake training and development activities for up to 2 years
- training and development costs, including any related travel and subsistence, up to £5,000 per year FTE
- conference costs up to £1,000 per year FTE
- mentorship costs up to £3,000
These are the only costs that will be funded by the DSE award.
Applicants can request a 12, 18 or 24-month duration.
KEY DATES
Deadline: 4 November 2025 (1pm)*
Review period: November 2025 – February 2026
Start dates: April 2026 – July 2026
*This scheme is open to applications all year round, with 3 review periods. The next confirmed submission window will run from December 2025 to March 2026.
Full details of what a DSE can offer, along with case studies and application guidance, can be found on the opportunity webpage.