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 must be used 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
VALUE AND DURATION
This award provides funding for:
- the salary of the award holder 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, which may include working with people and communities
These are the only costs that we will fund through a DSE award.
Applicants can request a 12, 18 or 24-month duration.
KEY DATES
Deadline: 11 March 2026*
Review period: April 2026 – June 2026
Start date: August 2026 – November 2026
*This scheme is open to applications all year round, with 3 review periods. The next confirmed submission window will run from April 2026 to July 2026.
Full details of what a DSE can offer, along with case studies and application guidance, can be found on the opportunity webpage.
Hear from a successful applicant: