Wellcome Career Development Awards

This scheme has now moved to accepting applications on a rolling basis but with three annual rounds of shortlisting and interviews.

Applicants planning to submit in Michaelmas 2026 should: 

Notify Faculty of intention to apply by: 18 August 2026

To Submit by (including Organisation Approval): 16 November 2026

This scheme provides funding for mid-career researchers from any discipline who have the potential to be international research leaders. Successful projects will develop PI research capabilities, drive innovative programmes of work and deliver significant shifts in understanding that could improve human life, health and wellbeing.

Duration & Level of funding
Usually 8 years, but may be less for some disciplines (e.g. humanities and social sciences), and may only be longer if held on a part-time basis. Wellcome will fund your salary (if required) and cover salary costs for up to 4 FTE staff. Research expenses can include up to £2,000 a year for PI conference and meeting attendance, £1,000 for research and technical staff conference and meeting attendance, costs for fieldwork, subsistence abroad, further professional training, and public engagement. This award will not cover PhD stipends or estates costs.

Eligibility
Applicants should be mid-career researchers who are ready to lead a substantial and innovative research programme. The project must aim to make a key contribution to the applicant's field by generating significant shifts in understanding and/or developing methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research.

PIs are expected to use the award to develop research capabilities and leadership skills, support others to undertake research responsibly and promote a positive and inclusive culture, and start training the next generation of researchers and develop their research skills and careers.

The research project can be in any discipline as long as it has the potential to improve human life, health and wellbeing, and aligns with Wellcome's funding remit.

For more details on eligibility and funding, please see Wellcome's webpage for this opportunity. 

How to Apply
Applications must be made through Wellcome's online grants system (Grant Tracker). As of 25th August 2026, when it will reopen after the July 2026 round, this scheme will move to accepting applications on a rolling basis. Wellcome will instead assess applications in three annual gathered fields, with shortlisting in February, June and September, and interviews in May, September and January.

For submission in 2026-2027, applicants are expected to: 

Michaelmas Term 2026 Submissions

• Notify Faculty of intention to apply by: 18 August 2026
• Advised Latest Submission Deadline for Applicants (including Organisation Approval): 16 November 2026
• Funder Shortlisting: February 2027
• Funder Interviews: May 2027
• Expected Earliest Start Date: 01 June 2027

Hilary Term 2027 Submissions

• Notify Faculty of intention to apply by: TBC (expected end-November 2026)
• Advised Latest Submission Deadline for Applicants (including Organisation Approval): 15 February 2027
• Funder Shortlisting: June 2027
• Funder Interviews: September 2027
• Expected Earliest Start Date: 01 October 2027

Full application guidelines are available on the Wellcome Trust website.