We welcome applications from across all areas of MRC’s remit to improve human health, ranging from basic studies with relevance to mechanisms of disease to translational and developmental clinical research.
Explore MRC’s areas of scientific remit.
Science areas include:
- infections and immunity
- molecular and cellular medicine
- population and systems medicine
- neurosciences and mental health
- translation
- global health
- methodology
- public health.
We also welcome proposals for interdisciplinary approaches or research which will address global health issues and be of benefit to those living in low and middle income countries.
Clinical research training fellowships usually last three years but never less than two years. For patient-orientated projects where the clinical sessions will be of direct relevance to your research, you may request up to four years’ funding and undertake up to four clinical sessions a week.
These periods are based on full-time equivalents. Awards may be held on a part-time basis to meet personal commitments but not because of other professional commitments.
We expect you to take up your fellowship no more than six months after the date of the review meeting.
This fellowship scheme provides a salary, giving you protected time to concentrate on your research, training and development. You may spend up to six hours a week (pro-rated for part-time fellowships) on other commitments such as teaching, demonstrating and other funded projects or you may undertake up to two clinical sessions a week.
Read MRC’s guidance on research staff development.
We recognise the challenges faced by clinicians in combining research training with the demands of a clinical career. We operate this scheme as flexible as possible giving you the chance to negotiate the extent of your clinical commitment depending on your specialty and your research needs.
If you are planning to undertake more than two clinical sessions a week during your fellowship, we advise you to email MRC head office before you apply: on fellows@mrc.ukri.org.
Find out more about what to expect as an MRC fellow.
Predoctoral fellowships
This fellowship provides:
- a salary appropriate to your level of training, up to but not including NHS consultant level
- up to £20,000 each year to cover consumables, equipment, conference travel, PhD and other course fees.
You may be able to request extra funding for costs such as:
- the cost of training at an overseas or second centre or industry placement
- the purchase and maintenance cost of animals (excluding experimental costs, related consumables or project licences)
- the costs associated with healthy volunteer studies, where costs for patient studies would be met by local clinical research networks.
You can find out more in:
Postdoctoral fellowships
This fellowship provides:
- salary costs appropriate to your level of training up to but not including NHS consultant level
- funding to cover research expenses and travel costs (full economic costing).
There is no limit to the amount you can claim for expenses.
MRC will typically fund 80% of the full economic cost. The research organisation must agree to find the balance of full economic cost from other resources.
Jointly funded clinical research training fellowships
MRC collaborates with royal colleges and charity funders to offer jointly funded clinical research training fellowships.
These awards offer the prestige of having the relevant organisation co-fund your fellowship and may offer additional opportunities to report on your project, present your work at meetings and take part in professional networking.
Read about MRC’s jointly funded clinical research training fellowships.
To apply for joint funding, you must include the joint funding form as part of your cover letter. Download the joint funding form.
Joint-funding does not alter the assessment process. We will offer all jointly funded fellowships under standard MRC terms and conditions, except where the co-funder has specified extra terms and conditions. If you apply for a jointly funded award which is not available for any reason, we will automatically consider you for a standard MRC fellowship instead.
