Wellcome Discovery Awards 2026 in UK

The Wellcome Discovery Awards 2026 provide funding for established researchers and teams worldwide who aim to pursue bold, creative research that significantly advances understanding of human life, health, and wellbeing. The programme supports PhD research, professional development, fieldwork, equipment, travel, consumables, and collaborative efforts, fostering global health innovation.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: November 25, 2025
2. Study Level: PhD
3. Sponsor: Wellcome
4. Host Country: United Kingdom
5. Eligible Countries: All Countries

Eligibility Criteria for Wellcome Discovery Awards 2026 in UK

You can apply for a Wellcome Discovery Award if you are a researcher who wants to pursue bold and creative research ideas. You must aim to make a major contribution to your research field by:

1. generating significant shifts in understanding

and/or

1. developing methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research.

An award can be held by an established researcher or a team of researchers led by an established researcher.

If you are applying as a team of researchers

Team size will depend on the proposed research. It will usually range from two to eight applicants, including the lead applicant. The primary location for the research, including the leadership of the programme, must be within the UK, the Republic of Ireland, and/or a low- and middle-income country.

If you are applying as an individual

You cannot involve coapplicants in your application and award, but you can still work with collaborators.

Whether applying as an established individual researcher who will employ staff through your grant or as a team of researchers, we encourage lead applicants to put together diverse teams. You will be expected to actively promote a diverse, inclusive, and supportive research environment within your team and across your organization.

Application Documents

As well as answering the application questions, you must provide:

1. a letter of support from each organisation (of the lead applicant and any co-applicants)
2. a letter of support from the director of finance at the administering organization or any indirectly funded organisation requesting overheads, confirming the breakdown is a true representation of the costs incurred.

Benefits of Wellcome Discovery Awards 2026 in UK

PhD scholarships

1. Professional and staff development
2. Fieldwork, travel, training, and sustenance
3. Supplies, consumables, and machinery
4. Costs of clinical and public involvement
5. Access fees and overheads
6. Foreign allowances and inflation

How to Apply

Apply for this scheme on the Wellcome Funding platform. You will need to log in or create an account. You can save your application and return to it at any time.

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Sample full application form for Wellcome Discovery AwardsStart your application

For more details, visit Wellcome Discovery Awards webpage

Application Deadline

November 25, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Wellcome Discovery Awards 2026 in UK