WHO Fellowship Programme 2026- Fully Supported International Health Training Opportunity

The WHO Fellowship Programme 2026 supports health workers and scientists from WHO Member States in the Western Pacific Region through international and local training opportunities. Learn about eligibility, selection, training stages, study tours, participating institutions and how the WHO fellowship process works.

The WHO Fellowship Programme 2026 offers health professionals and scientists an opportunity to strengthen technical knowledge and professional skills through structured training and international exchange. The programme is administered by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific Region and is designed to help Member States build stronger health workforces.

Rather than functioning like a conventional scholarship programme, WHO describes fellowships as a joint undertaking involving WHO, national health administrations, sending and receiving countries, and training institutions. Training may take place abroad or through distance learning within the candidate’s country when suitable facilities are available.

What Is the WHO Fellowship Programme 2026?

The WHO Fellowships Programme develops capacity within the Western Pacific Region with the objective of helping Member States achieve improved health outcomes.

The programme prepares health personnel for leadership roles within national health services by providing technical capacity-building opportunities through undergraduate and postgraduate programmes as well as short- and long-term training.

According to WHO, the programme is intended to address areas where technical knowledge or skills may not be sufficiently available in a candidate’s home country.

It also encourages cooperation among scientific and professional groups, promotes international exchange of medical and scientific knowledge, and supports improved standards of teaching and training in health and related professions.

Who Can Benefit From the WHO Fellowship?

The programme is designed primarily for health staff from WHO Member States in the Western Pacific Region.

The source information describes the fellowship as being linked to national health priorities. During the planning stage, WHO Representatives and counterparts in national health administrations work to ensure that fellowship opportunities correspond with national health plans and address identified human-resource gaps.

This means applicants should understand that participation is not simply an individual application for overseas study. The programme is connected to the health workforce priorities of participating Member States.

The detailed source provided does not give one universal academic qualification, age limit or nationality list for all fellowship categories. Applicants should therefore confirm the specific requirements associated with an individual fellowship opportunity.

What Training Does the Programme Provide?

WHO indicates that fellowship training can cover several formats, including:

Undergraduate and postgraduate education: Eligible health personnel may undertake formal academic programmes designed to strengthen technical capacity.

Short-term programmes: These provide targeted opportunities for candidates who require specialised training in a particular area.

Long-term programmes: Longer placements can support deeper technical or professional development.

Distance learning: Where appropriate facilities exist, training may be undertaken in the candidate’s own country rather than overseas.

This flexibility allows the fellowship programme to respond to different national health-system needs.

WHO Fellowship Programme Selection Process

WHO describes the programme as having four main stages.

1. Planning Stage

WHO Representatives and national health administration counterparts identify fellowship opportunities that align with national health plans and address workforce gaps.

2. Selection Stage

WHO states that fellowships lasting three months or longer are advertised. Candidates submit applications online, after which applications are forwarded to the WHO Regional Office for processing.

This makes it important for prospective applicants to monitor relevant fellowship announcements rather than assuming that applications are continuously open.

3. Operational Stage

Selected candidates undertake their approved fellowship training.

During this stage, fellows receive the applicable entitlements and are expected to meet the obligations associated with their fellowship. WHO also requires fellows to provide academic and progress reports.

4. Follow-Up Stage

After completing the fellowship, participants are required to submit final reports.

WHO states that fellows are then mandated to serve in their national health administrations, linking the training directly to strengthening health services in their home countries.

Study Tours Under the WHO Fellowship Programme

WHO also identifies study tours as a form of fellowship.

A study tour allows a group of health workers or scientists to visit one or more countries to examine local health problems and approaches to addressing them.

WHO describes study tours as combining fact-finding, educational learning and opportunities to establish international professional relationships and collaborations. They may also take the form of tailor-made short-term training courses.

For study tours, candidates must be health workers or scientists in good health and must be nominated by their national health administrations. WHO notes that candidates are typically not over 55 years of age.

Once selected, participants must follow the authorised itinerary and submit a final report documenting their findings and impressions.

Host Institutions

The WHO Western Pacific Region maintains a database of host institutions where fellows can be placed. WHO also notes that applicants may consider other credible institutions that meet WHO standards.

The source lists several institutions where fellows have recently been placed, including:

Fiji
Fiji National University and the University of Fiji.

Japan
Sapporo Medical University.

New Zealand
Massey University and the University of Otago.

Papua New Guinea
University of Papua New Guinea.

Samoa
National University of Samoa and the National University of Samoa/Pacific Islands Orthopedic Association.

The availability of a particular institution will depend on the approved fellowship arrangement and training requirements.

Is the WHO Fellowship Fully Funded?

The supplied WHO information states that selected fellows receive entitlements and obligations during the fellowship period. However, the source does not provide a universal stipend amount or a complete list of financial benefits.

For that reason, applicants should not assume that every fellowship offers identical financial support. The exact entitlements should be verified against the specific fellowship announcement and programme arrangements.

This distinction is important when evaluating opportunities advertised online as “fully funded” or “fully supported.”

Why the WHO Fellowship Matters

The WHO Fellowships Programme is designed around a practical objective: strengthening health systems by developing professionals whose skills are needed by their countries.

Its emphasis on technical training, international exchange, national health planning and post-fellowship service makes it particularly relevant to health workers seeking professional development that can contribute directly to public health outcomes.

For eligible candidates, the programme can also provide exposure to different health systems, research environments, professional networks and approaches to health-service delivery.

How to Apply for the WHO Fellowship Programme 2026

Prospective applicants should first determine whether a fellowship opportunity is available for their country and area of expertise.

Where a fellowship of three months or longer is advertised, candidates submit their applications online. The application is then processed through the relevant WHO structures and national health authorities.

Applicants should ensure that they follow the specific instructions attached to the advertised fellowship and understand whether nomination by a national health administration is required.

WHO also provides a dedicated contact for the Western Pacific Region fellowship programme:

Email: wprocal@who.int

Final Thoughts

The WHO Fellowship Programme 2026 provides a structured pathway for health workers and scientists in the Western Pacific Region to gain technical expertise through academic programmes, specialised training, international placements, distance learning and study tours.

One of the most important features of the programme is its connection to national health priorities. Fellows are selected within a framework intended to address workforce needs and are expected to contribute their newly acquired skills to their national health administrations after completing their programmes.

Because fellowship opportunities, eligibility conditions and entitlements can differ by assignment, applicants should rely on the specific WHO announcement and their national health administration for final eligibility and funding information.

Official WHO Fellowship Contact

WHO Western Pacific Regional Office: wprocal@who.int

Official WHO website: https://www.who.int/

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