The University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine offers a major fully funded PhD opportunity through its PhD Programme for Health Professionals Fellowship, designed to help clinical health professionals develop successful careers in health research.
The programme offers up to:
7 fully funded PhD fellowships each year
through a single admissions round.
According to the University of Cambridge Postgraduate Funding Search, five fellowships are funded by the Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia, while another two are funded by the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
The financial package is particularly significant. Successful fellows receive a University salary equivalent to their current clinical salary, alongside the University Composition Fee, research expenses and contributions toward research travel and general training.
The Cambridge funding database lists an indicative award value of:
£300,000
for the 2026/27 award entry.
Prospective applicants should note, however, that the listed 2026/27 funding round is no longer open. Its application deadline was 4 November 2025, with results expected between January and February.
Candidates interested in a future intake should monitor the University of Cambridge for the next application round rather than using the previous deadline.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Cambridge |
| School | School of Clinical Medicine |
| Programme | PhD Programme for Health Professionals Fellowship |
| Level | PhD |
| Study Mode | Full-time |
| Number of Fellowships | Up to 7 |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Listed Award Value | £300,000 |
| Salary | Equivalent to current clinical salary |
| University Composition Fee | Covered |
| Research Expenses | Covered |
| Research Travel | Contribution provided |
| General Training | Contribution provided |
| Basis of Award | Academic merit |
| Country of Residence | UK only |
| Course | PhD in Programme for Health Professionals |
| Award Year Listed | 2026/27 |
| Listed Deadline | 4 November 2025 |
| Results | January–February |
| Current Status of Listed Round | Deadline passed |
What Is the Cambridge PhD Programme for Health Professionals?
The programme is designed to enable:
Clinical health professionals
to pursue successful careers in:
Health research.
It combines doctoral research with a substantial financial package intended to allow eligible health professionals to undertake full-time PhD training.
Rather than requiring successful applicants to leave their clinical career pathway without appropriate financial support, the fellowship includes a University salary linked to their current clinical salary.
Up to Seven Fully Funded Fellowships
Cambridge states that the programme offers up to:
Seven fully funded fellowships each year.
These are divided between several major academic and research institutions.
According to the funding listing:
Five fellowships are funded by the Universities of Cambridge/East Anglia.
A further:
Two fellowships are funded by the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
This provides multiple funded places within a single annual admissions round.
£300,000 Award Value
The Cambridge Postgraduate Funding Search lists the award value as:
£300,000 (one-off).
This figure should be interpreted carefully.
It is the award value shown for the fellowship in Cambridge’s funding database and should not be described as a £300,000 cash payment made directly to an individual student.
The fellowship package supports several components associated with undertaking the PhD.
What Does the Cambridge Fellowship Cover?
The funding package includes several major forms of financial support.
University Salary
Successful fellows receive a:
University salary equivalent to current clinical salary.
This is one of the programme’s most important benefits for healthcare professionals.
Rather than advertising one fixed salary for everyone, the fellowship links salary support to the successful fellow’s existing clinical salary.
University Composition Fee
The programme covers the:
University Composition Fee (UCF).
This provides support toward the University’s applicable academic fee component.
Research Expenses
The fellowship also provides:
Research expenses.
Research expenses can be important for conducting doctoral work, particularly in health and clinical research.
The source does not provide a separate fixed amount for this component.
Research Meeting Travel
Successful fellows receive a:
Contribution towards travel for research meetings.
This provides additional support for professional and academic activities connected with the research programme.
The supplied funding listing does not specify the maximum travel contribution.
General Training Costs
The programme also provides:
A contribution towards general training costs.
This supports the broader development of fellows during their doctoral training.
Is the Cambridge PhD Fellowship Fully Funded?
Yes.
The University of Cambridge funding listing describes the available places as:
Fully-funded fellowships.
The package includes salary support, University fees, research expenses, research-meeting travel support and general training costs.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is designed for:
Clinical health professionals
seeking to develop careers in health research.
The Cambridge funding database identifies applicants as:
Prospective applicants
seeking admission at:
PhD level.
The course identified in the funding listing is:
PhD in Programme for Health Professionals.
Is the Fellowship Full-Time?
Yes.
The Cambridge funding database lists the mode of study as:
Full Time.
Prospective applicants should therefore consider the commitment associated with undertaking a full-time doctoral programme.
Country of Residence Requirement
The funding database lists the eligible country of residence as:
UK Only, United Kingdom.
This is a significant eligibility condition.
The supplied source does not support advertising this particular funding entry as a fully funded PhD fellowship open worldwide.
International candidates should not assume eligibility solely because Cambridge is an international university.
Is This an International PhD Fellowship?
Based on the supplied Cambridge funding entry, the country-of-residence requirement is:
UK only.
Therefore, this specific fellowship should not be promoted as an unrestricted international scholarship.
Candidates should check any future funding round carefully in case eligibility requirements change.
How Are Fellowships Awarded?
Cambridge lists the basis of the award as:
Academic merit.
Applicants should therefore expect their academic and research credentials to play an important role in the selection process.
Research Career Focus
The fellowship has a specific long-term purpose.
It is intended to allow clinical health professionals to pursue:
Successful careers in health research.
Candidates should therefore be able to demonstrate a meaningful interest in developing as researchers rather than viewing the fellowship solely as a route to obtaining a funded PhD qualification.
Research Project Proposal
The programme includes an important project-development requirement.
A fellow will need to submit a:
Project proposal form
outlining the chosen PhD project.
The form is completed by the fellow in consultation with their:
PhD project supervisor.
The funding listing states that this must be submitted by:
31 January of the year after the fellow commences on the programme.
This suggests that project development involves collaboration between the fellow and their doctoral supervisor.
Working With a PhD Supervisor
The project proposal is not prepared in isolation.
Cambridge specifies that it should be completed:
In consultation with the PhD project supervisor.
This makes the fellow-supervisor relationship an important component of the research-development process.
Number of Awards
The funding listing confirms:
7 awards
with the programme description explaining that up to seven fully funded fellowships are offered each year.
Because the number of available fellowships is limited, applicants should expect the selection process to be competitive.
Fellowship Funding Partners
The fellowships involve support from major academic and research institutions.
The source identifies:
- University of Cambridge
- University of East Anglia
- Wellcome Sanger Institute
Five fellowships are funded through Cambridge/East Anglia, while two are funded by the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
Why This Fellowship May Appeal to Health Professionals
Undertaking a PhD can create financial challenges for established healthcare professionals, particularly where doctoral stipends are significantly below their professional clinical earnings.
The Cambridge programme addresses this directly by providing:
A University salary equivalent to current clinical salary.
Combined with fees and research support, this can make doctoral research more financially viable for eligible clinical professionals.
What Is Not Confirmed by the Supplied Source?
Applicants should avoid assuming benefits or eligibility conditions that the Cambridge funding entry does not establish.
The supplied information does not provide detailed confirmation of:
- Visa sponsorship
- Relocation allowance
- Free accommodation
- Family/dependant allowance
- A universal fixed annual salary
- International-student eligibility
- A 2027/28 application deadline
These details should not be invented.
Application Deadline
For the funding entry supplied, the application deadline was:
4 November 2025.
The award year is:
2026/27.
Therefore, this particular funding round should not be advertised as currently accepting applications.
When Were Results Expected?
Cambridge lists the application results period as:
January–February.
The source does not provide a specific result date.
Is the Fellowship Open Now?
The supplied funding entry relates to the 2026/27 award year, with an application deadline of:
4 November 2025.
That deadline has passed.
Candidates interested in the next cohort should monitor the Cambridge programme and postgraduate funding information for a new application round.
A future deadline should not be assumed to be 4 November unless Cambridge officially confirms it.
How to Apply for a Future Round
When the next fellowship competition is announced, candidates should first review the current eligibility requirements and programme information.
Applicants should pay particular attention to:
- Professional eligibility
- UK residence requirements
- Academic requirements
- Research interests
- Application timetable
- Supporting documents
- Supervisor arrangements
- Admission requirements
Applicants should follow the official University of Cambridge process applicable to that year’s fellowship.
How to Prepare for the Next Round
Health professionals considering this programme can begin preparing before the next application cycle.
Potential preparation could include strengthening:
- Academic CV
- Research experience
- Clinical research exposure
- Research interests
- Academic references
- Evidence of academic merit
- Understanding of potential research areas
Applicants should ultimately follow the requirements published for the relevant admissions year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cambridge PhD Programme for Health Professionals Fellowship?
It is a fully funded PhD programme designed to help clinical health professionals pursue careers in health research.
How many fellowships are available?
Cambridge states that up to seven fully funded fellowships are offered each year.
Who funds the fellowships?
Five are funded by the Universities of Cambridge/East Anglia and two by the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
What is the listed award value?
The Cambridge funding database lists an award value of £300,000.
Does a fellow personally receive £300,000 in cash?
The source lists £300,000 as the award value, but the programme’s financial package consists of salary, University fees, research expenses and contributions toward research travel and training. It should not be presented as a £300,000 personal cash payment.
Is the fellowship fully funded?
Yes. Cambridge describes the available fellowships as fully funded.
Does the fellowship pay a salary?
Yes. Fellows receive a University salary equivalent to their current clinical salary.
Are University fees covered?
Yes. The University Composition Fee is included.
Are research expenses covered?
Yes. Research expenses are included in the funding package.
Is travel funded?
The programme provides a contribution toward travel for research meetings.
Does it cover training?
Yes. A contribution toward general training costs is included.
Is this a Master’s scholarship?
No. It is a PhD-level funding opportunity.
Is the programme full-time?
Yes. Cambridge lists the mode of study as full-time.
Can international applicants apply?
The supplied funding listing specifies the country of residence as UK only. It should therefore not be advertised as universally open to international applicants.
How are candidates selected?
The funding listing identifies academic merit as the basis of the award.
What was the deadline?
The listed 2026/27 deadline was 4 November 2025.
Is the 2026/27 fellowship still open?
No. The listed application deadline has passed.
When are application results released?
The funding database states January–February.
When is the next deadline?
The supplied source does not provide a future application deadline. Candidates should wait for Cambridge to publish the next funding round.
Conclusion
The University of Cambridge PhD Programme for Health Professionals Fellowship provides substantial support for clinical health professionals who want to build careers in health research.
Cambridge states that up to seven fully funded fellowships are offered each year through a single admissions round.
Five are funded by the Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia, while two are funded by the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
The Cambridge funding database lists an award value of £300,000, with the actual fellowship package including a University salary equivalent to the fellow’s current clinical salary, University Composition Fee, research expenses, research-meeting travel support and contributions toward general training costs.
The programme is full-time, PhD-level and awarded on the basis of academic merit.
However, candidates should pay close attention to the timing and eligibility information. The supplied funding entry is for the 2026/27 award year, specifies UK-only residence, and had an application deadline of 4 November 2025.
That round has therefore closed.
Healthcare professionals interested in a future Cambridge fellowship should monitor the programme for the next admissions round rather than relying on the previous deadline.
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