This scheme strengthens scientific research capacity in low- and middle-income countries, by providing support for junior researchers to gain research experience and high-quality research training at Master’s degree level.
Research should be aimed at understanding and improving public health and tropical medicine of local, national and global relevance. Public health and tropical medicine cover a wide range of health problems, including communicable and non-communicable diseases. Topics include:
- demographic, social science and health economic studies
- epidemiological, field and community-based studies
- healthcare systems and policy research
- measurement of infectious and chronic disease burden
- population studies
- clinical trials and case-control studies
- studies of disease mechanisms in the natural host
- determinants of disease susceptibility and resistance
- immunity or resistance in natural hosts or vectors.
We are particularly interested in requests for research training support in the social sciences, demography, health economics, medical statistics and vector biology.
This Fellowship is part of a series of career awards aimed at building sustainable capacity in areas of research that have the potential for increasing health benefits for people and their livestock in low- and middle-income countries.
In partnership with the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland, we have have established a joint Wellcome Trust-Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland Master’s Fellowship. Two joint awards per annum will be made, in addition to the Wellcome Trust Master’s Fellowships. Joint awards will be considered during the selection process for the Wellcome Trust Master’s Fellowships – no separate application is required.
What’s included
A Fellowship normally provides up to 30 months’ support. A period of 12 months should normally be dedicated to undertaking a taught Master’s course at a recognised centre of excellence, combined with up to 18 months to undertake a research project.
While undertaking a Master’s course, Fellows will receive a stipend in accordance with the cost of living in the country in which they will be studying, plus travel costs and support for approved tuition fees. Master’s training by distance learning is acceptable.
Master’s course fees will be paid according to the rate charged by the training institution.
A salary is provided for the duration of the Fellowship. Project-dedicated research expenses (consumables, small items of equipment, collaborative travel and support to attend scientific meetings, fieldwork and data collection) are also provided. Overseas allowances will be provided where appropriate. Contributions to other costs of the project that are directly incurred by the overseas institution may also be provided.
Research-dedicated costs (excluding salary/stipend costs) should not exceed £20 000 per annum.
If the Fellow is already in receipt of a salary from the host institution, the host institution may use this salary to pay for a replacement member of staff while the Trust provides the Fellow’s salary/stipend for the duration of the Fellowship. It is not expected that the Fellow would receive a salary in addition to the one provided by the Trust.
Please note that the Trust is no longer accepting applications from current Fellows who wish to extend their grants in order to undertake a PhD. The eligibility criteria for the Training Fellowship in Public Health and Tropical Medicine now includes applicants who have a clinical, basic or Master’s degree and some initial research experience, with the expectation that they will register for a PhD.
Eligibility