Wellcome

Partially funded

Wellcome Four-year PhD Studentships in Science

Wellcome, United Kingdom

Scholarship overview

Wellcome, the UK-based global health charity, funds four-year PhD programmes in science at UK universities and research institutes. Each programme recruits its own students, who receive a Wellcome Four-year PhD Studentship covering a stipend, fees at the home rate and research training costs.

Programmes cover areas such as stem cell biology, infection and global health, epidemiology, mental health science, health data science, neuroscience, structural and cell biology, drug discovery and public health economics. Wellcome also funds four-year programmes at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre.

Graduates from outside the UK can apply with an equivalent degree. Wellcome pays registration fees at the home (UK) rate; nationals of high-income countries other than the UK and Ireland, including EU and EEA nationals, are charged international fees, so overseas candidates should confirm fee arrangements with the programme. Wellcome has changed its funding schemes and closed the scheme to new programmes, but listed programmes continue to recruit.

Award Information

  • A graduate or student who has, or expects to obtain, a degree in a relevant subject, or the equivalent for EU and overseas candidates.
  • Candidates with other relevant qualifications or research experience may also be eligible.
  • Applications are made to one of the Wellcome-funded four-year PhD programmes, each of which sets further eligibility rules.
  • Fee status: UK and Republic of Ireland nationals pay home fees; nationals of all other high-income countries, including EU and EEA nationals since 1 January 2021, pay international fees.
  • Activities involving the transfer of grant funds into mainland China cannot be funded.
  • Stipend from 1 October 2025, outside London: Year 1 £25,755; Year 2 £26,368; Year 3 £26,982; Year 4 £27,595.
  • Stipend from 1 October 2025, in London: Year 1 £27,872; Year 2 £28,536; Year 3 £29,199; Year 4 £29,863.
  • PhD registration fees at the home (UK) rate.
  • College fees, where required.
  • Laboratory rotation expenses, if required.
  • Transferable skills training.
  • Travel costs, including registration fees and carbon offset costs, and childcare or other caring costs.
  • Transition costs at the end of the studentship.
  • Duration: 4 years; the studentship can be held part-time.

Individual programmes recruit annually, usually in autumn, for programmes starting in October each year (next start October 2027). Each programme sets its own closing date.

  1. Choose one of the Wellcome-funded four-year PhD programmes in science (for example at Bristol, Cambridge, Dundee, East Anglia, Edinburgh, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, UCL or Queen Mary University of London, the Wellcome Sanger Institute or the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre).
  2. Check the programme's eligibility rules and fee arrangements for international applicants.
  3. Apply directly to the programme by its deadline. Do not apply to Wellcome.
  4. Contact the programme with any questions about your application.

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