Which research training award?
NIHR research training awards are available at different levels and for different professional backgrounds. Those completing a training award become Members of NIHR Academy.
All research funded by the NIHR as part of a training award must fall within the NIHR Academy’s remit for personal awards.
Find out more about:
- Fellowships Programme
- Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic Programme
- Integrated Academic Training Programme
- Local Authority Academic Fellowship Programme
Overview of Research training awards
| Award | Fellowships Programme | Integrated Clinical Practitioner Academic Programme | Integrated Academic Training Programme | Local Authority Academic Fellowship Programme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Develop as health or social care researcher with flexibility for clinical time | Combine research with continued clinical practice and development | Develop a career in research alongside clinical training | Undertake research and training whilst continuing to practise |
| Eligibility | All professions | Health and social care professionals, excluding doctors and dentists | Doctors and Dentists | Professionals in local authority settings |
| Pre-doctoral | Pre-doctoral Fellowship | Pre-doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship | Academic Clinical Fellowship or In-Practice Fellowship | Pre-Doctoral Local Authority Fellowship |
| Doctoral | Doctoral Fellowship | Doctoral Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship | Not applicable | Doctoral Local Authority Fellowship |
| Post-doctoral | Advanced Fellowship | Advanced Clinical and Practitioner Academic Fellowship | Clinical Lectureship | Advanced Local Authority Fellowship |
Professorships
The NIHR Research Professorships scheme is for those with an outstanding record of clinical and applied research that has improved health and care. It is open to:
- all professions
- all Higher Education Institutions (HEI), NHS organisations, or other providers of health, public health and/or care services based in England.
Find out more about Research Professorships
Support for students
We have two new schemes to provide research training specifically for students at undergraduate level.
Both schemes will provide students with a first step towards a research career in healthcare, social work or public health, and enable them to combine research training with their degree course studies.
The INSIGHT scheme launched in June 2023.
Team Science
The Team Science programme is an annual initiative designed to support researchers to form new interdisciplinary collaborations and enable research in areas of need.
Each year individuals can apply for a place at a fully-facilitated Team Science Camp, with a focus on a specific research area, where they will be supported to form new teams. Teams are then able to apply for a Team Science Award. These smaller development funds can be used for pilot research, training for the team, and establishing new collaborations.
Infrastructure and Schools
Infrastructure and Schools offer a number of career development opportunities and further information can be found on their websites.
NIHR Academy Members based within their programmes can access:
- The Short Placement Awards for Research Collaboration
- Visiting Speaker Award
Find out more about academic career development in Infrastructure and Schools
Bridging funding and support
We offer funding to help you get to the next stage of your research career.
Schemes include the Pre-Application Support Fund, Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Award, and the Development and Skills Enhancement Award.