Master’s
Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine

This scheme provides
junior researchers with the opportunity to gain research experience and
training at Master’s degree level. The scheme aims to support research that
will improve public health and tropical medicine at a local, national and
global level.

Scheme
at a glance

Career
stage:

Postgraduate

Where
your host organisation is based:

Low- and middle-income countries

Type
of researcher:

Public health

Level
of funding:

Studentship stipend,
fees and research expenses

Duration
of funding:

30 months

Contact
us

About your
eligibility, the application process, funding policies or general queries about
grants:

• +44
  (0)20 7611 5757
• grantenquiries@wellcome.ac.uk

About the
scope and content of your proposal only:

About our online
application system:

• +44
  (0)20 7611 8383
• gtsupport@wellcome.ac.uk

Need
help finding us?

Getting here

Key
dates

We consider
applications twice a year.

August
2016 round

·        
Application
deadline

·        
Decision

People
we’ve funded

Who
can apply

You can apply for a
Master’s Fellowship in Public Health and Tropical Medicine if you:

• are a
  national of a low- or middle-income country
• hold a
  clinical or non-clinical undergraduate degree in a subject relevant to
  public health or tropical medicine. 

You must also:

• be at
  an early stage in your career with limited research experience (but you
  must have a demonstrated interest in, or aptitude for, research)
• have
  sponsorship from an eligible
  host organisation in a low- or middle-income country
• have a
  research proposal that is within our public
  health and tropical medicine remit.

Go to the World Bank website (opens in a new
tab) to see a list of low- and middle-income countries.

Who
can’t apply

You can’t apply if
you’re:

• intending
  to be based in the UK, Republic of Ireland or another high-income country (opens in a
  new tab) (although your taught course can be anywhere in
  the world)
• a
  researcher in India – instead see the Wellcome Trust/Department of Biotechnology India Alliance (opens in a new tab)
• currently
  applying for another Wellcome Trust fellowship.

What
we’re looking for

Your research
proposal should focus on an area within our public
health and tropical medicine remit. Research can include
laboratory-based molecular analysis of field or clinical samples, but we don’t
normally consider projects focused solely on studies in vitro or using
animal models.

We’re particularly interested
in requests for research training support in the social sciences, demography,
health economics, medical statistics and vector biology.

When we consider
your application, we’ll look at:

• the
  quality and importance of your research question(s)
• the feasibility
  of your approach to solving these problems
• the
  suitability of your choice of research environments
• the
  suitability of the Master’s course you select – it should take place at a
  recognised centre of excellence and provide you with training that will
  complement your research project.

What’s
expected of your host organisation

You must be based at
an eligible host organisation in a low- or middle-income country for the
research project. This can be at a not-for-profit host organisation that we
have checked for eligibility and that has signed up to our grant
conditions.

Your host
organisation must submit your application to us. 

Sponsor
and supervisor

You should give
careful thought to your choice of sponsor and supervisor. Your sponsor should:

• hold an
  established post for the duration of the fellowship
• have an
  ongoing research programme
• have a
  strong track record in research, training and mentorship
• provide
  you with guidance during the application process and fellowship.

Your sponsor should
not expect you to spend more than eight hours a week on non-research activities
(eg clinical duties, teaching or administration).

Your sponsor’s
support and mentorship should be part of a longer-term commitment to help you
achieve your career aspirations.

You should also
identify a supervisor who will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of
your research project. We expect you to identify additional supervisors for
each period that you spend outside your host organisation, including your
taught course.

You can nominate
your sponsor as a supervisor, if appropriate.

Other
schemes

Training
Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Intermediate
Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine

Investigator
Awards in Science

A Master’s
Fellowship in Public Health and Tropical Medicine is normally for 30 months and
can be held on a part-time basis.

The first 12 months
should be dedicated to doing a taught Master’s course at a recognised centre of
excellence anywhere in the world.

The following 18
months is normally for your research project at an eligible organisation in a
low- or middle-income country.

Support
during the Master’s course

The support
includes:

We support distance
learning Master’s degrees.

If your stipend is
liable for tax in the country you’re based in, we’ll provide costs to cover the
taxed amount.

Support
during the fellowship

The support
includes:

•    
     

What
we don’t offer

We don’t fund on a
proportion of full
economic costs in UK universities.

You must submit your
application through the Wellcome Trust Grant Tracker (WTGT).

Stages
of application

1.    Submit your
full application

2.    Shortlisting

3.    Review by
interview committee

Dates

We consider
applications three times a year. You must submit your application by 17:00
(GMT/BST) on the deadline day. We don’t accept late applications.

March
2016 round

·        
Application
deadline

·        
Decision

August
2016 round

·        
Application
deadline

·        
Decision