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The Pre-Application Support Fund offers extra support to prepare a competitive application for an NIHR career development award.
It provides funding to support those who might not otherwise be able to apply for one of our awards. In doing so, the scheme aims to create more opportunities for groups and professions currently under-represented within NIHR.
We particularly encourage applications from public health professionals.
*Remember, contact us early for support with your application*
Key dates
Key dates
Applications open: 20 January 2026
Applications close: 19 March 2026
Funding committee decision: June/July 2026
Award start dates: 1 of the month from September to December 2026
The Predoctoral Award is designed to advance your health and social care research career at masters level. The scheme supports early career researchers to undertake a masters degree, or a bespoke training and development plan comprising masters-level training, and provides protected time to help you develop a competitive PhD application.
The Predoctoral Award is available to anyone working in a local authority, or an associated setting.
*Remember, contact us early for support with your application*
What is available through a Predoctoral Award?
What is available through a Predoctoral Award?
The Predoctoral Award provides funding for:
your full salary, including the employer’s contribution to National Insurance and superannuation
time to prepare your application for a PhD award
if you are an aspiring methodologist, you may also use the award to help develop a methodology career in roles relevant to health and social care research
Either a full masters fees at the UK rate or £5000 per full-time year for a tailored masters-level training
£1000 for working with people and communities, previously known as patient and public involvement, and research inclusion
£1000 supervisory fees
£1000 conference fees and associated travel and subsistence
Key dates
Key dates
Applications open: 8 January 2026
Applications close: 12 March 2026
Funding committee review period: April 2026 - May 2026
Funding recommendation meeting: June 2026
Award start dates: 1 September 2026 - 01 March 2027
NIHR Fellowship personal awards and associated opportunities
NIHR Fellowship personal awards and associated opportunities
NIHR Academy have simplified the fellowship offering, which is moving from NIHR Fellowships, NIHR Integrated Clinical and Practitioner Academic (ICA) Fellowships and Local Authority Academic Fellowships (LAAF) awards to a single award application based on career stage:
doctoral and
We can help with your application, just fill in our online contact form.
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