Early Independence: Career Development Fellowship
Medical Research Council (MRC), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Quick Facts
A word from Eli, founder of Rise Africa Scholars
MSc Information Security — Unicaf Scholar
While you wait for a fully funded opportunity, don’t put your education on hold. I completed my MSc through Unicaf — studying online from Nairobi while working full-time. The tuition discount made it genuinely affordable, and the degree is from an accredited UK university.
If you’re serious about advancing your career now, I’d encourage you to explore it. I only recommend what I’ve used myself.
About This Scholarship
The Early Independence: Career Development Fellowship supports researchers transitioning to independence by funding their salary and project costs (80% of full economic cost) for up to five years. Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent and demonstrate clear plans for establishing their own research niche within MRC’s remit to improve human health.
What This Scholarship Covers
- Salary funding
- Project costs (80% of full economic cost)
- Up to five years of funding (pro rata for part-time)
Who Can Apply
- 1 Must have completed a PhD or equivalent qualification
- 2 Must show evidence of skills, experience, career development and productivity across past appointments
- 3 Must have research plans that do not significantly overlap with current group leaders or proposed sponsors
- 4 Must have research focus within MRC remit to improve human health
- 5 Must have support of an eligible UK research organisation
- 6 Must be employed by an eligible UK organisation for the duration of the fellowship
- 7 Cannot be clinically active (unless applying for clinician scientist scheme)
- 8 Cannot hold a salaried position simultaneously with the fellowship
- 9 Cannot have applied for an MRC fellowship within the last year or twice before
- 10 Cannot have another UKRI fellowship application of the same type under consideration
- 11 Cannot have part of fellowship project as a grant application under assessment
- 12 Cannot be project lead on a UKRI grant application being assessed
- 13 Cannot have already been awarded a comparable fellowship supporting early independence or new investigator award
- 14 Cannot have secured grants as project lead that include support for and leading of research staff
