Quick Facts

Eligible CountriesAny
Host CountryUK
Area of StudyHealth
Application Deadline15 September 2026
Scholarship TypeFellowship
FundingFully Funded
Mode of StudyIn-person
ReferenceRAS-2026-1483
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MSc Information Security — Unicaf Scholar

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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

How to Apply

1
Check if your organisation is eligible
2
Start application on UKRI portal
3
Submit application with required documentation
4
Applications assessed by UKRI and MRC
📅 Up to 5 years

For More Information

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