People look for research funding opportunities for a variety of reasons and this page provides a list of opportunities from charities and UK Government agencies that are open to nurse or midwife researcher applications. You'll see awards to apply for a research project; attend a conference; and help with the cost of post-registration study, such as studentships and fellowships. The RCN Foundation has various scholarships, bursaries and grants, and should be your first port of call. It's fair to say that there will always be more people searching for research funding than there is research funding to give, so knowing where to look is an important first step.
Research funding opportunities
Finding research funding
Please note, closing dates and awards are subject to change, and particularly so at the present time.
January 2022
- TBC. Medical Research Council - clinical research training fellowship (pre and post doctoral)
- TBC. Parkinson's UK/MRC - joint clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- TBC. Fight for Sight/MRC - joint clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- TBC. Multiple Sclerosis Society/MRC - joint clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- TBC. Medical Research Council - clinician scientist fellowship
- TBC. NIHR - doctoral fellowship (round 7)
- TBC. British Scoliosis Research Foundation - grants
- TBC. Dunhill Medical Trust - research project grants
- TBC. Abbeyfield Research Foundation - PhD studentships, small project grants, pump-priming grants
- TBC. Health and Care Research Wales - health PhD studentship
- TBC. Diabetes UK - Harry Keen intermediate clinical fellowship
- TBC. Parkinson's UK/MRC - joint clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- TBC. Fight for Sight/MRC - joint clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- TBC. Tenovus Scotland - small pilot grants (Edinburgh)
- TBC. Multiple Sclerosis Society/MRC - joint clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- TBC. Medical Research Council - clinical research training fellowship (pre and post doctoral)
- TBC. Medical Research Council - clinician scientist fellowship
- TBC. Moorfields Eye Charity/NIHR - joint doctoral fellowship
- 12 Jan. Versus Arthritis - clinical research fellowship
- 12 Jan. Versus Arthritis - senior research fellowships
February 2022
- 1 Feb. Healthcare Infection Society - career development bursary
- 1 Feb. Stroke Association - post doctoral fellowships
- 1 Feb. Stroke Association - post graduate fellowships
- 1 Feb. Tenovus Scotland - small pilot grants (Grampian)
- 2 Feb. Parkinson's UK - project grants
- 2 Feb. The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation - fund awards (diabetes)
- 10 Feb. Barts Charity - seed grants for research
- 15 Feb. Tenovus Scotland - small pilot grants (Strathclyde)
- 15 Feb. Stroke Association - lectureships
- 16 Feb. Versus Arthritis - nurse and allied health professional internship scheme
- 25 Feb. Barts Charity - healthcare delivery improvement grants
- 28 Feb. Guts UK - Dr Falk awards
- TBC. Dunhill Medical Trust - research training fellowship
- TBC. Alzheimer's Society - dissemination grants
- Closed. Wellbeing of Women - research grants
Apply anytime
- Barts Charity - healthcare delivery improvement grants
- British Geriatrics Society - nurses study grant
- Burdett Trust for Nursing - small grants programme
- Crohn's in Childhood Research Association - small grants
- Healthcare Infection Society - travel grants, pilot project grants
- The Urology Foundation - travel grants for nurses
UK Government funding
- England: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
- Northern Ireland: Health and Social Care Research and Development (HSC)
- Scotland: Chief Scientist Office (CSO)
- Wales: Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW)
UK research councils
The UK's research councils invest around £3 billion each year into research.
Research and innovation bulletin
Keep up to date with all the latest developments in nursing research by signing up to the RCN’s fortnightly research and innovation bulletin.
March 2022
- 1 Mar. General Nursing Council for England and Wales Trust - grants
- 1 Mar. Healthcare infection Society - small research grants, Graham Ayliffe training fellowship
- 9 Mar. Society for Endocrinology - travel grant
- 10 Mar. Cancer Research UK - prevention and population research programme awards
- 15 Mar. The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute - PhD fellowships
- 23 Mar. Society for Endocrinology - public engagement grant
- 24 Mar. Cancer Research UK - pre-doctoral research bursary
- 24 Mar. Wellcome - discovery awards
- 31 Mar. Diabetes UK - early career small grants
- TBC. Burdett Trust for Nursing - nurse-led improvement projects in digital health
- TBC. Health Education England/NIHR - ICA pre-doctoral clinical academic fellowship (PCAF)
- TBC. British Lymphology Society - lymphoedema research grant
- TBC. Alzheimer's Society - project grants, implementation grants, fellowships, PhD studentships
- TBC. The Brain Tumour Charity - quality of life awards (2020 awards under review)
April 2022
- 6 Apr. Medical Research Council - clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- 6 Apr. Medical Research Council - clinician scientist fellowships
- 6 Apr. Stroke Association/MRC - joint clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- 8 Apr. Dunhill Medical Trust - doctoral training fellowship joint with BGS
- 20 Apr. British Heart Foundation - research training fellowships
- 20 Apr. British Heart Foundation - career development research fellowships
- 20 Apr. Medical Research Council - career development award
- 20 Apr. Parkinson's UK/MRC - joint career development award
- 20 Apr. Multiple Sclerosis Society/MRC - joint career development award
- 27 Apr. Multiple Sclerosis Society - catalyst award
May 2022
- 4 May. Society for Endocrinology - early career grant
- 10 May. Barts Charity - large project grants for research
- 10 May. Barts Charity - healthcare innovation
- 18 May. Society for Endocrinology - endocrine nurse grant
- 18 May. Society for Endocrinology - meeting support grant
- 25 May. Breast Cancer Now - PhD studentships
- 25 May. Breast Cancer Now - project grants
- 26 May. Barts Charity - seed grant
- 31 May. The Urology Foundation - smaller research projects fund
- TBC. Dunhill Medical Trust - research project grants
- TBC. Crohn's and Colitis UK - research awards
- TBC. Resuscitation Council (UK) - research and development grants
- TBC. Cancer Research UK - Tobacco Advisory Group (TAG) project grants
- TBC. Prostate Cancer Research Centre - grant
- TBC. Parkinson's UK - research involvement awards
June 2022
- 1 Jun. Healthcare Infection Society - career development bursary
- 1 Jun. Diabetes UK - project grants
- 7 Jun. Multiple Sclerosis Society - project award, early career fellowship, PhD fellowship
- 15 Jun. Stroke Association - lectureships
- 23 Jun. Cancer Research UK - prevention and population research project awards
- 30 Jun. Barts Charity - large project grants for research
- 30 Jun. Barts Charity - healthcare innovation grant
- 30 Jun. The Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust - Sir Robert Boyd fellowship
- TBC. Kidney Research UK - allied health professional fellowship (open to nurses)
- TBC. Health Education England/NIHR - clinical doctoral research fellowship
- TBC. Health Education England/NIHR - clinical lectureship
- TBC. Health Education England/NIHR - senior clinical lectureship
- TBC. Wellcome - research fellowships for health professionals
- TBC. Tenovus Cancer Care - research strategy grant
July 2022
- 7 Jul. Barts Charity - large project grants for research
- 7 Jul. Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Children's Charity - grant funding
- 13 Jul. Moorfields Eye Charity/NIHR - joint advanced fellowship
- 16 Jul. Dunhill Medical Trust/British Geriatrics Society - joint doctoral training fellowship
- 25 Jul. UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network - themed research call
- 29 Jul. Diabetes UK - early career small grants
- TBC. Multiple Sclerosis Society/NIHR - joint advanced fellowship
- TBC. NIHR - advanced fellowship (round 6)
- TBC. NIHR - doctoral fellowship (round 6)
- TBC. The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute - senior fellowships
- Closed. Versus Arthritis - foundation fellowships and career development fellowships
- Closed. Wellbeing of Women/NIHR - joint doctoral fellowship
August 2022
- 1 Aug. British Scoliosis Research Foundation - grants
- 10 Aug. Society for Endocrinology - travel grant
- TBC. British Lymphology Society - lymphoedema research grant
- TBC. Northern Ireland Chest, Heart & Stroke - scientific research grants
- Closed. Alzheimer's Society - dissemination grants
September 2022
- 1 Sep. Diabetes UK - PhD studentship
- 1 Sep. Healthcare Infection Society - career development bursary
- 1 Sep. Healthcare infection Society - major research grants, small research grants
- 1 Sep. Stroke Association/MRC - joint clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- 1 Sep. Parkinson's UK/MRC - joint clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- 1 Sep. Fight for Sight/MRC - joint clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- 1 Sep. Multiple Sclerosis Society/MRC - joint clinical research training fellowships (pre and post doctoral)
- 1 Sep. Versus Arthritis/MRC - joint clinician scientist fellowships
- 15 Sep. Tenovus Scotland - small pilot grants (Strathclyde)
- 21 Sept. Society for Endocrinology - public engagement grant
- TBC. Parkinson's UK - research involvement awards
- TBC. The Brain Tumour Charity - quality of life awards
- TBC. Winston Churchill Memorial Trust - travelling fellowships
- Closed. Alzheimer's Society - multiple grants, fellowship
- Closed. Action Medical Research for Children - research training fellowship
- Closed. Versus Arthritis - PhD scholarships
- Closed. Wellbeing of Women - entry-level research scholarships, research training fellowships, postdoctoral research fellowships
October 2022
- 20 Oct. Barts Charity - seed grant for research
- TBC. UEA Health and Social Care Partners - project grants
- TBC. Tenovus Scotland - small research grants (Tayside)
- TBC. RCN Foundation - education grants
- Closed. Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Research and Development - doctoral fellowship award
- Closed. UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network - nurse fellowship
November 2022
- 1 Nov. Diabetes UK - Sir George Alberti research training fellowship
- 1 Nov. Diabetes UK - RD Lawrence fellowship
- 9 Nov. Society for Endocrinology - endocrine nurse grant
- 9 Nov. Society for Endocrinology - early career grant
- 23 Nov. Society for Endocrinology - meeting support grant
- 30 Nov. Society for Endocrinology - travel grant
- TBC Barts Charity -Nurse, Midwife or AHP clinical research fellowship
- TBC Fulbright Commission - postgraduate student awards
- TBC Marie Curie - research grants
- TBC Health and Care Research Wales - health research fellowship award
- TBC Action Medical Research for Children - research training fellowship
- TBC Barts Charity - healthcare delivery improvement grants
- Closed. Commonwealth Fund - Harkness fellowships in health care policy and practice
December 2021
- 1 Dec. Diabetes UK - early career small grants
- TBC Diabetes UK - project grants
- TBC NIHR - research professorships
- TBC Psoriasis Association - PhD studentship, Cecil King memorial grant
- TBC The Novo Nordisk UK Research Foundation - grant (diabetes), research fellowship in clinical diabetes
- TBC Cancer Research UK - population research postdoctoral fellowship
