Wellcome Early-Career Awards 2026 support early-career researchers with a salary plus up to £400,000 for research costs. Administering orgs in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or LMICs. *Deadline: 17 February 2026 (15:00 GMT). Apply now.

Are you an early-career researcher ready to build your own independent research identity? The Wellcome Early-Career Awards 2026 fund innovative projects that shift understanding of human life, health and wellbeing—and help you develop the skills, networks, and leadership to run your own programme. Awards typically last up to 5 years, cover your salary, and include up to £400,000 for research expenses. Applications close on 17 February 2026 at 15:00 GMT.

What the Wellcome Early-Career Awards 2026 offer

• Funding package: your salary + up to £400,000 for research costs (some eligible items such as overheads and overseas allowances may sit outside this cap).

• Duration: usually 5 years (can be shorter for some disciplines; part-time possible with duration adjusted).

• Scope: any discipline relevant to human life, health and wellbeing (STEM, clinical/allied health, public health, humanities & social sciences, etc.).

You’ll also access excellent research environments, training, and leadership development to accelerate your career progression.

Who can apply

You should be an early-career researcher who has completed substantial research training and can design, plan, and deliver an innovative project with limited supervision. Typically you’ll have:

• a PhD (or equivalent) passed by the deadline, or at least four years’ equivalent research experience (for fields where a PhD isn’t standard), and

• no more than ~3 years of postdoctoral experience in the proposed field (allowances for part-time work, career breaks, Covid-19 impacts, or discipline changes).

You must contribute ≥80% of your time to the award (clinicians in craft specialties may spend up to 40% on clinical duties). International applicants are welcome.

Where the award can be held

Your administering organisation must be a not-for-profit institution in the UK, Republic of Ireland, or a low- or middle-income country (except India and mainland China). It must be able to accept Wellcome’s grant conditions.

How applications are assessed

At interview, assessors weight:

• Research proposal (50%) – bold, creative, high-quality, and feasible;

• Skills & experience (25%) – outputs, methods, management/leadership trajectory;

• Research environment (25%) – training, resources, support, and positive culture.

Applications are shortlisted by discipline-specific Early-Career Advisory Groups and finalists are interviewed by the Early-Career Award Interview Panel.

Key dates (February 2026 round)

• Applications open: 16 October 2025

• Deadline: 17 February 2026, 15:00 GMT

• Shortlisting: April 2026

• Interviews: 14–16 July 2026

What costs can be covered

In addition to your salary and research expenses (up to £400,000), you may request eligible items such as overheads, overseas allowances, relocation, access charges, equipment, fieldwork, open access fees, and adjustment support(e.g., assistive technologies). Some of these items do not count toward the £400,000 cap. Global Talent visaendorsement is available for grantholders; qualifying team members in the UK may also be eligible.

Is your research right for this scheme?

Your project should fit Wellcome Discovery Research remit and have potential to improve human life, health and wellbeing. If your timeline starts earlier than seven months after the deadline, it won’t be eligible.

How to apply (step-by-step)

1. Read the scheme page & guidance to confirm eligibility and remit.

2. Start your application on the Wellcome Funding Platform and prepare required documents:

   • CV

   • 1–2 page cover letter

   • 2–3 page project proposal

   • 1–3 work samples (combined PDF)

   • two referees’ contact details

3. Submit to your administering organisation for approval before the deadline so they can review and forward to Wellcome in time. Wellcome

Apply now

• Official call & full guidance: Wellcome Early-Career Awards

• All Wellcome deadlines

• Organisational eligibility

Deadline: 17 February 2026 (15:00 GMT) — Apply on the official scheme page above. 

Helpful internal reads on Wellcome.org

• Find a funding opportunity (all schemes)

• Early-career guidance hub

• Interview panel & advisory groups

For more international career opportunities, visit Opportunities For Youth