SPCR Funding Opportunities

The School has several funding opportunities for those who want to start or continue their career in primary care research. Currently the School holds annual competitions for post-doctoral Fellowships, PhD Studentships and Primary Care Clinicians Career Progression Fellowships. Positions can be based at any of the 9 School members.

PhD Studentships in Primary Care 2026

Applications are invited from individuals with a strong academic record who wish to develop a career in primary care research. Awards are offered at all nine Universities within the NIHR School for Primary Care Research: Bristol, Exeter, Keele, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), Southampton and University College London (UCL).

Applicants must have a first degree in a discipline relevant to primary care research and will be expected to complete a PhD/DPhil during the award period. The precise academic qualifications required depend on the university and training offered. This award will fund tuition fees to the value of home fees; students with overseas status are welcome to apply but will need to fund the remainder of their fees from alternative sources.

The awards offer traditional project-specific training in areas of particular importance to primary care and awarded to applicants from diverse backgrounds including e.g., medical statistics, social sciences, health economics, health psychology.

Studentship awards include fees and an annual tax-free stipend (plus a London weighting for QMUL and UCL and college fees in Oxford).

Each university runs its own recruitment process. For the majority, this will happen in the Spring, for an October start date.

The awards offer traditional project-specific training in areas of particular importance to primary care and awarded to applicants from diverse backgrounds including e.g., medical statistics, social sciences, health economics, health psychology.

Studentship awards include fees and an annual tax-free stipend (plus a London weighting for QMUL and UCL and college fees in Oxford).

Each university runs its own recruitment process. For the majority, this will happen in the Spring, for an October start date.

Nursing Commercial Research Fellowships 2026

The NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) is launching a new development fellowship programme designed to strengthen nursing leadership in commercial research across primary care and wider care settings.

This programme will offer nurses the opportunity to develop skills in commercial research delivery, academic growth, strategic systems leadership, and cross‑sector collaboration. A total of 11 part‑time Fellows will be appointed across SPCR member departments, as well as at Newcastle and Birmingham.

Fellowships may be undertaken at 0.4 or 0.5 FTE and can run for up to 18 months, concluding no later than 31 March 2028.

Purpose of the scheme:

To enhance understanding of commercial study pathways and relevant regulatory processes
To explore the role of nursing in supporting commercial research
To provide training in governance, appraisal, academic writing, and public and stakeholder engagement
To promote collaboration with NHS, NIHR, industry, and academic partners
To create a national fellowship cohort, including supervision, training sessions, shared learning, and peer support

Eligibility and recruitment:

Open to NMC‑registered nurses in primary care, community services, or wider care settings
Fellows may be employed directly or seconded (dependant on local member department policies)
These posts will be recruited locally, with timelines set by each host institution.
Posts may vary slightly across each institution – please see details below