International Intermediate Fellowships for nationals of low- and middle-income countries
Scheme at a glance
Career stage:
- Tooltip ,Leading a research programme
Where your host organisation is based:
- Tooltip ,Low- or middle-income countries (apart from India and mainland China)
Type of researcher:
- Tooltip ,Basic ,
- Clinical,
- Public health
Level of funding:
Usually £400,000 to £800,000 for salary and research expenses
Duration of funding:
5 years
Who can apply
You can apply for an International Intermediate Fellowship if:
- you’re a national of a low- or middle-income country
- your proposed research focuses on a health priority in a low- or middle-income country
- you have sponsorship from an eligible host organisation in a low- or middle-income country apart from mainland China.
You should be driving your own research and be ready to lead an independent research programme.
You can apply if:
- you have a PhD or you’re a clinically qualified doctor (and qualified to enter higher specialist training), vet, dentist or clinically qualified psychologist
- you have significant research experience
- you have made important contributions to your area of research eg publications, patents, software development or an impact on health policy or practice.
You can apply if you have a permanent or rolling employment contract, but only if you’re at the early stages of an independent career. Please contact us first to discuss.
This scheme may be of particular interest if you’re an early-career fellow (such as an International Training Fellow) and this fellowship is the next step in your career as a research scientist.
If you’ve been away from research (eg for a career break, maternity leave, or long-term sick leave), we’ll allow for this when we consider your application.
Your research proposal
Your research proposal should be within our science remit and focus on a health priority in a low- or middle-income country.
When we consider your application, we’ll look at:
- your research contributions
- the scientific merit of your proposed project
- the significance of the research
- the feasibility of your proposal
- the suitability of your sponsor and host environment for both your research and for the development of your independent career.
By the end of this fellowship you should:
- have achieved international standing in your area of research
- be leading your own research programme
- have the skills and experience to apply for senior level fellowships or permanent positions at a research organisation.
For more information, read our Guidance on International Intermediate Fellowships [DOCX 26KB].
Who can’t apply
You can’t apply if:
- you’ve previously held, or currently hold, an internationally competitive fellowship at an equivalent level eg MRC/DFID African Research Leader scheme
- you’re a researcher in India – instead see the Wellcome Trust/Department of Biotechnology India Alliance(opens in a new tab)
- you’re currently applying for another Wellcome fellowship.
If you’ve already been unsuccessful with a full application for this scheme, please contact us before you apply again.
You can’t apply to carry out activities that involve the transfer of grant funds into mainland China.
What’s expected of your host organisation
You must be based at an eligible host organisation in a low- or middle-income country for the research project. This could be your current organisation or a different one.
When your host organisation submits your application, they must agree to provide the space and resources you’ll need from the start date through to the end date of your award.
Sponsor
You must have a sponsor who is a head of department or equivalent (eg centre director or head of school) in your host organisation.
If you plan to work for more than four months outside your host organisation, you must also have an additional sponsor at that location. The additional sponsor must agree to provide the space and resources you’ll need.
Your sponsor must guarantee that the host organisation will provide:
- support to lead your own independent research
- the status and benefits of other academic staff of similar seniority.
Your sponsor should not expect you to spend more than eight hours a week on non-research activities (eg clinical duties, teaching or administration).
Your sponsor’s support and mentorship should be part of a longer-term commitment to help you achieve your career aspirations.