Explore the Doctoral Landscape Awards in Medical Research funding opportunity, aimed at enhancing doctoral training within the UK's medical research sector. This initiative, spearheaded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), seeks to foster a skilled workforce capable of addressing pressing medical research challenges.

Funding Details

This opportunity supports approximately 200 notional studentships annually, with funding covering 100% of the full economic cost (FEC). Each four-year notional studentship is estimated to total £136,898, which includes a stipend of £92,231, fees of £23,467, a research training support grant of £20,000, and travel costs of £1,200. Additional administrative costs of up to £2,000 per studentship can also be requested.

Important Dates

Key dates for this funding opportunity include:

• Opening date: 17 November 2025 at 9:00 AM UK time
• Expression of Interest (EOI) opening: 5 December 2025
• EOI closing: 8 January 2026 at 4:00 PM UK time
• Application closing: 24 February 2026 at 4:00 PM UK time
• Interviews: Week commencing 15 June 2026

Eligibility Criteria

Applications are open to UK research organizations eligible for UKRI funding. Multi-organization consortia are encouraged, with one organization designated as the project lead. Each lead can submit only one application, and organizations can act as project partners in multiple applications. Partners may include both UK and overseas entities, and must provide a statement of support.

Application Process

Applicants must first submit a mandatory expression of interest before proceeding to a full application. The full application must be completed through the UKRI Funding Service. Only the project lead organization can submit the application, which should include contributions from all team members and partners. For further guidance on the application process, applicants can visit the UKRI Funding Service.

Assessment and Reporting

Applications will be evaluated by an expert panel based on criteria including vision, approach, culture, capability to deliver, partnerships, and governance. Successful applicants will be required to submit annual reports detailing diversity statistics, collaborative partner engagement, and training activities. Feedback will be provided post-assessment, with a focus on continuous improvement and monitoring.