Wellcome Trust - International Master's Fellowships

Wellcome International Master's Fellowship

This scholarship (a funded study and research package) provided you with a one-off grant of about 138,000 EUR (120,000 GBP) over a period of 30 months to undertake further study and research in the field of health. You spent 12 months on a Master of Science programme, followed by 18 months working on a research project in a low- or middle-income country. The grant covered your living costs, tuition fees, return flights, research expenses and administrative costs. You were also able to claim visa costs, up to approximately 1,150 EUR for relocation, up to approximately 1,700 EUR for a laptop, and travel expenses to attend conferences. The funding was provided by the Wellcome Trust, a major UK charity that funds health research worldwide.

Who could apply

• Nationality: They were citizens of a low- or middle-income country as defined by the World Bank’s list. India and mainland China were not included here, as they had their own programmes.
• Degree: You must hold a bachelor’s degree – whether in a clinical or non-clinical field – in a subject area relevant to your proposed research project.
• Career stage: They were still at the start of their careers and had little research experience, but had already demonstrated a clear interest in or talent for research.
• No master's yet: They did not yet have a master’s degree.
• Research topic: Your project addressed a specific health problem in a low- or middle-income country and was in line with Wellcome’s research priorities.
• A host lined up: A university, hospital or research institute in a low- or middle-income country (excluding mainland China) has agreed to accept you and to reserve a place for you for the entire 30 months.
• Where you were based: During the scholarship, you were resident in a low- or middle-income country, not in the United Kingdom, Ireland or any other wealthy country. The course itself could have taken place anywhere.

How to apply

You applied via Wellcome’s online funding system. There were two rounds per year. The last round closed on 24 August 2021, and decisions were made in November 2021. Please note that this funding programme has since been discontinued: Wellcome ended it in 2021 as part of a wider overhaul of its research funding, and no direct replacement has been established for individual Master’s applicants from low- or middle-income countries. To find similar funding opportunities, please consult the current list of open Wellcome funding programmes.