About this opportunity
A Career Development Award is Wellcome's route for a mid-career researcher who wants to move from contributing to a field to shaping one. The scheme funds you to build a research programme that changes how we understand human life, health and wellbeing, whether that means generating a significant shift in understanding or developing the methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that other researchers will use.
The money is sized to the programme rather than to a fixed band. You ask for the resources your research programme needs and justify the request with your administering organisation in the context of the support they will provide. Wellcome states that annual expenditure for a Career Development Award is usually below GBP 250,000 excluding the applicant's salary, and applications above that value face additional scrutiny. Funding duration is usually 8 years, which may be less in some disciplines and may only be longer if the award is held part time. Co-applicants are not accepted on this scheme.
Location matters, and it is changing. Applications are currently open to researchers based at eligible administering organisations in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, and low and middle income countries apart from India and mainland China. From 29 October 2026 Wellcome will only accept applications from lead applicants based at eligible organisations in the UK and in low and middle income countries in Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia. Anything submitted on or before 28 October 2026 is assessed under the current rules, so if your country sits outside the narrower list, that date is the one to watch.
There is no closing date. Wellcome accepts applications to this scheme year round, so the timeline is yours to set, and you can save an application on the Wellcome Funding platform and return to it.
What you receive
- Research programme funding sized to your proposal, usually below GBP 250,000 a year excluding your salary
- Award duration of usually 8 years, with flexibility for part-time arrangements
- Support to develop your leadership skills and to train the next generation of researchers
- Eligibility to apply at any time, since the scheme has no application deadlines
- For internationally mobile applicants, potential eligibility for a Global Talent visa through the endorsed funder route
Who can apply
- You are a mid-career researcher ready to lead a substantial and innovative research programme
- You aim to make a key contribution to your field, by generating significant shifts in understanding or by developing methodologies, conceptual frameworks, tools or techniques that could benefit health-related research
- You have completed one or two significant research periods after your initial training and have contributed significantly to your research area
- You are based at an eligible administering organisation in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or a low or middle income country apart from India and mainland China
- From 29 October 2026, you are based at an eligible organisation in the UK or in a low or middle income country in Africa, South Asia or South-East Asia
- You can hold a permanent, open-ended or long-term rolling contract, or a fixed-term position that meets the scheme's conditions on salary requests
Who should not apply
- India and mainland China are not eligible locations under the current rules
- From 29 October 2026, applications from lead applicants outside the UK and outside low and middle income countries in Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia will not be accepted
- Co-applicants are not accepted on this scheme
- Applications with annual expenditure above GBP 250,000 excluding salary are not ruled out, but they face additional scrutiny
- The salary you request must fit your administering organisation's contractual position under the scheme rules
Documents to prepare
- A full grant application on the Wellcome Funding platform, using the Career Development Award form
- A justified research budget agreed with your administering organisation, in the context of the support they will provide
- Details of your research programme and its contribution to understanding human life, health or wellbeing
- Evidence of your career stage and of the significant contributions you have made to your research area
- An outputs management plan, following Wellcome guidance on how to complete one
How to apply
- Read the scheme page and check who can apply, who cannot apply, and whether your research and your organisation are right for this scheme
- Talk to your administering organisation's research office early, since you will need their agreement to the budget and the support you are requesting
- Review a sample full Career Development Award application and the guidance on how to write a Wellcome grant application
- Open the Wellcome Funding platform at https://funding.wellcome.org/ and log in or create an account
- Complete the application, saving it and returning to it as often as you need before submission
- Submit at any time. There are no deadlines for this scheme, and applications are accepted year round
Selection process
- Applications are assessed by Wellcome's funding decision process and the relevant advisory committee for your field
- A Career Development Award Interview Panel reviews applications to this scheme
- Applications with annual expenditure above GBP 250,000 excluding salary receive additional scrutiny
- Applications submitted on or before 28 October 2026 are assessed under the current location eligibility rules, and later applications under the narrower rules
Sources and verification
- Official source , Discovered by the opportunity automation module.
Questions applicants ask
Is there an application deadline?
No. Wellcome states that there are no deadlines for applications to this scheme and that applications can be submitted at any time.
How much can I ask for?
You request the resources your research programme needs and justify the request with your organisation. Annual expenditure is usually below GBP 250,000 excluding your salary, and requests above that face additional scrutiny.
How long does the award last?
Usually 8 years. It may be less for some disciplines and may only be longer if the award is held on a part-time basis.
What changes on 29 October 2026?
Location eligibility narrows. From that date Wellcome will only accept applications from lead applicants based at eligible organisations in the UK and in low and middle income countries in Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia. Applications submitted on or before 28 October 2026 are assessed under the current rules.
Can I add a co-applicant?
No. Co-applicants are not accepted on this scheme.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
