Research Training Award

This scheme provides an opportunity to receive funding to cover tuition fees required to undertake a Masters in Research degree or equivalent M-level research training course in applied health and/or social care research.

It is aimed at those in the early stages of their research career (not necessarily early clinical or practice career stage) to support them to develop applied research skills and take the first steps on their research journey in health and social care.

Remit

The funding award covers tuition fees (and where applicable, salary costs up to 0.2 whole time equivalent [WTE]) for applicants to undertake an accredited Research Masters degree or an alternative applied health or social care Research Masters degree or clinical trials masters level programme. Applicants are required to make a strong case for the likely impact of the award on their research development and career trajectory. Courses can be taken on a full or part time basis.

We will fund:

• Tuition fees for the course
• Applicants can also apply for salary costs of up to 0.2 WTE (1 day a week)

We will not fund:

• Travel and subsistence costs incurred by the activities associated with this award
• Any other costs associated with your chosen course
• The award will not fund, and is not to be used to fund courses where the applicant has already registered and started to undertake course work unless these are clearly evidenced as being taught research methods training awards. In these instances, applicants are advised to contact the Faculty administration team to discuss their application and associated request for funding for the remainder of the course work or dissertation.     

Eligibility

Applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

• Applicants must be in employment in NHS Wales, Local Authorities - adult or children's social care services, or working in the independent health and social care sector in Wales.
• Applicants must be able to commence their chosen course by January of the year following an application at the latest. Applicants are advised to contact the relevant course leaders to establish start dates for the relevant modules.
• Applicants must remain in employment in NHS Wales or a Local Authority / Social Care Organisation based in Wales for the duration of their award.
• Applicants must have the support of the Head of Department or equivalent in the relevant employing organisation.
• Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements of their chosen course (e.g. an upper 2.1 Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent)

Assessment process

Applications will first be assessed for their eligibility and remit by the Health and Care Research Wales Faculty administration team. Applications deemed eligible will then be assessed by the funding panel members.

The panel will assess each application on the following criteria:

• The research interests of the applicant which demonstrate their potential as a future clinical or practice academic researcher.
• The applicant’s justification for the selected course and how the selected course will enable them to progress their research intentions.
• The applicant’s plan for a clinical or practice academic research career beyond the term of this award.
• The support of the relevant employing organisation Head of Department or equivalent.

When

This is an annual scheme with calls opening in January each year. The next call will open 6 January 2025.