One year research fellowship

Summary

Your first significant surgical research project deserves dedicated time. If you are a trainee member of the College, and ideally registered for a higher degree, our one-year research fellowships provide 12 months of funding and the stability you need to focus fully on research.

Career stage

In training and have passed MRCS Part A

Funding amount

The fellowship provides:

  • full basic salary (and employer) costs up to ST6-8 on the resident doctor pay scale, for 12 months;
  • a contribution of up to £3,000 towards consumables;
  • travel allowance up to £500 for presentation expenses.

Deadline

25 February 2027 at 14:00

Duration

12 months.

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We recommend you read the information below fully before starting an application.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from:

Surgical trainees who have passed MRCS Part A and will sit the final MRCS exam at RCS England.

SAS surgeons who are members of the College. Please note that basic salary cost payable for a successful candidate will not exceed ST6-8, Nodal point 5 on the pay scale for resident doctors.

Surgical trainees working in an approved LTFT post. Please note that time spent working should be wholly focused on research – as we cannot support a split between research and clinical activity, and the fellowship must be completed within two years.

Applicants must:

  • be a subscribing member of the College (or in the process of transferring);
  • be a trainee who has passed MRCS Part A;
  • be employed by a UK university or NHS trust;
  • be undertaking research in the UK;
  • be able to commence your fellowship within six months of the award date.

You must have not received a funded One Year Research Fellowship from RCS England before

For 2027 applicants, the start date of the fellowship must be between August 2027 and February 2028;
If shortlisted, be able to attend the in-person Viva Day in London on 13 July 2027

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Honorary Research Fellowship

If you are undertaking a dedicated year of research and have already secured funding for your research project, you can (subject to your current funders' permission) apply for an RCS England Honorary Research Fellowship.  

Honorary Fellows can attend the Research Methods Course, Diplomates Ceremony and other opportunities available to Research Fellows.

Applications follow the same eligibility and criteria as specified above for the One Year Fellowship and will undergo the same peer review and Viva Day process as funded fellowships, with funding status not disclosed to reviewers or viva day panel.

About our research fellowships

Established in 1993, our research fellowship scheme has now supported almost 1,000 research fellows with funding approaching £50m. 

This fellowship enables you to explore any aspect of surgery or surgical care, whether in basic science, diagnosis, treatment, surgical technology, audit, or advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare.

The core expectation is to identify meaningful research questions and design a robust study that can be completed within the fellowship year or as part of a higher degree. Projects may be self-contained or contribute to a broader research programme, offering flexibility for innovative idea.

What’s expected from one-year research fellows

RCS England one-year research fellowships are awarded on the understanding that you, your host centre and supervisor agree to accept the full Terms and Conditions relating to the scheme and any amendments issued during the term of the grant.

These include but are not limited to:

  • The fellowship is designed to be taken during a year out of your training programme.
  • Your research fellowship should commence within six months of the award date.
  • You should only use the fellowship funding for the project described in the application.
  • If there are any proposed changes to your project, supervisor, or wider circumstances from the application you should notify us, at which point further guidance will be provided.
  • Your RCS England membership subscription should remain up to date from application through to at least the end of the fellowship period. Membership status is periodically checked, and salary recharge invoices and travel claims will not be paid where this condition is breached.
  • Membership subscription should remain up to date beyond the fellowship term if you would like to be considered for any other benefits, prizes, or opportunities that may arise for an RCS England research fellow.
  • You will be expected to provide an interim report and a final report.

What you’ll gain from the fellowship

Our one-year research fellowship gives you the opportunity to build your skills and strengthen your evidence-based practice, without the pressure of juggling clinical commitments.

This fellowship also gives you:

  • the title of an RCS England research fellow;
  • basic salary support for 12 months, up to ST6-8 nodal point 5 on the resident doctor pay scale (administered by your employing institution);
  • consumables costs up to £3,000 during the fellowship period and up to £500 towards costs associated with presenting your research;
  • a place on a 2-day Research Methods Course, run by the Clinical Effectiveness Unit;
  • opportunities to network, build links, and present your research;
  • an invitation to receive your certificate at a diplomates’ ceremony.

How to apply

You’ll apply through our research funding portal. Register as a new user or log in, then complete the application form. Once you’re in your account, go to available grants and select 2027 one-year research fellowships from the list

Before you start

The form has nine sections. These cover your details, basic eligibility, organisation, and proposed research project.

There are sections for your head of department and your supervisor for the project. You’ll need to provide their contact details. If they’re the same person, they complete both sections.

It’s your responsibility to make sure every part of the form is complete and submitted by the deadline.

You can save your application and return to it at any time.

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What happens next

Every application is checked against the eligibility criteria.

All eligible applications go through an independent peer review process between March and May.

The peer review process evaluates the standard of the research, applicant, supervisor, and facilities, and assesses whether the proposed work will be valid, beneficial, and original.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to attend an in-person Viva Day in London on 13 July 2027 where you will present your work and be interviewed on your proposed research project by a panel of expert assessors.

You’ll be asked to provide confirmation of financial arrangements from your employing institution (link to finance form) before Viva Day.

Fellowship offers will be made in July 2027. Projects should start by 1 February 2028 (within six months of the award).

Please note: The number of fellowships awarded depends on available funding. The success rate for funded fellowships in 2025 was 15%.

Contact

If you have any questions when completing the Flexigrant application, please first read the additional notes provided within the application itself. If your question is not covered there, please then email research@rcseng.ac.uk
and we’ll be happy to help.

How the research fellowship scheme is funded

RCS England award around £1.5 million annually through our research fellowship scheme. We are able to achieve this through the generosity of our funding partners, along with legacies and endowed restricted funds. Many of our research fellows will have eponymous fellowships, which acknowledge the funding source. If your fellowship is eponymous, you may have the opportunity to meet your funder to share the progress of your research. 

Past winners

Support our work (fundraising)

Animal research

Conflict of interest

research reports.

Fellowship Research