What is the definition of a Health Professional?
A health professional is an individual who is registered with a national professional regulatory body (e.g. the General Medical Council, Health and Care Professions Council) in the country in which the PhD programme is based. This would include, but not be limited to, the following professions:
- Allied Health Professionals (Art Therapists, Chiropodists/Podiatrists, Dieticians, Drama Therapists, Music Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Operating Department Practitioners, Orthoptists, Osteopaths, Paramedics, Physiotherapists, Prosthetists and Orthotists, Radiographers and Speech and Language Therapists)
- Chiropractors
- Clinical psychologists
- Dentists
- Dental hygienists
- Dental nurses
- Dental therapists
- Healthcare scientists (in life sciences, physiological sciences, physical sciences and biomechanical engineering, and bioinformatics)
- Health Visitors
- Medics
- Midwives
- Non-medical Public Health Specialty Trainees, specialists or Consultants
- Nurses
- Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians
- Osteopaths
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy technicians
- Practitioner Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Vets
Can I apply to the Programme if already registered for a PhD?
If you are already registered for a PhD with funding available to support the full duration of this higher degree, you are not eligible to apply to this programme.
Do I need to apply for alternative/additional funding?
No, all studentships are fully funded so there is no need to apply for additional funding to be considered for this PhD programme.
What information should I put in my Statement of Interest?
Please provide a one-page statement on your research interests and experience, career goals and how these fit with your preliminary project aspirations. Please state whether or not you would consider a fellowship based at the Wellcome Sanger Institute or the University of East Anglia.
Can I apply for an MPhil prior to starting my PhD?
Funding is not available for an individual to undertake an MPhil prior to starting a PhD.
Do I need to have a confirmed supervisor and/or project before applying?
No. This programme does encourage individuals who do not have a specific research project to experience different laboratories before making a choice of research project and supervisor; therefore, there is no requirement to have a pre-determined project proposal or supervisor in mind prior to application. Alternatively, individuals with a predetermined project and supervisor are also welcome to apply. In either case, candidates will be asked to describe their research plan or aspirations in detail at interview; and this will form part of the selection process.
Is it possible to continue some clinical work during my PhD?
Successful individuals are encouraged to take advantage of the protected research time offered by this fellowship. Therefore, limited clinical work should be undertaken, i.e. usually maximum of one outpatient clinic/on-call per week for medics and minimal accreditation clinical work for non-medical health professionals.
Is the scheme open to clinicians who have completed clinical training (Consultant-level individuals)?
No, clinicians with CCT are not eligible to apply.
Can I undertake the PhD part-time?
The programme aims to be as inclusive as possible. Flexible working and part-time arrangements can be accommodated with the agreement of your supervisor and the Programme Faculty. However, part-time working is not permitted for the purposes of continuing clinical training or to maintain another salaried position. Your salary must be 100% attributed to the fellowship. The total course length remains at a maximum of four years.
I am a non-medical health professional, can I get advice regarding my application?
Non-medical healthcare professionals seeking information specific to them about the PhD and application may wish to consult Professors Tina Jerosch-Herold (NIHR Training Advocate & Professor of Rehabilitation Research at UEA) and Christi Deaton (co-lead, HEE funded Pre-doctoral Bridging Programme for nurses, midwives and AHPs intending to apply for doctoral fellowships, & Professor of Nursing, UoC). Professors Vass Vassiliou and Tina Jerosch-Herold can also advise regarding opportunities for medical and non-medical healthcare professionals at University of East Anglia
What support is in place for parental leave?
Successful fellows are employed by the University of Cambridge for the duration of their fellowship and parental leave is supported by the University’s policies. Wellcome provide supplementary grant costs for parental leave alongside a fellowship extension.
What if I have further questions?
Contact Teresa Wallman with questions about the PhD Programme itself, or the Postgraduate Admissions Office for information about the University of Cambridge Postgraduate Application Portal.
