PhD Programme for Primary Care Clinicians

Applications for 2026 entry will open on Monday 15^th September

The doctoral programme for Primary Care Clinicians aims to increase research capacity across contemporary primary care to create future research leaders who will develop innovative and evidence based practice and policy to improve population health and support the NHS.

The programme is for clinicians of all disciplines working in UK NHS primary care, for example: practice nurses; health visitors; dentists, primary care pharmacists; optometrists working in primary care and general practitioners (NB this list is not exhaustive). Eligible clinicians will be on a list or register of recognised active clinicians held by their professional body.

Eligible primary care clinicians must be fully qualified in their area of practice in primary care and will be working largely or wholly in primary care (i.e. not in secondary care). Candidates should intend to continue their clinical careers in primary care.

This year, the programme will only offer 2 confirmed studentships. We anticipate this funding round will be very competitive and that no more than 8 candidates will be shortlisted for interview. Applicants can either propose their own research project or contact potential supervisors in their area to enquire about existing projects. 

Studentships are hosted at one of the 10 primary care research departments who are part of this consortium: Bristol, Cambridge, Exeter, Keele, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, QMUL, Southampton and UCL

This programme is supported by Wellcome.