Q: When are the application deadlines?

See our ‘How to apply’ page.

Q: How many offers do you make each year?

We are funded to award a maximum of 5 PhD fellowships each year, over five years from 2022-2027.

Q: What sort of research will the CREATE PhD Programme fund?

We encourage research across a wide-range of disciplines including epidemiology, lab sciences, clinical research, social sciences, anthropology, health economics, demography and others. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary projects. You should have a supervisory team that has the methodological and technical expertise to support you to answer your research questions. An important part of evaluation of Stage 2 applications is the suitability of your supervisory team, and applications where the supervisory team is not adequate are not likely to be successful.

Q: Are there specific areas of research that the CREATE PhD Programme funds?

The remit of this programme is global health research in Africa. The programme will fund research on health issues of public health importance to Africa.

Q: What kind of research experience do I need before applying?

Applicants are likely to have previously undertaken research, either through an Academic Clinical Fellowship or clinical primer or equivalent (medical and dental graduates), an internship, residency, clinical primer or equivalent (veterinary) or via an alternative route such as the NIHR ICA/T fellowship, or a Master’s degree with relevant modules.

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Practical research experience is desirable, specifically demonstrating that you have been involved in the research cycle including design, implementation, analysis, write-up and dissemination of findings.

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If you are unsure if your research experience is appropriate for an application, please contact the programme team on create-phd@lshtm.ac.uk who will advise further.

Q: Do I need to have publications from my previous research?

Ideally you will be able to demonstrate some output from your research. This could be a peer-reviewed publication but does not necessarily need to be in the form of a publication, as we appreciate that not all professionals have the opportunity or support for producing publications. Other outputs such as policy reports or briefs, data repositories and other impactful outputs will strengthen your application. Presentation of abstracts at conferences does not count for as much as full publications or other written outputs.

Q: What are you looking for in terms of demonstrating engagement with the API at the application stage?

Some of this will come across in how you talk about your project at interview. We are looking for people who will be based at the API and will integrate within it (as compared to going for data collection and then being based at UKI for most of the time). Evidence of engagement might include information on how you will do public engagement and how you will engage with stakeholders in your project. Going to visit the API before you apply is encouraged but is not required.

Q: I worry I am not “good enough” for this scheme and have 'Imposter Syndrome'. Should I even apply (including if I've been rejected previously)?

'Imposter Syndrome' is something that individuals can experience throughout their careers, including highly successful professors. It is helpful to remember that it is a universal phenomenon even if some people are better at concealing it than others – and that doubting ourselves is part of what makes us good scientists. You won’t know whether you are good enough until you try. Rejections and not getting grants (the first time) are a very common and normal feature of academia. A rejection does not mean the end - it can lead to a refinement of the original idea and research project, and can lead to success on second (or third) application.

Q: I left university some time ago, what can be accepted for an academic reference?

An academic reference can be from anyone that knows you in an academic context, it does not need to be from your own degree(s) or a current lecturer or degree supervisor. If you work at a university or school, you can provide a reference from a colleague or line manager who knows your work there.

Q: Do I need to include a project proposal with my application?

For Stage 1 applications, we focus on the excellence and quality of the candidates. You are not expected to provide a full project proposal. You do need to indicate what area of research you want to pursue and provide a summary of your proposed research project and any potential supervisors you have in mind. This will enable us to assess your suitability for the programme, and also to help us to direct you to the appropriate institutions and supervisors should you be shortlisted.

If you are shortlisted to Stage 2, you will need to develop a full proposal and a detailed feasible budget. You will need to identify a suitable supervisory team who will help you to do this. For Stage 2, we assess the proposed project, including scientific merit, feasibility and likely impact. We also assess your training plan, the suitability of your supervisory team and your training environment. In addition, we will assess your ownership of the project and your role in developing the proposal and its objectives. Applicants that do not demonstrate sufficient independent thinking are unlikely to be successful.

Q: Do I need support from my clinical employer?

This will depend on your health profession; for example, medics need to apply for OOPR from their Deanery and TPD in order to take time out of training. However, this may not be the case for other health professionals. We see it as an advantage to be supported by your employer to conduct a period of research, especially if the transition back to a split role of research and clinical work can be negotiated for the post-doctoral period.

Q: Which health professionals are accepted onto the CREATE PhD Programme?

All health professionals and vets who are fully registered with a regulatory body in the UK or Republic of Ireland will be eligible to apply for a place on the CREATE PhD Programme.

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Fellows recruited to the programme must be healthcare professionals who hold full registration with UK professional regulatory bodies (e.g., the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council, General Optical Council, General Pharmaceutical Council, General Dental Council, among others) in the UK/Republic of Ireland.

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Resident doctors must be registered on a UK/Republic of Ireland (RoI) specialist training programme or must be a registered GP.

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Q: Am I eligible to apply if I am registered as a health professional in other countries but not in the UK/RoI?

To be eligible to apply you must have a qualification that allows you to practice clinically in the UK/ RoI and be registered with a regulatory body. Individuals registered as health professionals in other countries but not in UK/RoI are not eligible.

Q: Do I need to be working clinically in the NHS to be eligible?

We anticipate that the vast majority, but not all, applicants will currently be working clinically in the NHS. Some may be working in a private setting such as vets and pharmacists.

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Fellows recruited to the programme do not need to be currently practicing but must hold full registration with a UK professional regulatory body (e.g., the General Medical Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council, General Optical Council, General Pharmaceutical Council, General Dental Council, among others) in the UK/RoI.

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Q: How many years of clinical experience do I need to be eligible?

Different health professionals have different clinical training pathways, so we do not set out years of clinical experience as eligibility criteria.

Q: Am I eligible to apply if I am finalising my undergraduate degree?

Undergraduate students are not eligible to apply for this programme.

Q: Am I eligible to apply if I am registered for a PhD elsewhere?

Those who are registered for a PhD elsewhere are not eligible to apply for this programme.

Q: How many times am I eligible to apply if I have previously been unsuccessful?

Applicants who have unsuccessfully applied to the programme on two occasions are no longer eligible to apply.

Q: Do I need to have intercalated during my degree to be eligible?

No, intercalation is not a requirement for the programme.

Q: Do I need to have academic (medical or dental) foundation training to be eligible to apply?

No, you do not. As long as you have evidence of research experience, you will not be disadvantaged if you have not had academic foundation training.

Q: Do I need to have a master's degree to apply?

It is not mandatory to have completed a master's degree.

Q: Do I need to have a master’s degree that is research based?

A research-based master’s would demonstrate that you have some of the relevant skills and training to carry out a period of PhD research. However, this is not a mandatory requirement, and some applicants will have gained research experience through other avenues.

Q: Can I apply to the CREATE PhD Programme to part-fund an existing research project?

No. The scheme does not part-fund existing research. You may embed your project in a larger research study but your PhD project must be your own and not part of existing objectives that the fellowship will provide additional funding for.

Q: Can I still apply if I haven't worked overseas before?

Yes. Experience working overseas is desirable but you will not be disadvantaged if you haven't had that opportunity yet. You should demonstrate an experienced interest in global health, which doesn't only have to be shown through research.

Q: What data management plan is needed for my project proposal

We encourage candidates to look into available information around PhD data management that is suitable to individual project proposals. Each UK institution's data management plans are likely to differ slightly and your supervisor should guide you to those plans. We expect that candidates will come up with plans that will fit their own research and so be somewhat unique.

Q: As a non-doctor health professional, how can I be competitive for a PhD fellowship in this Programme?

We appreciate that not all health professionals have access to a period of funded research during their training. To take this into consideration, all applications will be taken on their individual merit so that the strongest candidates will be shortlisted for interview by an appropriate panel. As well as academic record, criteria used to assess applicants are commitment to global health research, contribution to generation of knowledge, development of individuals and contribution to broader society. We appreciate that these can be achieved in different ways and that traditional research experience and publications is not the only route.

Q: How do you ensure that NMAHPs are not disadvantaged in the application process when competing against medical professionals?

We understand that NMAHPS have had different experiences and different opportunities and we are working to ensure that this is not a barrier. We have specific NMAHP representation on the Programme Management Board and the Strategic Advisory Board to ensure that we get the application process and support right. NMAHPs academics are also represented on the selection panels. We ensure that the application process considers a broader range of contributions to research and health promotion (for example contribution to society, development of individuals) rather than focussing on traditional metrics.

Q: Do you have any advice regarding liaising with industry partners?

Your supervisors should be able to help with this. This partnership is encouraged, however there are considerations regarding the likely time required to set this up and limitations of contracts. We would recommend trying to have an agreement in principle before starting your PhD if this is going to be important. You might consider how central this is to your project – if it proves too difficult then what will the impact be on your project be? Would it be possible to have a successful project even if the industry partnership doesn’t work out?

Q: What does my supervisory team comprise?

This includes your two primary supervisors (one from the UK HEI and one from the HEI in the African country where you will conduct your research). These along with your co-supervisors form your supervisory team. You may also have collaborators. See Supervisory Definitions.

Q: What if you have one supervisor who meets the requirements for the API and the UKI supervisor?

We want you to have distinct API and UKI supervisors, as they both have slightly different roles for your project. Your supervisor may have a joint UKI and API appointment. If so, they may be eligible to be both UKI and API supervisor, but then you need to allocate them to one or the other and have a second person for the ‘other’ role.

Q: Does my API supervisor need to be an African national?

Not necessarily, but they do need to be employed or linked with your intended African institution.

Q: How do supervisory meetings work? Do my supervisors speak to each other?

Most institutions require you to have a regular (often monthly) meetings with all your supervisors and we recommend this. This is in part to avoid you getting conflicting advice from your supervisors and ensure you are all on the same page. However, you may have additional meetings with one or more members of your supervisory team to discuss specific issues.

Q: Who should be on my supervisory advisory panel/team: what is the number and scope of the panel and what should be expected from them?

You will have two primary supervisors (one API and one UKI). However, your project may require additional expertise that your primary supervisors may not have. You may therefore require co-supervisors or advisors who provide specific knowledge or expertise on one topic area. These co-supervisors can change or be added as the project evolves, but it is important to have the expertise on your team/panel to achieve your project aims. The difference between a co-supervisor and advisor can be arbitrary. Supervisors are involved in guiding the overall project and advisors offer targeted advice on a specific project area. Together they form part of the panel- There is no specified number but try to not have too large a panel/team as communication can be challenging.

Q: Can I have the same sponsor for both institutions?

A sponsor holds an established post at your sponsoring organisation and is committed to helping you achieve your career aspirations and guarantees the resources and locations.

You should have a different sponsor for each institution. Sponsors are institutionally responsible for hosting you and being a suitable place to undertake your proposed project. Even if your chosen supervisor holds positions at both your UKI and API, you or they should choose which institution they will be a sponsor for.

Q: What funding does the Programme offer?

Funding covers salary, travel, and training costs, full UK university PhD tuition fees, research/consumables/materials costs for the UK and your overseas partner/collaborator, and a contribution to living costs for being based overseas for part of your PhD.

Q: I am employed at consultant level, will Wellcome cover my salary during the PhD?

The scheme is designed for those in training or at a comparatively early stage of an established post who wish to develop an academic career. A consultant (or equivalent for example above Band 7) salary will not be covered.

Q: How long does the funding last for?

The standard duration of a PhD fellowship funding award is three years (or part-time equivalent) from the date of registration at your host institution.

Q: Can I apply via an HEI and be employed via the HEI during the PhD?

You will be appointed to the CREATE PhD Programme prior to being employed by the HEI of your senior supervisor. Your HEI employment and fellowship funding will start when your PhD starts. For the period prior to starting your PhD, you will be employed in your current role.

Q: Can I do the PhD on a part-time basis?

Yes, you can do your PhD on a part-time basis, but only to balance this with caring responsibilities, not at the same time as carrying out other salaried employment. We follow Wellcome policies related to flexible research careers. Full details are available above, under the Wellcome policy for 'flexible research careers'.

Q: Are the Stage 2 interviews held online or in person?

For the 2023 interviews, they will be held in person. For anyone who cannot attend, they should advise the Programme Manager in advance so alternative arrangements can be made.

Q: Where will I be registered for my PhD?

You will be primarily registered at the university at which your UK institution (primary) supervisor is employed. This should be one of the following 5 institutions (QMUL, LSHTM, BSMS, SGUL or KCL).

Q: Where will I conduct my research?

You will conduct your research based at one of the 6 African partner institutions (BRTI, CDT-Africa, MRC-Gambia, MRC-Uganda, Zambart, Zvitambo). These will be your host institutions when you are based in Africa conducting your research.

Q: How much time am I meant to spend in Africa?

Each UK Institution (where you register for your PhD) will have regulations re the minimum period of time and at what stage of your PhD you are resident in the UK during your fellowship. Ideally, it is expected that you will spend about 18 to a maximum of 24 months of their PhD based in Africa. This can be one continual period or over multiple periods. Applicants who plan to spend shorter periods will have to provide a strong justification, as a core focus of this scheme is for fellows to be based in Africa for their training.

Q: Can I work across multiple institutions?

Yes, we like cross-site collaborations! We would like you to have a primary defined API (which is one of the six designated APIs) that will be the subcontracted organization and where you will be based, but you can work across multiple (including institutions that are not partner institutions). Remember that working across multiple institutions may be costly and logistics can be challenging when you are not based somewhere, so take this into account when planning your project.

Starting your Fellowship

Q: Are there any fixed commitments in the UK which will dictate when I can move to my API during my fellowship?

Not that we are aware of at present – particularly with adaptations for COVID it is possible to have induction at most UKIs remotely. You are likely to want to attend short courses or MSc modules in the UK and are likely to need to go back for upgrading. Therefore, you may wish to take these dates into account when planning the timeline of your PhD.

Q: If I am awarded a fellowship, can I defer it?

Yes you can defer for up to one year from time of offer if necessary. Note that the date on which you enrol for your PhD may be fixed by the host institution (for example at LSHTM you can enrol in September, January, and June). We recommend aligning your fellowship start date to be around the time you also enrol for your PhD, however these do not need to be the same date. There is also flexibility if you need to start your Fellowship before PhD registration date – although need to bear in mind that this should be a few months at most. Your university will be looking for you to have done your research during the time you are registered for your PhD.

Q: How are we paired with our African fellow counterparts? Does it need to be a similar role or project? Might the availability affect the success of our application?

The pairing is only between institutions, rather than selected fellows, so each UK institution is paired with an African institution. Fellow offers at each institution do not need to be similar as the African fellowship candidates do not need to be health professionals and as they are are not paired by role or project, then availability is not affected.

Q: Can I retain my NHS employment?

You will be employed by the university where your PhD is registered and be a member of staff in the corresponding salary grade. To carry out any clinical work if required, you will be asked to obtain an honorary contract with your NHS employer. The independent funding provided as part of this fellowship ensures that you remain supernumerary to the NHS and thus not subject to the demands of service provision during their research training.

Q: How much clinical work am I allowed to do while studying for my PhD?

You are permitted to undertake up to one day a week (to 0.2 FTE) of clinical work if appropriate to your training or helpful for your research question. For craft specialists (e.g. surgeons or midwives), this is increased to 0.4 FTE. A craft specialty is defined as a specialty or profession where manual skill and dexterity is central to the delivery of care, and individuals require dedicated time in an operating theatre environment (or equivalent) to maintain these skills. However, the emphasis is in your research training and this should not be compromised. We encourage you to only take up a clinical role if it adds clear value.

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The following guidance , released In 2017, sets out the principles and obligations of all UK institutions and clinical trainees in receipt of nationally competitive funding for clinical academic research training. Whilst there is no equivalent agreement in place for the clinical training of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, we consider that the same principles of clinical academic training should relate to all health professionals undertaking academic training.

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Fellows working clinically or undertaking patient-facing research in the African country where they are conducting their PhD research must ensure that they are registered with the appropriate health professional body, and are undertaking appropriate continuing professional education to maintain their registration.

Q: As an NMAHP who is not in a structured specialist clinical training programme, am I allowed to do Bank / locum work to keep up my clinical skills during the Fellowship?

If this is to keep up clinical skills then yes, we will support this, but we do not want people to be earning double salaries (i.e. have two full time jobs!). We will keep an eye on how much work you are doing as part of annual reviews, and it is important to be transparent about this. Another approach is to get an honorary contract in order to facilitate you working in the NHS (for example).

For UKI Fellows, consider also how you might support clinical services whilst based at the API, and whether you can have this recognised by your professional body. This may not only be a way you can keep up your clinical skills but also helps with the huge unmet need for clinical expertise in the setting where you are doing your research; and often raises important issues or questions which you can then address through your research.

Q: How will you ensure integration as a cohort and how will mentorship work?

We will have quarterly meetings of fellows and an annual/biannual Fellows meeting (in person, likely to rotate between APIs). There will be a Digital Global Health Academy (DGHA) which all fellows will be expected to participate in. There will also be a formal mentorship scheme with your mentor being distinct from your supervisory team. These are all in the process of being developed.

Q. Can I extend the duration of my fellowship?

The fellowship is expected to be three years in duration with fellows expected to submit their PhD thesis within the three-year funding period. It can be extended for specified reasons (such as sick leave, maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave, compassionate leave). Grants will be supplemented where applicable. The end date will also be extended by the time equivalent to the period of leave.

Q. What happens at the end of my PhD?

In the final year of your PhD, you will be encouraged to discuss your future plans with your supervisors, mentor and the Programme Management Group (PMG). You will be supported to identify funding opportunities for a post-doctoral award to prepare applications for post-doctoral fellowships. However, we anticipate that fellows may choose a variety of career options post-PhD and we will support you to identify appropriate opportunities. Do note, that this programme does not provide post-doctoral funding.

Q Do I need to be a health professional to apply?

You do not need to be a health professional. Applications for each organisation will be made public once they are open for submissions and if any organisation has specific requirements, they will be made know at the time of advert.

Q How many stages are there in the application process?

The application process may vary by institution. In general, the first stage is the submission of the application form, followed by an interview if you are shortlisted. Once the interview has been conducted, a decision will be made and the fellowship will be offered to a candidate. All other applicants will be informed once a candidate has accepted the fellowship. Unfortunately we will not be able to provide detailed feedback on the application and interview. Each African fellow round follows the UK fellow round.

Q How quickly will I receive the results of the application process?

This may vary by country and will be detailed in the advertisement. Please ask at the interview when you should expect an outcome.

Q When are the African fellowships advertised?

The UK fellowships need to be recruited first, so we know which countries the research will take place, and will also be matched to when the UK fellow starts. UK fellowships are offered in May each year but some candidates may defer their start time until the following year. If UK fellows are starting in the autumn term of that year, African fellowship opportunities should be advertised around June/July of that year. We will announce on Twitter/X and our news page when we open applications for the African fellowships.

Q Do I have to be resident in the country where the API is located?

You do not need to be a resident at the time of application. However, you will need to be eligible to work in the country where the API is located and will need to move at the start of your PhD.

Q What is the supervisor arrangement for my PhD? Can I add another supervisor from another institution?

As a minimum, you will need to have a supervisor based in the African country the API is based, ideally affiliated to the API and another supervisor from the higher education institution you are registered with. Additional supervisors or advisors can be added in line with the guidelines of the higher education institution you are registering your PhD with.

Q Do I have to go to the UK as part of my PhD?

This is generally encouraged however, the duration of time spent in the UK and when will be discussed and decided on a case by case basis. Some of the UK higher education institutions will also offer training courses online.

Q What is the remuneration for the role?

Remuneration is in the form of a stipend but it may differ across institutions. Some PhD students may have a dual role and receive a salary as part of that role. The minimum stipend will be GBP 1,000 per month.

Q Will I need to pay any PhD fees?

Most higher education institutions in the UK where candidates may be registered will either waive the fess or cover the fees through additional funding. If the candidate registers at an African higher education institution, fees will be covered by the fellowship.

Q Can I contact a CREATE PhD fellow for guidance during the application process?

Please contact the CREATE programme team at create-phd@lshtm.ac.uk in the first instance to answer any questions related to the application process. If still required or requested, she can put you in touch with a current fellow.

Q Can I apply for more than one programme at a time?

As long as you fulfil the eligibility criteria you can apply to as many programmes as you wish. One of the main eligibility criteria across all programmes is that you are an African citizen, who is eligible to work in the African country where the PhD studies will be based.

Q Can I re-apply to a programme if I was unsuccessful in the previous year(s)?

We specifically encourage candidates who were unsuccessful at interview stage to re-apply.

Q I completed my studies in English, will I need to complete an English language proficiency test?

This depends where you have completed your studies, and what institution you will be applying to for your PhD. Please refer to your intended supervisor for the rules for your intended institution.