- Up to ~£3.5 million (est.)Typical award value
- Up to 8 yearsProject duration
- Established researchersCareer stage
- UK, Ireland & eligible LMICsWhere you can be based
- 1 active submission per leadApplication limit
- Interviews held in London or onlineFinal stage
At a glance
full
Funding
€4000k
Max amount
Nov 25, 2026
Deadline
United Kingdom
Country
Wellcome Trust
Provider
The Wellcome Discovery Awards are a research-funding scheme run by the Wellcome Trust, a UK health-research foundation established in 1936. Unlike a standard student scholarship, they fund established researchers and research teams to pursue bold, transformative projects across health, life sciences, humanities, and technology. A typical award is worth around £3.5 million and can run for up to 8 years, covering staff salaries for co-applicants, materials, equipment, fieldwork, public-engagement activity, and open-access publishing charges. The lead applicant's own salary is not funded. Applicants must be based at an eligible not-for-profit host organisation in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or an eligible low- or middle-income country, with India and mainland China excluded, and a researcher may hold only 1 active Discovery Award submission at a time. The most recent round opened on 6 August and closed on 25 November at 15:00 GMT, with shortlisting around February and interviews held in May. Because the exact award value, eligible-country list, and the 2026/2027 application and interview dates change each round, confirm the current figures and deadlines on the official Wellcome Discovery Awards page before you apply.
What's covered
- Core research funding — A single award of around ~£3.5 million (est.) covering the full direct costs of the proposed research over the grant period.
- Staff salaries — Salaries for co-applicants, research staff, and support roles (the lead applicant's own salary is not covered).
- Materials, equipment and consumables — Laboratory materials, consumables, specialist equipment, and access or overhead charges needed to deliver the project.
- Fieldwork and travel — Fieldwork costs, travel allowances, and an overseas allowance where the research requires work outside the host country.
- Public engagement and open access — Public-engagement and clinical-research costs plus open-access publishing charges, with an inflation adjustment applied across the multi-year grant.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online through the Wellcome Funding Platform, with institutional approval, before the published deadline.
- Prepare your proposal — Align your research plan with the Wellcome Discovery Research framework and confirm your host organisation is eligible.
- Register on the funding platform — Create an account on the official Wellcome Funding Platform and start a Discovery Award application.
- Complete and submit — Complete the application form, secure institutional approval, and submit before the deadline (the most recent round closed at 15:00 GMT).
- Review and interview — Applications are assessed by expert reviewers; shortlisted applicants present to the Discovery Award interview panel in London or online.
- Await the final decision — The Discovery Research Decision Board announces final outcomes after the interview stage.
Eligibility
Career stageMust be an established researcher (or team of co-applicants) with a proven track record of research excellence; early-career researchers are not eligible.
Host organisationMust be based at, or hosted by, an eligible not-for-profit such as a university, research institute, healthcare organisation, or social enterprise.
Project scopeMust propose bold, transformative research that aligns with Wellcome's mission to improve health and falls within the scope of Discovery Research.
Application limitMay lead only one active Discovery Award submission; projects that transfer grant funds to mainland China are not eligible.
Research cultureMust demonstrate a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and a positive research culture.
Host organisations must be based in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or an eligible low- or middle-income country. The exact list of eligible LMICs is published by Wellcome and is updated each round, so check it before applying.
Eligible countries
United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Eligible low- and middle-income countries (excluding India and mainland China)
Deadlines
2026/2027 round~25 November 2026 (est.)
Selection
Applications are assessed by expert reviewers and an interview panel on the quality, originality, and feasibility of the proposed research, the strength and track record of the applicant or team, the potential for transformative impact on health, and the fit with Wellcome's Discovery Research scope. Shortlisted teams present to the interview panel before the Discovery Research Decision Board makes final award decisions.
Verified sources
- Discovery Awards - Wellcomewellcome.orgofficial
About the provider
The Wellcome Trust is a charitable foundation based in London and founded in 1936 from the estate of pharmaceutical entrepreneur Sir Henry Wellcome. It is one of the largest private funders of health research in the world, supporting science, public engagement, and policy work that aims to improve human and planetary health.
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What are the Wellcome Discovery Awards?
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They are a research-funding scheme from the Wellcome Trust that supports established researchers and teams to pursue bold, transformative projects in health, life sciences, humanities, and technology, typically worth around £3.5 million for up to 8 years.
Is this a student scholarship?
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No. The Discovery Awards fund established researchers and research teams to run a research project, not students taking a degree, so early-career researchers are not eligible.
How much funding does an award provide?
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The average award is around ~£3.5 million (est.), with the exact amount depending on the scope and duration of the project; confirm current figures on the official Wellcome page.
How long can a project run?
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Discovery Awards can be held for up to 8 years, with adjustments possible for part-time researchers or shorter timelines in some disciplines.
Does the award cover the lead applicant's salary?
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No. The award covers most research-related costs and co-applicant salaries, but the lead applicant's own salary is not included.
Who is eligible to apply?
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Established researchers with a strong track record who are hosted by an eligible not-for-profit organisation in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or an eligible low- or middle-income country (excluding India and mainland China).
Can researchers from outside the UK apply?
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Yes. Researchers based in the Republic of Ireland or an eligible low- or middle-income country can apply, provided their host organisation meets Wellcome's eligibility rules.
Can I submit more than one Discovery Award application?
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No. A researcher may lead only one active Discovery Award submission at a time.
What fields are supported?
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Projects across STEM, clinical and allied health sciences, public health, experimental medicine, humanities, and social sciences are eligible, whether single-discipline or interdisciplinary.
When is the application deadline?
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In the most recent round the deadline was 25 November at 15:00 GMT; confirm the exact 2026/2027 closing date and time on the official Wellcome page.
How are applications selected?
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Expert reviewers assess each application, shortlisted teams are interviewed in London or online, and the Discovery Research Decision Board makes the final award decisions.
Where do I apply officially?
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Applications are submitted through the Wellcome Funding Platform via the official Wellcome Discovery Awards page; always confirm the current value, eligible countries, and dates there before applying.