Wellcome International Training Fellowships were designed to support early-career researchers based in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to gain research training and establish themselves in health-related research. Funded by the Wellcome Trust, a major global health research charity, the fellowships provided salary, research expenses, and training costs for a defined period. The fellowships gave researchers protected time to develop their skills — often through a PhD or structured postdoctoral research — under mentorship, with the aim of strengthening health research capacity in their home regions. Funding typically covered the fellow's salary, research and training costs, and associated expenses over several years. Importantly, Wellcome regularly restructures its funding schemes, and the specific "International Training Fellowship" has evolved within Wellcome's broader portfolio (such as its early-career and career-development awards). Applicants should confirm the current, equivalent Wellcome scheme, its eligibility, and its deadlines, which are set per scheme rather than as a single fixed date.
Identify the current Wellcome scheme that corresponds to the International Training Fellowship, then apply through Wellcome's grant system by that scheme's deadline, with a host and research-training plan.
Wellcome restructures its schemes periodically; the "International Training Fellowship" has been folded into Wellcome's broader career-development portfolio. Check Wellcome's current funding schemes for the live equivalent, its criteria, and deadlines.
Low- and middle-income countries (per Wellcome's definitions)
Wellcome assesses applicants on the quality and importance of the proposed research, the strength of the training and mentorship plan, the candidate's potential, and the environment at the host institution. Review typically involves expert peer review and, for shortlisted candidates, an interview.
The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health through research. It funds scientists and researchers worldwide — including capacity-building fellowships for researchers in low- and middle-income countries — and periodically updates its funding schemes to support discovery science and urgent health challenges.
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.
Fellowships from the Wellcome Trust supporting early-career researchers in low- and middle-income countries to gain research training in health, providing salary, research costs, and training expenses over several years.
Early-career researchers based in low- and middle-income countries pursuing research training in health, often including a PhD or postdoctoral research under mentorship.
The fellow's salary, research expenses, training costs (including PhD fees where relevant), and travel/associated costs, for a multi-year period.
Wellcome regularly restructures its funding, and the "International Training Fellowship" has evolved within Wellcome's broader career-development portfolio. Always check Wellcome's current schemes for the live equivalent.
Identify the current Wellcome scheme that corresponds to the International Training Fellowship, secure a host and mentor, and apply through Wellcome's grant system by that scheme's deadline.
Deadlines are set per Wellcome scheme rather than as a single fixed date. Check the current relevant scheme on Wellcome's funding pages.
Health-related research within Wellcome's remit — including biomedical, clinical, and public health research.
Yes — you need a host institution and a supervisor/mentor for your research training, as the fellowship is built around developing you within a research environment.
Early-career researchers seeking protected time and support for research training, often spanning a PhD or postdoctoral phase.
Competitive — Wellcome funding is awarded through expert peer review (and interview for shortlisted candidates), focusing on research quality and candidate potential.
Because Wellcome periodically renames and restructures its fellowships; to apply you need the current scheme name, eligibility, and deadline rather than relying on the older "International Training Fellowship" label.
A large global charitable foundation that funds research to improve health, supporting researchers worldwide across discovery science, health challenges, and research-capacity building.