This scheme strengthens scientific research capacity in low- and middle-income countries, by providing support for junior researchers to gain research experience and high-quality research training at Master’s degree level.

Research should be aimed at understanding and improving public health and tropical medicine of local, national and global relevance. Public health and tropical medicine cover a wide range of health problems, including communicable and non-communicable diseases. Topics include:

• demographic, social science and health economic studies
• epidemiological, field and community-based studies
• healthcare systems and policy research
• measurement of infectious and chronic disease burden
• population studies
• clinical trials and case-control studies
• studies of disease mechanisms in the natural host
• determinants of disease susceptibility and resistance
• immunity or resistance in natural hosts or vectors.

This can include laboratory-based molecular analysis of field or clinical samples, but projects focused solely on studies in vitro or using animal models will not normally be considered under this scheme.

We are particularly interested in requests for research training support in the social sciences, demography, health economics, medical statistics and vector biology.

This Fellowship is part of a series of career awards aimed at building sustainable capacity in areas of research that have the potential for increasing health benefits for people and their livestock in low- and middle-income countries.

In partnership with the Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland, we have have established a joint Wellcome Trust-Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland Master’s Fellowship. Two joint awards per annum will be made, in addition to the Wellcome Trust Master’s Fellowships. Joint awards will be considered during the selection process for the Wellcome Trust Master’s Fellowships - no separate application is required.

What’s included
A Fellowship normally provides up to 30 months’ support. A period of 12 months should normally be dedicated to undertaking a taught Master’s course at a recognised centre of excellence, combined with up to 18 months to undertake a research project.

While undertaking a Master’s course, Fellows will receive a stipend in accordance with the cost of living in the country in which they will be studying, plus travel costs and support for approved tuition fees. Master’s training by distance learning is acceptable.

Master’s course fees will be paid according to the rate charged by the training institution.

A salary is provided for the duration of the Fellowship. Project-dedicated research expenses (consumables, small items of equipment, collaborative travel and support to attend scientific meetings, fieldwork and data collection) are also provided. Overseas allowances will be provided where appropriate. Contributions to other costs of the project that are directly incurred by the overseas institution may also be provided.

Research-dedicated costs (excluding salary/stipend costs) should not exceed £20 000 per annum.

If the Fellow is already in receipt of a salary from the host institution, the host institution may use this salary to pay for a replacement member of staff while the Trust provides the Fellow’s salary/stipend for the duration of the Fellowship. It is not expected that the Fellow would receive a salary in addition to the one provided by the Trust.

Please note that the Trust is no longer accepting applications from current Fellows who wish to extend their grants in order to undertake a PhD. The eligibility criteria for the Training Fellowship in Public Health and Tropical Medicine now includes applicants who have a clinical, basic or Master’s degree and some initial research experience, with the expectation that they will register for a PhD.

Eligibility
We will consider applications that fall within the Public Health and Tropical Medicine Interview Committee remit.

You should be:

• a national or legal resident of a low- and middle-income country, and hold a first degree in subject relevant to tropical medicine or public health (clinical or non-clinical)
• at an early stage in your career, with limited research experience, but have a demonstrated interest in or aptitude for research.

In general, Fellowships may be held in not-for-profit institutions that are able to sign up to our Grant Conditions. Institutions that have not previously received significant funding from us will be required to submit information to enable us to assess eligibility. Applications will not be considered by a decision-making committee until all eligibility checks have been completed.

Fellows must be based in a low- or middle-income country for their research project. The Trust does not provide Master’s schemes for UK/RoI-based researchers.

Sponsorship and supervision
You must be based at an eligible host institution in a low- or middle-income country for the research project. Master’s training may be undertaken at a recognised centre of excellence in any location. Master’s degrees by distance learning can be supported.

You must identify an eligible sponsoring institution to administer the Fellowship for the full tenure of the award. Applications must be submitted from this host institution and be supported by an appropriate sponsor holding an established post for the duration of the Fellowship. Applications must also be supported by the head of the institution.

Your sponsor must guarantee that space and facilities will be made available for you.

An additional sponsor(s) must be identified for periods to be spent outside the host institution (i.e. the institution(s) where periods of training will take place).

You should also be supported by appropriate supervisors who will provide independent support, mentorship and advice in all relevant research areas for the duration of the Fellowship.

Sponsors and supervisors should have ongoing research programmes and a track record in research, research training and mentorship.

A sponsor may also be nominated as a supervisor where appropriate.

Application process
A full application form should be completed via the Trust’s eGrants online application system and submitted at any time before the published deadline. (Note: select ‘International’ in the ‘Funding Area’ drop-down menu, then ‘Fellowships and personal awards’ in the ‘Scheme Type’ menu, then select the ‘Master’s Fellowship in Public Health and Tropical Medicine’ form in the ‘Scheme Name’ drop-down menu to choose the full application form.)

Please note that your host institution will need to be registered on eGrants before you can create a new application form. A list of registered institutions can be found here. If your host institution is not on this list, you will need to contact eGrants Support for further information, and allow sufficient time for your institution to be registered.

The application should include details of your sponsor’s track record in training and a list of their other students at the institution. It must be supported by the head of the institution where the research will be based, and a career plan for the proposed candidate must be included.

The full application will be reviewed by the relevant Interview Committee, which makes the final decision. Please note that candidates are not interviewed for these Fellowships.

Application advice
Research projects should be aimed at understanding and controlling diseases (either human or animal) of relevance to local, national or global health. This can include laboratory-based molecular analysis of field or clinical samples, but projects focused solely on studies in vitro or using animal models will not normally be considered under this scheme.

We are particularly interested in requests for research training support in the social sciences, demography, health economics, medical statistics and vector biology.

You should give careful thought to identifying sponsors and supervisors who possess strong track records in research, training and mentorship. These individuals should provide you with guidance during the application process and throughout the Fellowship.

You may not apply for more than one Wellcome Trust fellowship at any one time.

We reserve the right not to process an application if the scheme’s eligibility criteria are not met or if the application has not been completed in full.

Deadlines
Applications are considered twice a year.

• Next application deadline: 15 August 2014 (5pm)
• Final decision by Interview Committee: November 2014

Schedule for applications submitted to 10 December 2013 deadline:

• Final decision by Interview Committee: March 2014

Late applications will not be considered.

Fellowships must be taken up within one year of award.

Contacts
Enquiries may be directed to phatic@wellcome.ac.uk, the appropriate stream (listed below), or by telephone to the Grants Service Desk: +44 (0)20 7611 2020.

• Immunology and Infectious Disease : iid@wellcome.ac.uk
• Populations and Public Health : pph@wellcome.ac.uk
• Neuroscience and Mental Health : nmh@wellcome.ac.uk
• Cellular, Developmental and Physiological Sciences : cdps@wellcome.ac.uk
• Genetic and Molecular Sciences : gms@wellcome.ac.uk

See Contact us for our postal address.

• International Engagement Awards, Wellcome Trust, UK
• Training Fellowships in Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Wellcome Trust, UK
• Wellcome Trust 4 Year PhD Programmes, University of Oxford, UK
• PhD in Genomic Medicine and Statistics, University of Oxford, UK
• Master Degree Scholarship by USAID, USA
• Master Degree in Public Health, Academy for Educational Development, AED Indonesia, USA
• PhD Scholarship in School of Medicine for Ovarian Cancer Research, Deakin University, Australia
• PhD Scholarships in Epidemiology, Swiss Tropical Institute, Switzerland
• International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) Fellowship Programme, Japan
• Master Scholarship in Sustainable Regional Health Systems, Vilnius University, Lithuania

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the above information is current and correct. However, applicants should contact the appropriate administering body before making an application, as details do change frequently.