CREATE PhD Programme Fellow (x5)
Overview
The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is inviting applications for CREATE, a Wellcome-funded PhD training programme in global health starting in September 2027. CREATE is a consortium of five UK universities with six partner institutions in Africa and Asia, located in Pakistan, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, The Gambia and Uganda. It trains health professionals who want to do a PhD as a first step towards a clinical academic career. Up to five fellows will be funded.
Fellows register their PhD at one of the UK institutions and spend at least 18 months at a partner institution, with a primary supervisor in the UK and a co-primary supervisor at the partner. Research must address health problems relevant to the host country or region and fit Wellcome's definition of Discovery Research, which spans fundamental biology to population health studies. Interdisciplinary ideas are encouraged, as are applications from people with fewer research opportunities so far who show strong potential.
Who can apply
The programme is open to doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, pharmacists, healthcare scientists, veterinary professionals and dentists with an interest in global health research. Applicants must be practising professionals registered with a UK or Republic of Ireland regulator, with at least two years of clinical experience after qualifying. Medical graduates must be on a UK or Irish training programme or be a registered GP, with at least 12 months left to complete training by the time the PhD is awarded. Nurses, midwives and allied health professionals need a relevant master's degree. Applicants need the right to work in the UK and eligibility for UK home fees.
What you get
Support lasts three years and covers a salary, research expenses, home-rate tuition fees, and training and travel costs. Pay is matched to the appointee's current salary plus London allowance where applicable, within a range of 45,728 to 76,582 GBP per year pro rata. Fellows receive tailored career support after the PhD.
How to apply
The process has two stages. Stage 1 is an online form, without a CV, assessing motivation and vision. About 15 to 20 applicants are invited to build a full Stage 2 application with a PhD proposal, detailed budget and supervisors, and up to five are chosen after external review and interviews in May 2027. The reference is ITD-CRD-2026-24.
Key dates
The closing date for Stage 1 is Sunday 8 November 2026.
Links in this posting
- Wellcome’s definition of a health professional can be found here. Appointments will be made to match an appointee’s current salary plus London allowance if applicable. Every effort will be made to match NMAHP salaries to the Agenda For Change scale.
- Applications for Stage 1 should be made via the apply button above. Online applications will be accepted by the automated system until 23.59 of the closing date. Applicants should not upload a CV. An Equal Opportunities form should be submitted alongside the application to Nunzia.limongelli@lshtm.ac.uk Please quote reference ITD-CRD-2026-24.
- Further information on the Programme is available at: PROGRAMME | CREATE PhD Programme (create-phd.org)