NIHR have launched the Pre-Application Support Fund, a new scheme providing extra support to those who need it to enhance their chances of making a successful application to an NIHR career development scheme in the future. The fund opened for applications on Tuesday 19 September 2023, and the closing date is 1pm on 30 November 2023.
Who is the award for?
The Pre-Application Support Fund provides extra support to those who need it, to enhance their chances of making a successful application to an NIHR career development scheme in the future. Rather than part of a standard NIHR career pathway, the Pre-Application Support Fund is there for individuals who require additional support in order to prepare a competitive application.
The scheme is open to individuals that require additional support to prepare an application for NIHR career development funding. We do particularly encourage applications from groups and professions under-represented within NIHR, which are set out in the Guidance Notes for the scheme.
Award length
Funding can be requested for up to 12 months to develop an application for an NIHR career development scheme. For the first round, awards must start between 1st April 2024 and 1st July 2024. Three application rounds will be held each year. Individuals looking to start later than 1st July 2024 should apply to the next round of the competition, opening in January 2024.
Funding available
Applicants can request funding and support that will enable them to prepare a competitive application for NIHR career development funding.
This includes:
a contribution to the salary of the applicant to buy out the necessary time to prepare an application
training and development, mentorship or supervisory costs specifically associated with developing an application, and
other costs where the additional support required to submit an application extends beyond the categories outlined above.
Further information
Full details, including the funding available through the scheme, will be available in the guidance notes. Please read through these carefully before applying.