The Vivensa Foundation has again partnered with the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) to co-fund one Doctoral Training Fellowship to support front-line health professionals with an interest in developing a career in ageing-related research.
The focus of your proposed research must be aligned to understanding and treating age-related diseases and frailty, and/or improving the health and social care of older people, with an emphasis on projects that address one or more of the priority research themes highlighted on page 22 of the Vivensa Foundation’s 2025-30 strategic framework. We are particularly interested in research with the potential to improve the health and social care of older people within 5 years of the end of the Fellowship.
Please note that projects with a specific focus on cancer will not be eligible for funding. The Fellowship is intended to be flexible and may be undertaken on either a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time Fellowships will be awarded for a maximum period of 3 years, whereas part-time Fellowships can be awarded for a maximum of 6 years (i.e. with a minimum commitment of 0.5 full-time equivalent).
The scheme is open to all front-line healthcare professionals working with older people – including allied health professionals, doctors and nurses – who meet the requirements for a programme of PhD study at a UK-based university, with an interest in developing a career in ageing-related research.
If not already a member, the successful candidate will need to become a member of the BGS for the duration of the Fellowship as a condition of award*. We encourage all those working in the field of older people’s care and ageing-related research to consider joining the BGS.
Applicants who are already enrolled in a PhD programme, have been offered an upcoming PhD position (e.g. with a start date before the outcome of this fellowship is announced) or hold a PhD studentship that is partly funded are not eligible to apply to this scheme.
* For membership queries please contact the British Geriatrics Society via membership@bgs.org.uk
Applicants can apply for up to £350,000. We welcome applications that can be part funded by the host institution either financially* or in-kind through the provision of services, facilities and/or tuition fee waiver. The award will be expected to cover:
- an individual’s salary (at the appropriate grade on the relevant pay scale), plus on-costs
- tuition fees for a PhD at the same rate as home students
- an additional amount to cover consumables, training, travel costs to present their work etc.
Full details on eligible costs will be included in the call guidelines, but for now you may find it helpful to read the “What costs will you cover?” section of our general Funding FAQs.
* This may be internal university funds or funding from industry or other trusts, foundations or charities etc.
Current round timetable:
- Call open to applications – 9th January 2026
- Deadline for submission of applications – 20th March 2026
- Peer and Panel review and shortlisting – April-September 2026
- Interviews for shortlisted candidates – 28th September 2026
- Approval of the Panel’s funding recommendation at the Vivensa Foundation’s Research Grants Committee meeting – 6th October 2026
- Shortlisted candidates notified of the outcome of their application – Mid-November 2026
- Read and download the call guidelines
- Download a PDF template of the application form (please note that this is only provided to help you with your planning – only applications submitted through our online Grants Management Portal will be accepted)
- Read our Terms and Conditions for Research Grants
- Take a look at our 2025-30 Strategic Framework (in particular, page 22 lists our research priorities for the period)
- For guidance on navigating and using our online Grants Management Portal, please read our “how to” guide
Before applying, prospective applicants should read the general eligibility Q&A on our website. The Vivensa Foundation’s Terms and Conditions for Research Grants will also apply and please ensure you have read our general Funding FAQs.
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If you have any queries relating to the call, please email us at grants@vivensafoundation.org.uk
Visit funding web page
(https://vivensafoundation.org.uk/apply-for-funding/)
