Entry Level Scholarships (ELS) fund single pre-doctoral candidates with up to £20,000 for up to 12 months, however we will consider requests for a longer duration with justification. Funds are for directly incurred research costs and may include a salary contribution. The research must be undertaken in the UK.

Scholarships are available for basic science, clinical and translational research, including explanatory or feasibility studies and systematic reviews in any area of women’s reproductive and gynaecological health, aimed at improving the health of women, girls, and babies.

Awards are intended to provide ‘pump-priming’ funds to enable graduates to be exposed to a research environment and to obtain pilot data that will enhance an application for a research fellowship (PhD or MD). Applicants would normally be new to the research discipline and will not previously have been heavily involved in substantial or funded research projects.

An ELS is not intended as a ‘top-up’ for existing grants. Its primary purpose is to support a single individual at an early stage of their research career.

Do you qualify for a Partnership Scholarship?

2026 Call timeline

Call launch: Wednesday 22 April 2026

Submission deadline: Wednesday 22 July 2026 at 1pm

Application outcome: December 2026

Awards start: January/February 2027

How to apply

The 2026 application form and guidance will be made available for download at call launch.

Please see last year's application form and guidance below (subject to change).

WoW_Entry Level Scholarship_Application Form 2025

WoW_Entry Level Scholarship_Guidance for Applicants 2025

WoW_Research Questions for Non-standard Animals

If you have any queries, please contact the Wellbeing of Women research team at research@wellbeingofwomen.org.uk or call 020 3697 6346.