Co-funded by

Wellbeing of Women is delighted to partner with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to jointly fund a Charity Partnership Doctoral Award.

All NIHR Awards provide the opportunity to undertake exciting and impactful research that will underpin a researcher’s development as an independent future leader. The Doctoral Award funds researchers to undertake a PhD.

NIHR Charity Partnership Awards offer researchers the opportunity to be part of an active and supportive community, drawing on the enormous benefits and opportunities of cross-sector working.

Applications are invited from individuals within an institution sited in England who can demonstrate a role in, or contribution to, improving health and wellbeing, health and social care or services.

Wellbeing of Women are interested in funding one NIHR Wellbeing of Women Doctoral Award relevant to our remit of women’s reproductive and gynaecological health through the life course.

• Pregnancy, birth & beyond
• Menstrual & gynaecological health
• Gynaecological cancers
• Fertility, contraception & abortion care
• Pelvic floor health
• Menopause
• Healthy ageing & long-term conditions
• Sexual health

The Doctoral Award will fund:

• full salary support, including protected time to concentrate on research
• research costs
• a bespoke training and development programme to meet individual needs
• PhD fees

Applicants applying for a NIHR Charity Partnership Award:

• follow the same application process as NIHR
• should check the charity eligibility criteria in the guidance notes
• should contact Wellbeing of Women if unsure if their research area is eligible for partnership funding

Cohort 3 Call timeline

Call launch: 21 April 2026

Submission deadline: 23 June 2026 at 1pm

Awards start date: April - September 2027

To apply for a Partnership Award

Apply for a NIHR Charity Partnership Doctoral Award

For more information about the funding Programme, visit the Doctoral Award page.

For help with your application contact [email protected]

If you have any other queries, please contact the Wellbeing of Women research team at [email protected] or call 020 3697 6346.