Local Authority Academic Training Fellowships

The scheme provides funds for short ‘placement opportunities’ in a part of the NIHR (e.g a Biomedical Research Centre, Applied Research Collaboration, NIHR School etc.). It supports individuals working in local authority settings and NIHR Academy members allowing movement between NIHR/academia and local authority settings in either direction. These will be bespoke, personalised training and career development placements for individuals to develop their skills, knowledge and expertise, train in a specific technique and build meaningful relationships with other researchers.

These placements will draw on the skills of both the academic and NIHR, and the local authority setting to co-produce research that delivers real benefits to people and communities. This may appeal to those who are interested in enhancing their careers, in experiencing research from a different perspective or perhaps looking to take the next step in developing a practice academic career.

• Fellowship duration: Short placements.
• Funding: up to £15,000.
• Timeline: competition launches in the autumn, with applications accepted until winter. Award start dates are from April – February.

Full scheme details can be found in the LA SPARC Applicant Guidance Notes. 

These fully funded pre-doctoral fellowships enable awardees to retain their existing employment contracts and salaries, whilst protecting their time to prepare an application for a PhD fellowship and undertake a fully funded programme of relevant Masters level training. PLAF awards will only be granted to individuals who aspire to conduct applied research that pertains to health and/or social care, and that would meet the NIHR remit for personal awards.

• Fellowship duration: 1 year or 6 months.
• Funding: As well as offering salaried time to prepare an application for a doctoral fellowship, a PLAF will also fund a personalised programme of academic training (up to £7,000) that will equip the awardee with the skills and experience to make it competitive.
• Timeline: competition launches in January, with applications accepted until March. Award start dates are from September – March.

Full scheme details can be found in the PLAF Applicant Guidance Notes

These fully funded doctoral fellowships enable awardees to retain their existing employment contracts and salaries, whilst protecting their time to undertake a PhD by research, undertake academic training and develop professional skill sets. A DLAF supports the award holder to develop their research skills and their professional skill sets in parallel; the latter through dedicated time for practice and/or through other activities that support their development as a practitioner.

• Fellowship duration: 3 years.
• Funding: salary costs of the fellow, their PhD tuition fees, and the costs of an appropriate research project, of appropriate public involvement and engagement, and of a tailored personal training and development programme.
• Timeline: competition launches in September, with applications accepted until November. Award start dates are from September – March.

Full scheme details can be found in the DLAF Applicant Guidance Notes. 

These fully funded post-doctoral fellowships support doctorate holders to undertake further research and research training, while remaining employed within, or at least salaried to work in support of, a local authority setting. Between 20% and 40% of the fellowship must be dedicated to professional practice and development.

An ALAF supports the award holder to develop their research skills and their professional skill sets in parallel. The scheme provides salaried time to undertake:

• a funded research project
• a funded programme of academic training and development,
• a practice or policy role, and
• a funded programme of professional training and development.

Fellowship duration: 2 to 5 years.

Funding: the costs of an approved research project, personal training and development programme, award holder’s salary and approved shared staff and dedicated support staff.

Timeline: competition launches in March, with applications accepted until late May. Award start dates are from April – September.

Full scheme details can be found in the ALAF Applicant Guidance Notes.