Funding and opportunities

Resources

• Webinar on the NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research (PGfAR): Research Inspired by Under-Represented Disciplines and Specialisms: this funding scheme prioritises research from disciplines that are building their evidence base, including speech and language therapy.  A video of the webinar is available here.
• Applying for Funding – advice and support for Northern Ireland applicants. For those in NI considering applications to NIHR grant schemes, researchers can discuss applications with members of HSC R&D Division. Further information and contacts on the HSC R&D website.
• Resources for planning and conducting trials in aphasia rehabilitation
  The Trials for Aphasia Panel of the Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists has collated a range of free online resources for planning and conducting RCTs in aphasia rehabilitation. The resources aim to improve the quality and thus impact of aphasia research. They are structured in an interactive flow from a research priority and research idea, to running a trial, analysing the data, reporting and disseminating the findings. Broader themes around Patient and Public Involvement in research, ethical considerations, fidelity, and economic evaluations are also considered. Though focussed on randomised controlled trials, most of the resources are relevant and applicable to other types of aphasia rehabilitation research. Clinicians wanting to embark on research in aphasia and early career researchers have found these resources most useful; and senior researchers have used them to train their research teams and research students. View the RCT resources here.
• Recording of Professor Danielle Matthews’ seminar at LuCiD on “The Acceptability and Efficacy of Helping Parents to Support Early Child Language: Evaluating the BBC Tiny Happy People text messaging service. 
• HARNESS – an online network for NHS research leads in AHP. An informal network for AHP research leads who want to share experiences, successes and problems in building research capacity and capability in NHS organisations. This network is connected with CAHPR – the Community for AHP Research. The network meets every 6 weeks via Teams. If you are a research lead for AHP research within the NHS, and are interested to join, please contact ralph.hammond@somersetft.nhs.uk.
• Join the AI for SLTs group mailing list. A newsletter provides information on recent events and what’s on the horizon for the potential of AI in Speech and Language Therapy. The network is open to all Speech and Language Therapy professionals and wider AHPs and free to join. Sign up to the AI for SLTS mailing list.
• Digital and Data Education for all UK AHPs. A foundation level education program launched in November on the NHS England learning hub with free access to all AHPs. The course has been designed for anyone involved in AHP services, who is new to digital, to support the delivery of their services. The content will be relevant to all professions, irrespective of their role, location or employment sector. More information can be found here.
• Help inspire future health and care researchers: the NIHR has launched career development posters to raise awareness of research opportunities across health and care. Designed for staff rooms, notice boards, and communal spaces, these posters aim to reach professionals and practitioners who may not see our digital content. Contact academy.comms@nihr.ac.uk to request copies to be sent to you directly.
• Explore SAGE Research Methods: this is a powerful online resource for RCSLT members. It offers tools, videos and podcasts to support you at every stage of the research process. Start exploring SAGE research methods today.

Inclusive research opportunities and resources

• The NIHR have teamed up with Alzheimer’s Society to create a new video encouraging people of South Asian heritage to take part in dementia research.
• Supporting Black Excellence: Full PhD scholarships for UK Black researchers at the University of Southampton. Join a webinar to find out more: Thursday 8 January, 10:00, to hear from academics and Black Futures scholars and ask any questions you may have.
• Nuffield Foundation Racial Diversity UK Fund. Research funding to understand the barriers and pathways to a racially just and inclusive society. Outline application deadline in October 2026.
• Researchers in NIHR ARCs who are completing an Equality Impact Assessment may benefit from attending a free NIHR workshop offering support. Workshop is on Wednesday 10 December 2025 13.00-15.00.
• Explore The Centre for Ethnic Health Research resources for increasing participation and diversity in research.

Project/programme grants and funding

HSC R&D Division Northern Ireland

PPI in Research Support Small Grant Scheme: grants to facilitate the involvement of patients, carers, and public in the research process as partners rather than participants, and to encourage innovative practice in the delivery of PPI through the development of new ways of working with patients, carers and the public. Open call. Further details on the HSC R&D website.

National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)

All funding opportunities from NIHR can be found online. Open calls include:

• Themed calls for funding opportunities that focus on priority research areas. Various funding opportunities available – current themes include Dementia, MND, Brain Tumour, Work Health.
• James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships rolling funding opportunity (HSDR Programme). A call that also focuses on palliative and end of life care. Closes 28 January 2026.
• The Public Health Research (PHR) Programme is inviting applications on research topics that continue to be an area of interest, including the health of children and young people in contact with the criminal justice system. Closes 9 December 2025.
• Decarbonising the health and social care system. Funds research into decarbonising the health and social care system. Closes 11 March 2026, 13:00.

Medical Research Council (MRC)

All funding opportunities from MRC can be found online. Open calls include:

• Researching ME/CFS priority area. No closing date.  

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

All funding opportunities from ESRC can be found online. ESRC’s funding remit includes economic, social, behavioural and human data science.

Open calls include:

• ESRC responsive mode: research grants round two. No closing date.
• ESRC responsive mode: new investigator grants round two. No closing date.
• ESRC responsive mode: secondary data analysis round two. No closing date.

Wellcome  

All funding opportunities from Wellcome can be found online.

Leverhulme Trust 

All funding opportunities from Leverhulme Trust can be found online.

This includes their Research Project Grants, which you can apply for throughout the year. Deadline for outline applications 27 February 2026.

Nuffield Foundation 

All funding opportunities from Nuffield Foundation can be found online. Open calls include:

• Research, Development & Analysis Fund. Closes 13 April 2026.
• Racial Diversity UK Fund. Closes October 2026.

Other funders and charities

• Parkinson’s UK project grants. Grants for projects designed to answer a single Parkinson’s research question or a small group of related questions. Deadline for outline proposals 7 January 2026, 16:00. Full applications for successful proposals 8 April 2026, 16:00.
• Parkinson’s UK non-drug approaches grants, includes Speech and Language therapy. Deadline for outline proposal 5 May 2026, 16:00 (application portal opens 3 months before the deadline). Full application for successful proposals deadline 3 September 2026, 16:00. Sign up for a workshop to help develop applications for this grant 30 January 2026, 10:00-12:00.
• BBC Children in Need Grants. Apply for funding in one of the following priority areas: preventing mental health issues, alleviating the impact of poverty and deprivation, reducing social inequity for marginalised children and young people, addressing the impact of family related challenges. Priorities for funding differ by geographical region in the UK. Full details on the BBC Children in Need website

Fellowships and clinical academic opportunities

National Institute of Health Research (NIHR)

Find all NIHR fellowships under the Research career development funding programmes. Highlights include:

• Pre-Application Support Fund. Funding to give extra support to prepare a competitive application for an NIHR career development award, particularly welcomes applications from SLT/AHPs. Closes 4 December 2025 at 13:00.
• Daphne Jackson fellowship. For researchers returning after a career break. No closing date.
• Principal Investigator Pipeline Programme (PIPP). Offers AHPs in England the opportunity to develop as Principal Investigators on NIHR portfolio studies. The next cohort will be open for applications in April 2026.

Wellcome Trust

• Doctoral Programmes for Healthcare Professionals, for registered health professionals in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The funded programmes will provide outstanding research training in supportive and inclusive research environments, with a focus on innovative approaches to career progression. Application deadline: 10 February 2026.

MRC

• Apply for funding to undertake a PhD, in any area of Medical Research Council’s (MRC) remit to improve human health. Applicants must be a registered healthcare professional, be at an appropriate point in your training to undertake a PhD, show plans to pursue a research career. This is an ongoing funding opportunity. The current round opens 22 October 2025 09:00, and closes 14 January 2026 16:00.
• Clinician scientist fellowship: apply for support to become an independent researcher in any area of Medical Research Council’s (MRC) remit to improve human health. Applicants must be: a registered healthcare professional, have a PhD or equivalent show evidence of career development, show clear plans for developing as a leader in your field. This is an ongoing funding opportunity. The current round opened 22 October 2025 09:00, and closes 14 January 2026 16:00.

PhDs

Fully funded DPhil in the Department of Education, University of Oxford – Supporting Welsh Foundation Learning. The scholarships is a Brasenose Fiddian DPhil Scholarship. This full time DPhil scholarship for entry in September 2026, will cover Home fees and a stipend at the UKRI rate for the duration of the fee liability period.

Professors Sonali Nag and Cristina McKean are looking for a talented student with a background in Education, Linguistics, Psychology, or Speech and Language Therapy to apply for a fully funded DPhil in the Department of Education, University of Oxford. This project aims to support Welsh early literacy development by enriching an important precursor: children’s oral language skills. Using a series of three studies, the project will develop and evaluate approaches to facilitate Welsh language development through shared book reading and shared story-telling in early education and care settings.

To be eligible the applicant must have previously studied at Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools (formerly known as Monmouth School for Boys and Haberdashers Monmouth School for Girls) or a state school in Wales. It is not essential that you be a Welsh speaker, but this would be a definite advantage. You must have an honours degree and either have completed a Masters or will complete a Masters by October 2026. If you are interested, please contact by December 2025: cristina.mckean@education.ox.ac.uk; sonali.nag@education.ox.ac.uk.

Other PhD opportunities

We now share funded project-based PhD opportunities, sourced from findaphd.com 

Note, that there may be opportunities to apply for funding with institutions to pursue other PhD topics and we encourage you to contact relevant universities and browse Find a PhD to explore this. 

Latest opportunities: 

• Supporting Black Excellence: Full PhD scholarships for UK Black researchers at the University of Southampton. Join a webinar to find out more: Thursday 8 January, 10:00, to hear from academics and Black Futures scholars and ask any questions you may have.
• MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Next-generation magnetoencephalography biomarkers for concussion and brain injury. University of York, MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership. Closes 4 December 2025.
• Do you hear what I hear? Tracking the development of how the brain encodes temporal information in language and birdsong. The University of Manchester, Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience. Closes 6 December 2025.
• Real Lives, Real Inclusion: Co-Producing Education and Care with People with Severe and Profound Disabilities in Ireland.  South East Technological University (Waterford). Closes 10 December 2025.
• Bilingualism and Linguistics: Fully Funded PhD Studentship in the ESRC Welsh Graduate School for the Social Sciences (WGSSS). Swansea University, Research, Engagement & Innovation Services. Closes 11 December 2025.
• Investigating the relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders and anxiety disorders across development. University of Bristol, Bristol Medical School. Closes 15 December 2025.
• Understanding the impact of digital gaming on the mental health and social participation of autistic young people. University of Bristol, Bristol Medical School. Closes 15 December 2025.
• Measuring What Matters: Combining Co-Producing Tools to Understand Wellbeing and Life Experiences in Military-Connected Children and Young People – a feasibility study. Northumbria University, School of Healthcare and Nursing Sciences. Closes 23 January 2026.
• PhD in Language, Discourse and Communication – Studentships at King’s College London. Closes 23 January 2026, read more about the funding scheme here.
• Neurodivergence and mental health in children and young people. Queen Mary University of London, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences. Closes 28 January 2026.
• Examining variability in young children’s vocabulary development. University of East Anglia, School of Psychology. Closes 1 February 2026.