NHSE / NIHR BRIDGING SCHEME (North Region)
Applications are now open!
Closing date 2nd May 2025
Main features
Bridging schemes support health and care professionals to build on their previous academic training to develop proposals for a pre-doctoral award, and take the next step in their practitioner academic career. These prestigious Bridging awards are dedicated to non-medical health and care professionals (excluding doctors and dentists) employed by health and care service providers in the North West, North East, and Yorkshire & Humber regions.
Our scheme aligns with the national agenda to bolster research capacity, leading to improved patient outcomes. It offers a range of opportunities, including dedicated periods to develop research proposals, enhanced researcher skills, exposure to advanced research techniques, and the development of personal communication abilities vital for academic researchers. Additionally, it provides a platform to expand your research network regionally, nationally, and potentially internationally while equipping you with the knowledge and skills to become a research leader.
The Pre-Doctoral Bridging Scheme Award is Designed for fellows with a research master’s level qualification (or evidence of postgraduate study at level 7) who aspire to undertake a NIHR Doctoral Award or an equivalent opportunity.
The Post-Doctoral Bridging Scheme Award has not been funded this year. NHS R&D NW is however continuing to offer support to post-docs and if you would like to hear more about what support is on offer then please contact joanne.simpson@researchnorthwest.nhs.uk.
Who it is for
- Health and social care professionals, including but not limited to nurses, midwives and allied health professions, social workers, psychologists, counsellors and care workers who hold a substantive contract of employment with a NHS Trust or other organisation whose core business is delivery of NHS care as a primary aspect of your professional role in the North East-Yorkshire region or North West region;
- Individuals with a completed or upcoming master’s level degree;
- Those interested in pursuing a PhD;
- Individuals passionate about making a difference through high-quality clinical research.
How to apply
Applications for this round are now open. Closing date 2nd May 2025.
For further details and to access application forms and guidance notes, please click the links below.
Additional Details
In addition to inform potential applicants about the programme and the application process, we will be holding two online Q&A session open for anyone to join who wish to know more about the scheme and ask any questions.
These will be an hour in duration, 1pm – 2pm and held on MS Teams, the dates of these are;
For more information of previous cohorts please visit our archive.
For additional information please contact
joanne.simpson@researchnorthwest.nhs.uk