NMAHP Researcher Development Institute Master’s in Clinical Research Fellowship

Status: OPEN.

Launch Date – 25th March 2025
 
We are delighted to offer this exciting opportunity to one of our NMAHPs. This part-time, charitably funded, NMAHP Researcher Development Institute Master’s in Clinical Research Fellowship is designed to enable professionals to remain clinical alongside their research development.

Summary
One of our commitments at Newcastle Hospitals is to inspire and enable nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals (NMAHPs) to lead and develop research that makes a difference to patient lives.

We will be running a Q & A session on Teams from 12:30 –13:30 pm on 10th April. To register for the Q & A session, please click here. 

Applications should be submitted to [email protected] by 9^th May.

What is a Master’s in Clinical Research Fellowship and what does the funding provide?

There are two distinct streams on offer, which allow applicants to choose the level of support most appropriate for their individual requirements:

1. Full Master’s in Research programme: The fellowship will enable an individual Nurse, Midwife or AHP to undertake a full Master’s in Clinical Research programme with an identified University. The fellowship is part-time and designed to allow the individual to remain present and visible within the clinical department, whilst undertaking the research programme alongside. The award will fund backfill up to 0.5 WTE of salary and associated tuition fees for the duration of the programme (maximum 3 years).
2. Master’s in Research bespoke training programme: This flexible fellowship will enable an individual Nurse, Midwife or AHP to undertake a small amount of research related academic training at Master’s level, with protected, funded time to develop their research expertise and career. The fellowship is part-time and designed to allow the individual to remain present and visible within the clinical department, whilst undertaking the research-training programme alongside. The award will fund backfill up to 0.5WTE (2.5 days a week for up to 18 months) up to £4500 for formal courses, modules or other relevant research related training and development activities

Who is eligible to apply?
You must be employed by The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Applications are open to Band 5, 6, 7 and 8a.
Applications are open to Nurses, Midwives, and Allied Health Professionals, as identified via NHS England here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ahp/role  
 
Both Schemes:
 
Following feedback from our RDI fellows, from September 2024, we are now able to offer a small £1k pot of funding, in addition to the salary backfill. This pot will fund activities in support of your project or your research related development during the fellowship. This might include, but not limited to, patient and public engagement expenses, training courses or conferences. Please use the ‘project costs expenses for RDI fellowships’ excel calculator and supply this with your application if you plan to use this fund. This funding is subject to discussion and agreement.
 
What are the timeframes and deadlines for this application?

• This application opens on 25th March
• A Q & A session will be held on 10th April 12:30-13:30
• Applications should be submitted to [email protected] by 9th May by 5pm at the latest. Applications submitted after this time will not be considered. A panel of individuals with relevant clinical and academic expertise will consider your application. Their assessment will be based on your responses to each section/question. Please ensure you read each question carefully. Please be aware there are two different application forms depending on the stream chosen.
• Outcomes will be communicated to applicants on 12th June.
• The successful applicant will commence their fellowship in September/October 2025.

Is there anything else we need to know?
Please ensure you review the FAQs below to support your application. If you have any further questions or feedback, please let us know either via the Q&A event advertised above, or via email to the address supplied.

This year, within the bespoke programme we request that you identify and agree an appropriate NMAHP mentor to support your training and development and progression of research idea. This maybe someone from your specific area of work or more linked towards your specific question. They will need have experience of carrying out research in clinical practice, they may have or be working towards a PhD. If you have any questions or are struggling to identify a mentor please get in touch with the NMAHP research team (email below). We also suggest that you identify a network for support. This might be the NMAHP RDI forum or a specific forum related to your question for example the Health Inequalities group. Within the application you will be asked to briefly discuss the reasoning behind your selection.

What to do next if you are interested in applying
To apply: If you would like to apply, please fill in and return the correct application and costing forms (below).

Please note that the correct applications are as follows:

1. For the Full Master’s please complete the Full Master’s in Research programme application 2025 AND if you are planning on using the £1000 extra funding please complete the project costs expenses for RDI fellowships spreadsheet.
2. For the Bespoke Master’s please complete the Masters in Research Bespoke programme 2025 application form AND the Masters Bespoke Costing Sheet AND if you are planning on using the £1000 extra funding please complete the project costs expenses for RDI fellowships spreadsheet.

We advise that applicants seek guidance with costings from the Newcastle Joint Research Office, this can be done by completing a Project Initiation Form (PIF). This will provide additional support with the consideration of NHS research costings for your fellowship application.

Email your completed application forms and costings to [email protected] and state whether you are applying for the bespoke or the full Master’s funding stream.

Direct any questions to [email protected]
Thank you for your interest and we look forward to receiving your application.

FAQs

Why has the Master’s in Research Bespoke stream been created?
Following feedback, the second stream has been developed in response to the training needs of NMAHPs in order to assist in furthering their career in research. For example, NMAHPs may already hold Master’s level qualification or other research training and may feel a less traditional academic programme is more pertinent to the training and development needs of the NMAHP and their individual research plan.

What sort of training can I do as part of the Bespoke Master’s in Research fellowship?
At least one formal academic training module at Master’s level combined with other training courses, conferences, research development courses or PPIE engagement activities; as long as the applicant can justify as to why it fits with their Research plan and their training and development needs. This is available up to the value of £4500. If as part of the fellowship, you plan to complete a clinical research activity we advise that applicants seek guidance with costings from the Newcastle Joint Research Office, this can be done by completing a Project Initiation Form (PIF).

If I have commenced a Master’s already, can I apply to support the final years of my programme?
To be eligible to apply, you should not have already commenced a Master’s programme.

There have been previous issues with NJRO regarding set-up fees, is there any agreement in place with the NJRO in regard to this?
Nothing in place at present and we are still in a position that we would ask for the set-up fees be waived, but we are looking at this going forward.

For the Full Master’s programme, are you expected to conduct your own study?
The full Master’s in research programme usually has a requirement to undertake some research activity for your final module, but this will depend on a number of issues. Regardless, you would be fully supported to achieve the requirements of the MRes programme by your academic and workplace supervisors.