The Cunningham Trust is committed to supporting research of the highest quality, the outcome of which will make a contribution to improving the health of the nation. Its support is not restricted to any one disease or condition or aspect of medical education, so applications for PhD Studentship Awards may be for projects in any of the biomedical, physical, clinical or engineering sciences or in medical education, provided that the research addresses a question of relevance to human health.

These awards provide funding for a three-year PhD Studentship including student stipend, contributions to laboratory expenses and fees as detailed in the Application Form and below. The application must be made by a recognised Scottish University/Research Institution (the Administering Institution). The Administering Institution undertakes to deliver a first-class PhD Studentship programme, incorporating both academic and commercial research training tailored to

research into any matters relating to the causation, prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness or to the development of medical or surgical appliances or enhancement of teaching and learning in healthcare.

It is unlikely that a Principal Supervisor will be awarded more than one Cunningham Trust PhD Studentship to run concurrently. However, they are permitted to make an application for a PhD Studentship which will commence after the planned completion date of a currently held award. Any supervisor named on more than one Cunningham Trust PhD Studentship award and/or application, which will run concurrently, should provide clear evidence of their and their laboratory’s capacity to support more than one student.

In the 2023 competition more than forty applications were received and Trustees were able to fund four studentships to start in autumn, 2024.