Scholarship Overview

  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Scholarship Type: Merit-based
  • Institutions: Recognized Institutions
  • Funded by: MS International Federation and partners
  • Tuition Type: Grant
  • Degree Program: Fellowship
  • Scholarship Amount: £30,000 per year
  • Separate Application Required?: Yes
  • Deadline: 30 June, 2025 (expected).

Scholarship Benefits

The fellowship includes a grant that spans two years, amounting to approximately £30,000 GBP per year. This funding is intended to cover travel expenses and living costs. Additionally, there is an extra contribution of £2,000 GBP per year provided to the host institution.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the McDonald Fellowship, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a postgraduate level of education, preferably holding an MSc, PhD, or MD, in a field relevant to multiple sclerosis.
  • Be citizens of a low- or middle-income country as defined by the World Bank (including low, lower middle, or upper middle income countries).
  • Conduct research in an area that is relevant to multiple sclerosis.

Additionally, candidates must be in one of the following situations:

  • Working or studying in a low- or middle-income country at the time of application.
  • Working or studying in another country on a project that commenced within the six months prior to the application.
  • Studying in another country on a project supported by the MSIF’s Du Pré grant.
  • It is important to note that individuals who have previously received a Du Pré grant are eligible to apply for the McDonald Fellowship, but the reverse is not possible.

How to apply

To apply for the McDonald Fellowship, follow these steps:

Step 1:

Utilize the application website to submit your application.

Step 2:

Determine your area of interest and define your project.

Step 3:

Establish contact with your host, who will serve as your project supervisor in a laboratory or clinic, and reach an agreement on the project proposal.

Step 4:

Complete all sections of the online application form as the applicant.

Once you have submitted your application, the Host will be contacted to provide a supporting statement using the same application form.

Step 5:

Request your three referees to send their reference letters to [email protected] before the deadline of June 30.

Step 6:

Familiarize yourself with the Terms and Conditions of the Award to comprehend the requirements regarding reporting and payments.

Step 7:

Give careful attention to the lay summary of your application. Guidance on writing a lay summary can be found at the bottom of the application page.

The host supporting statement should be filled out after you have submitted your application. The proposed host will receive an email with instructions to complete the supporting statement in the application form (text format only). This must be done before the deadline.

Additional Information

This application requires collaboration between the applicant and the host. Prior to applying, candidates must identify a suitable project and a host supervisor at an institution located outside their home country.

Agreement on a project host is necessary before initiating the application.

It is important to note that the deadline for submitting the host statement aligns with the overall application deadline.

Official Website

https://www.msif.org/research/awards-grants-and-fellowships/mcdonald-fellowships/?cn-reloaded=1