Funding and recognition opportunities
All the latest Fellowships, Grants and Bursaries from RCSEd
RCSEd–ORUK Research Fellowship
Applications for the Joint ORUK–RCSEd Research Fellowship in Orthopaedics are invited from suitably qualified and experienced young surgeons in the field of orthopaedics. Surgical trainees who are within one year of completing the MRCS and intend to join RCSEd are also eligible.
Funding of up to £60,000 is available for one year.
Application deadline: 1 July 2025
RCSEd–Guts UK Research Grant
Applications for the second year of the RCSEd–Guts UK Research Grant are now open. This research grant provides £10,000 to one successful applicant to fund a 12-month surgical research project on digestive diseases that affect the gut, liver or pancreas.
Application deadline: 1 September 2025
Ophthalmology Research Grant
RCSEd is delighted to announce the continuation of its partnership with Sight Scotland. A new round of applications is open for both the Major and Minor Ophthalmology Research Grants, offering £60,000 and £10,000 of funding, respectively. Research should be undertaken in the UK, with special consideration for projects taking place in Scotland.
Application deadline: 1 August 2025
Specialty Travelling Fellowships in China
RCSEd is delighted to offer four specialist travelling fellowships under world-renowned specialists across China. These specialist fellowships are designed to enhance a young surgeon’s knowledge and understanding. The specialties and locations are:
- Beijing Travelling Fellowship in Oesophageal Cancer Surgery.
- Shanghai Travelling Fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
- Shanghai Travelling Fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery.
- Guangzhou Travelling Fellowship in Thoracic Cancer Surgery.
Funding of up to £4,000 per fellowship is available.
Application deadline: 1 July 2025
Small Research Pump Priming Grants in Cancer Research
RCSEd aims to support research at every stage and so is delighted to offer Members and Fellows the exciting opportunity of the Small Pump Priming Grants in Cancer Research.
Up to £10,000 is available for a pump priming project that focuses on cancer research in any surgical, academic or dental form.
Application deadline: 1 November 2025
RCSEd–Chennai ITF Scholarship
This scholarship has been made possible by the generous support of the Court of Benefactors, Chennai.
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is pleased to announce the RCSEd–Chennai ITF Scholarship. This scholarship aims to provide a career-changing experience in the NHS for applicants from Chennai, or those currently working in Chennai, by providing financial assistance for the registrations required for an NHS International Training Fellowship (ITF). Applicants should arrange their ITF independently, with assistance from RCSEd’s International Postgraduate Deanery if required, and then apply for this scholarship. The successful applicant will have the following fees and registrations paid for: the GMC registration fee, ISCP registration fee and MTI visa fee.
Application deadline: 21 July 2025
Jane Goodman Memorial Scholarship in Paediatric Dentistry
Dr Jane Goodman (1948–2019) was a consultant in paediatric dentistry, who made a significant contribution to the specialty. A former Vice Dean of the College, Dr Goodman had an abiding interest in training, education and supporting the next generation of dentists. The Scholarship is a recognition of (and memorial to) the support she offered throughout her life. It will offer an opportunity to apply for financial support to help pursue an educational qualification at Diploma, Masters or Clinical Doctorate level in paediatric dentistry. The College is deeply indebted to the Trustees of the Jane Goodman Charitable Trust for making this Scholarship possible.
Applications are invited from UK applicants studying paediatric dentistry.
Funding of up to £10,000 will be awarded to help towards the payment of course fees in support of educational endeavours.
Application deadline: 1 July 2025
Coronation Commonwealth Bursary
The Coronation Commonwealth Bursary has been created in honour of the coronation of King Charles III. It provides financial assistance to outstanding individuals from Commonwealth countries to enable them to pursue an exam or a course at RCSEd.
Applicants must be from – and living in – a Commonwealth country outside the UK. Successful applicants will receive up to £2,000 in funding to cover expenses relating to their studies.
Application deadline: 1 August 2025
Dr Jane Goodman (1948–2019), former Vice Dean of the College
Dr Jane Goodman (1948–2019), former Vice Dean of the College
Congratulations to the following Awardees
MacLeod McLaren Medal in Patient Safety
Professor Steven Yule and the Surgical Sabermetrics Laboratory | University of Edinburgh. AI, Behaviour Science and Real Time Analysis to Improve Patient Safety.
Binks Bursary for Medical Student Electives in Africa
Augusta Paulikaite | Elective: Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Lucy Harriss | Elective: Beit-CURE International Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Caitlin Porter | Elective: Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Binks Bursary for Medical Student Electives
Zekai Qiang | Elective: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Ranya Kumar | Elective: University Hospital Missouri, Missouri, USA.
Daniella Claude Cruz Reyes | Elective: Philippine General Hospital, Philippines.
The Sushruta Guha Professorship in Plastic Surgery
Mr Julian Pribaz | University South Florida. (Emeritus) Surgical Problem Solving with Inspiration and Innovation.
Ethicon Foundation Fund Travel Grant
Mr Niall Dempster | Churchill Hospital, Oxford. Attendance at the ISFO World Congress and Observership at St Vincent’s Hospital and Monash Hospital, Melbourne.
Ophthalmology Major Research Grant
Professor Parwez Hossain | University of Southampton.
Research title: Developing the Next Generation of Surgical Mid-Infrared (MIR) Lasers to Improve High-Precision Incisions with Reduced Single-Cell Collateral Ablation Damage: an Application to Ophthalmic Surgery to Improve Corneal Transplant Tissue Usage.
Saleem Khwaja Memorial Fellowship in Paediatric Surgery
Mr Mohamed Mostafa | Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
Attendance for a Fellowship in Paediatric Urology under the Supervision of Dr Snodgrass.
RCSEd – ORUK Research Fellowship
Mr Thomas Ward | University Hospitals of Leicester.
Research title: Profiling Bone Destructive Soft Tissue Intra-Articular Diffuse Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumours (TGCT) and Renal Cell Cancer Metastases Using Single Cell Spatial Transcriptomics.
Li Shu Fan Presidential Lecture
Professor Paul Brennan | University of Edinburgh.
Lecture title: Innovating Diagnosis of a Mass with Muli-Omic Liquid Biopsies.
RCSEd–ORUK Research Fellowship
Applications for the Joint ORUK–RCSEd Research Fellowship in Orthopaedics are invited from suitably qualified and experienced young surgeons in the field of orthopaedics. Surgical trainees who are within one year of completing the MRCS and intend to join RCSEd are also eligible.
Funding of up to £60,000 is available for one year.
Application deadline: 1 July 2025
RCSEd–Guts UK Research Grant
Applications for the second year of the RCSEd–Guts UK Research Grant are now open. This research grant provides £10,000 to one successful applicant to fund a 12-month surgical research project on digestive diseases that affect the gut, liver or pancreas.
Application deadline: 1 September 2025
Ophthalmology Research Grant
RCSEd is delighted to announce the continuation of its partnership with Sight Scotland. A new round of applications is open for both the Major and Minor Ophthalmology Research Grants, offering £60,000 and £10,000 of funding, respectively. Research should be undertaken in the UK, with special consideration for projects taking place in Scotland.
Application deadline: 1 August 2025
Specialty Travelling Fellowships in China
RCSEd is delighted to offer four specialist travelling fellowships under world-renowned specialists across China. These specialist fellowships are designed to enhance a young surgeon’s knowledge and understanding. The specialties and locations are:
- Beijing Travelling Fellowship in Oesophageal Cancer Surgery.
- Shanghai Travelling Fellowship in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
- Shanghai Travelling Fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery.
- Guangzhou Travelling Fellowship in Thoracic Cancer Surgery.
Funding of up to £4,000 per fellowship is available.
Application deadline: 1 July 2025
Small Research Pump Priming Grants in Cancer Research
RCSEd aims to support research at every stage and so is delighted to offer Members and Fellows the exciting opportunity of the Small Pump Priming Grants in Cancer Research.
Up to £10,000 is available for a pump priming project that focuses on cancer research in any surgical, academic or dental form.
Application deadline: 1 November 2025
RCSEd–Chennai ITF Scholarship
This scholarship has been made possible by the generous support of the Court of Benefactors, Chennai.
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is pleased to announce the RCSEd–Chennai ITF Scholarship. This scholarship aims to provide a career-changing experience in the NHS for applicants from Chennai, or those currently working in Chennai, by providing financial assistance for the registrations required for an NHS International Training Fellowship (ITF). Applicants should arrange their ITF independently, with assistance from RCSEd’s International Postgraduate Deanery if required, and then apply for this scholarship. The successful applicant will have the following fees and registrations paid for: the GMC registration fee, ISCP registration fee and MTI visa fee.
Application deadline: 21 July 2025
Jane Goodman Memorial Scholarship in Paediatric Dentistry
Dr Jane Goodman (1948–2019) was a consultant in paediatric dentistry, who made a significant contribution to the specialty. A former Vice Dean of the College, Dr Goodman had an abiding interest in training, education and supporting the next generation of dentists. The Scholarship is a recognition of (and memorial to) the support she offered throughout her life. It will offer an opportunity to apply for financial support to help pursue an educational qualification at Diploma, Masters or Clinical Doctorate level in paediatric dentistry. The College is deeply indebted to the Trustees of the Jane Goodman Charitable Trust for making this Scholarship possible.
Applications are invited from UK applicants studying paediatric dentistry.
Funding of up to £10,000 will be awarded to help towards the payment of course fees in support of educational endeavours.
Application deadline: 1 July 2025
Coronation Commonwealth Bursary
The Coronation Commonwealth Bursary has been created in honour of the coronation of King Charles III. It provides financial assistance to outstanding individuals from Commonwealth countries to enable them to pursue an exam or a course at RCSEd.
Applicants must be from – and living in – a Commonwealth country outside the UK. Successful applicants will receive up to £2,000 in funding to cover expenses relating to their studies.
Application deadline: 1 August 2025
Dr Jane Goodman (1948–2019), former Vice Dean of the College
Dr Jane Goodman (1948–2019), former Vice Dean of the College
Congratulations to the following Awardees
MacLeod McLaren Medal in Patient Safety
Professor Steven Yule and the Surgical Sabermetrics Laboratory | University of Edinburgh. AI, Behaviour Science and Real Time Analysis to Improve Patient Safety.
Binks Bursary for Medical Student Electives in Africa
Augusta Paulikaite | Elective: Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Lucy Harriss | Elective: Beit-CURE International Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
Caitlin Porter | Elective: Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.
Binks Bursary for Medical Student Electives
Zekai Qiang | Elective: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Ranya Kumar | Elective: University Hospital Missouri, Missouri, USA.
Daniella Claude Cruz Reyes | Elective: Philippine General Hospital, Philippines.
The Sushruta Guha Professorship in Plastic Surgery
Mr Julian Pribaz | University South Florida. (Emeritus) Surgical Problem Solving with Inspiration and Innovation.
Ethicon Foundation Fund Travel Grant
Mr Niall Dempster | Churchill Hospital, Oxford. Attendance at the ISFO World Congress and Observership at St Vincent’s Hospital and Monash Hospital, Melbourne.
Ophthalmology Major Research Grant
Professor Parwez Hossain | University of Southampton.
Research title: Developing the Next Generation of Surgical Mid-Infrared (MIR) Lasers to Improve High-Precision Incisions with Reduced Single-Cell Collateral Ablation Damage: an Application to Ophthalmic Surgery to Improve Corneal Transplant Tissue Usage.
Saleem Khwaja Memorial Fellowship in Paediatric Surgery
Mr Mohamed Mostafa | Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.
Attendance for a Fellowship in Paediatric Urology under the Supervision of Dr Snodgrass.
RCSEd – ORUK Research Fellowship
Mr Thomas Ward | University Hospitals of Leicester.
Research title: Profiling Bone Destructive Soft Tissue Intra-Articular Diffuse Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumours (TGCT) and Renal Cell Cancer Metastases Using Single Cell Spatial Transcriptomics.
Li Shu Fan Presidential Lecture
Professor Paul Brennan | University of Edinburgh.
Lecture title: Innovating Diagnosis of a Mass with Muli-Omic Liquid Biopsies.
How to apply
Funding and recognition opportunities selected through open application should be applied for via Good Grants by scanning the QR code or visiting https://rcsed.grantplatform.com/. Individual eligibility and guidance notes for each opportunity can be found on their application forms.
In memory
Deceased Surgical Fellows Honorary and Ad Hominem
Geoffrey Howard MOODY FDS RCSEd FRCSEd (ad hom)
Russell William STITZ FRCSEd (Hon) 2006
Deceased Surgical Fellows and Members
Adel Barsoum ABOEL-SAAD FRCSEd 1973
Allan Richard ASKEW FRCSEd 1972
Anne Christine BAYLEY FRCSEd 1986
George Jurek CONRAD FRCSEd 1973
Nicholas Walter HARRY FRCSEd 1972
Abul HMTA CHOWDURY FRCSEd 1964
Allan Ogilvie LANGLANDS FRCSEd 1984
Frederick Peter Sefton MARRIOTT FRCSEd 1958
Cyril Esmond MARSHALL FRCSEd 1967
Robert Alan NORTH FRCSEd 1966
Beng Hong ONG FRCSEd 1990
Victoria POSSAMAI FRCSEd 2005
Graham John RICE FRCSEd 1961
Peter Herbert TAYLOR FRCSEd 1973
Sivaloganathan VELUPILLAI FRCSEd 1965
Malaki Wilson WARAMBO FRCSEd 1963
How RCSEd support helped me
Jamie Wu, Coronation Commonwealth Bursary
Awardee 2024
“The Coronation Commonwealth Bursary enabled me to sit for the MFDS Part 2 exam organised by RCSEd. As part of my professional development in the dental field, this exam represents a crucial step toward achieving a higher standard of competence and joining the ranks of qualified dental professionals. MFDS Part 2 exam day was a rewarding experience that enabled me to showcase my skills and reflect on my journey as a dental professional. The preparation, while intense, was invaluable and the grant I received made a significant impact on both my preparation and my ability to approach the exam without financial worry. I look forward to the results with optimism, knowing that the experience has already contributed to my growth as a dentist. The MFDS Part 2 exam marks an important chapter in my career, and I am grateful for the opportunity to take this step with the support I received.”
Joanna Law, Binks Bursary for Medical Student Electives
Awardee 2022
“I spent a total of five weeks in The Gambia doing my elective in paediatric surgery at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, the largest hospital in the country.
During my time there, I participated in ward rounds, clinics, theatres and other departmental teaching sessions. I was able to examine patients during clinics, assist in surgery and practise closing the skin. The clinical exposure that I received was unparalleled. I saw a lot of conditions that I have never seen before in the UK, mostly due to the late presentation of disease.
“Overall, this elective affirmed my interest in paediatric surgery - I thoroughly enjoy working with this patient group and being able to be a ‘true general surgeon’ but for children. Seeing that children make up 50% of the population in developing countries such as The Gambia, there is an urgent need for more paediatric surgeons in these countries.”
Archie Ajayi, Binks Bursary for Medical Student Electives in
Africa Awardee 2024
“I undertook my elective in Tanzania and conducted research at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam, exploring the challenges faced by people living with HIV in achieving viral load suppression. The elective involved qualitative interviews with patients at MNH, investigating barriers such as stigma, adherence to antiretroviral therapy and socioeconomic struggles. This provided me with insights into the multifaceted nature of healthcare delivery in resource-limited settings and offered an understanding of the systemic and cultural barriers that impact HIV management.
“Reflecting on my time in Tanzania, I realise the impact it has made on my personal and professional aspirations. The experience strengthened my commitment to addressing systemic barriers in healthcare, sparking further interest in public health and health economics, while also confirming my passion for anaesthetics.”
For more information about the College’s awards and grants, contact:
Development, partnership and international administrator, Development and Partnerships Office, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, Edinburgh EH8 9DW
Tel: +44 (0)131 527 1616 Email: awards@rcsed.ac.uk Web: bit.ly/2wKpRTr
RCSEd collects personal data from you during the application process for awards and grants. We will not share this information with any third parties, and your data will be used solely for processing and administrating applications.
Read more
Built with Shorthand