Funding and recognition opportunities
All the latest Fellowships, Grants and Bursaries from RCSEd
**NEW** Elizabeth Anita Mathew Thalanany ENT Travelling Fellowship
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is delighted to announce that applications are now open for the new Elizabeth Anita Mathew Thalanany ENT Travelling Fellowship. The Fellowship intends to support UK and International members who wish to attend a course or an observership at a centre of excellence as part of their specialist training and professional development. Applications are welcome from UK and international members who are in ENT training posts.
Up to £1,000 is available to contribute to travel and accommodation costs.
RCSEd is indebted to the Thalanany family, which has generously supported the creation of this fellowship in memory of Dr Mathew Joseph Mamman Thalanany and his daughter, Anita Mathew.
Application deadline | 30 April 2025
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 a year of completing the MRCS and intend to join the RCSEd are also eligible.
Funding of up to £60,000 is available for one year.
Application deadline | 1 July 2025
Syme Medal
James Syme (1799-1870) was a leading surgeon of his day and an enthusiastic teacher and surgical innovator. He was also the mentor of Joseph Lister. The Syme Medal is a prestigious mark of excellence awarded by the College to a Fellow or Member of the College in good standing on the basis of a recently submitted thesis (MD or PhD), published body of research or educational development. The research should be published in high-quality peer reviewed journals. Consideration will be given to the impact of the work on future research or clinical practice. The medal is to be awarded to surgeons in training or recently appointed consultants and is often based on work leading to a doctoral thesis. This award is distinct from the King James IV Professorship.
Application deadline | 1 June 2025
Binks Bursary for Medical Student Electives
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is offering a number of bursaries for elective placements abroad. The elective placement need not necessarily be in a surgical specific unit but priority may be given to students demonstrating an interest in surgery.
The bursary will comprise a single payment of between £250 and £500, which can be used towards travel and accommodation costs or other expenses involved with the placement, such as vaccinations and visas.
Application deadline | 1 June 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 surgeons knowledge and understanding.
The specialties and locations are:
- Beijing Travelling Fellowship in Esophageal 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
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 new RCSEd – Chennai ITF Scholarship. This scholarship offers 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:
GMC registration fee, ISCP registration fee, 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 in recognition of – and a memorial to – the support she offered throughout her life. It offers 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
Tom Bereznicki Dental Education Grant
This grant supports educational endeavours in dental education and training, such as a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education, an MSc in Medical Education, a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Practice or a Doctorate in Clinical Education.
Please note that applications will not be accepted from trainers in the medical specialty of oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Grants of up to £3,000 will be available to defray expenses for those undertaking an appropriate educational qualification.
Application deadline | 13 June 2025
Dundas Medal
This medal commemorates Dr Charles Robert (Bertie) Dundas FFARCS FRCP Glasgow, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Surgery (Anaesthetics) in Aberdeen and Honorary Consultant Anaesthetist from 1975 to 1995. Bertie Dundas died in 2014 from biliary carcinoma. He was not offered palliative care while he was ill and spent his last months enduring a poor quality of life. His widow, Dr Valerie Dundas, made a donation to PATCH (Palliation And The Caring Hospital) to improve the provision of palliative care in hospital.
In recognition of Bertie Dundas’ lifelong enthusiasm for teaching, research and innovation, this annual award recognises efforts to improve the provision of palliative care for patients while in hospital. The award is open to individuals or teams (medical, nursing or paramedical) working in any hospital in the UK. It is not essential that the applicant should be an FRCSEd. The term ‘hospital’ applies to both acute and community hospitals.
Application deadline | 10 April 2025
The Cutner Travelling Fellowship in Orthopaedic Surgery
The Cutner Travelling Fellowship in Orthopaedic Surgery provides up to £3,000 of funding to support orthopaedic surgeons around the time of their appointment to a consultant post. It provides support for learning new orthopaedic surgical techniques and the responsibilities associated with their new post at centres of excellence around the globe.
Application deadline | 1 June 2025
The Alban Barros D’Sa Memorial Travelling Fellowship in General Surgery
This fellowship helps young general surgeons attend educational events in regions and countries outside of their own by providing up to £1,000 of funding towards their travel and accommodation expenses.
This fellowship is generously supported by the family of the late Alban Barros D’Sa, to whom the College is indebted.
Application deadline | 1 June 2025
Coronation Commonwealth Bursary
The Coronation Commonwealth Bursary has been created in honour of the coronation of King Charles III, which took place on 6 May 2023. The bursary will provide financial assistance to outstanding individuals from Commonwealth countries to enable them to take an exam or a course at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
Applicants must be from – and living in – a Commonwealth Country outside the UK.
The successful applicants will receive up to £2,000 in funding to cover expenses relating to their studies.
Application deadline | 1 August 2025
King James IV Professorship
Practitioners of surgery or dental surgery, who have made a significant contribution to the clinical and/or scientific basis of surgery, are invited to apply. The courtesy title of King James IV Professor will be accorded to the individuals for the duration of the College year in which their lectures are delivered. Applicants must be Dental Members, Dental Fellows and/or Surgical Fellows of the College in good standing.
Application deadline | 1 June 2025
Congratulations to the following Fellowship, Grant and Bursary Awardees
Shanghai Travelling Fellowships
Dr Charles Loh | Clinical Observership Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery.
Dr Nimra Fatima | Clinical Observership in Thoracic Surgery.
The Alban Barros D’Sa Memorial Travelling Fellowship in General Surgery
Dr Fizzah Arif | Clinical Observership in Plastic Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.
The Cutner Travelling Fellowship in Orthopaedic Surgery
Mr George Holland | Clinical Experience
in Lower Lib Arthroplasty, Auckland City Hospital, New Zealand.
RCSEd – Guts UK Research Grant
Mr Mathew Davenport | Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester.
Research project: An Evaluation of the Genomic Architecture of External Rectal Prolapse in Young Women Using Whole Exome Sequencing.
Jane Goodman Memorial Scholarship in Paediatric Dentistry
Dr Afifah Khan | MSc in Paediatric Dentistry, Eastman Dental Hospital, University College London.
Li Shu Presidential Lecture
Professor Steve Wigmore | Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital.
Lecture title: Approaches to Pain Relief for Enhanced Recovery After Surgery.
Lindsay Stewart Prize
Lt Col Dr Boyd L Zimba | COSECSA.
In recognition of work entitled: Thirty Day Outcomes of Early Versus Late Reversal of Temporary Intestinal Stomas in Paediatric Patients at the University Teaching Hospitals, Lusaka, Zambia.
Professor Jimmy James Prize in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Dr David Wambi | In recognition of being
the highest-scoring candidate in the COSECSA Fellowship Examination in Plastic Surgery 2024.
Coronation Commonwealth Bursary
Jamie Zhern Zhern Wu | MFDS Part 2 Examination, Edinburgh.
Small Pump Priming Grant in Cancer Research
Mr Joshua Agilinko | Imperial College London.
Project: Novel Retinoic Acid and Retinoic Acid Receptor Biomarkers, Tissue-Specific Targets and Pathways in Malignant Adrenal Tumours Using Laboratory Experiments and Integrated Bioinformatics.
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.
How RCSEd support helped me
Dr Fizzah Arif, The Alban Barros D’Sa Memorial Travelling Fellowship in General Surgery 2024
“I had invaluable exposure to cutting-edge reconstructive surgery techniques, including microsurgical procedures. The integration of advanced microsurgery techniques into trauma and cancer cases allowed for more precise reconstruction, improving both aesthetic and functional outcomes in patients, especially in orthoplastic cases…
“The observership highlighted patient-centred care, rigorous safety protocols, and approaches to prevent complications. Moreover, it underscored the importance of research-backed practices, contributing to evidence-based advancements in plastic surgery. This experience not only refined my surgical skills but also deepened my understanding of quality care standards, which I aim to incorporate into my practice to enhance patient outcomes.”
Mr William Wilson, Cutner Travelling Fellowship in Orthopaedic Surgery 2023
“My travelling fellowship was spent at Orthosport Victoria, Melbourne, under the stewardship of Professor Jullian Feller. Overall [the fellowship provided a] world-class experience in all aspects of knee surgery with an excellent balance between clinical and research activities. The experience I derived, both surgically and through research, will help me to provide a better standard of care for the patients I treat. Furthermore, by continuing my academic output through research collaboration with this highly renowned unit, I hope to contribute something that will help other clinicians make the right decisions when treating their patients with
ACL injuries.”
Ms Georgina Bough, Saleem Khwaja Memorial Fellowship in Paediatric Surgery 2023
“Over the five weeks I spent at the Princess Maxima hospital in Utrecht, I was able to assist in a variety of procedures. In addition to line work and lymphode biopsies, there were laparoscopic and thoracoscopic biopsies and tumour resections, and at least five open tumour resections. Centralising care of low-volume paediatric surgical conditions and GIRFT (Getting It Right First Time) is a prevalent topic in paediatric surgery. The trip to the Maxima was particularly thought provoking due to the hospital’s centralised paediatric oncology care and ‘bench to bedside’ collaborative structure. Centralising paediatric oncology in the UK would face human and physical geographical challenges different to those in the Netherlands. My time spent in Utrecht was nothing but inspiring.”
In memory
Douglas Sladen BAMFORD FRCSEd 1968
William John GILLESPIE FRCSEd 1967
Derek Wellesley HYATT FRCSEd 1967
Thomas Eurig JEFFREYS FRCSEd 1960
Talha AL-SHAWAF FRCSEd 1982
Anchal Kumar BANERJEE FRCSEd 1969
John Robert BARKER FRCSEd 1967
Harikesh Gulabrai BUCH FRCSEd 1979
John Fawcett CLEGG FRCSEd 1967
Julian Scott ELKINGTON FRCSEd 13th May 1966
Rupert David Shirehampton FAWDRY FRCSEd 1976
Jonathan Martin FRAPPELL FRCSEd 1983
Irshad-ul HAQUE FRCSEd 1977
Lisun Louisa HENG MRCSEd 2008
Alec Edward HOLMES FRCSEd 1965
Ian Cliffe MARTIN FRCSEd 1990
Harry William MCFARLANE FRCSEd 1961
Ian Stirling MCLAUGHLIN FRCSEd 1968
Paul MCMASTER FRCSEd 1987
Thorolf Guy NASH FRCSEd 1969
Thomas Paul Edgar NENER FRCSEd 1971
Raymond Robert ROY FRCSEd 1968
Kashi Nath SEAL FRCSEd 1970
Kanagasabai THILAGARAJAH FRCSEd 1969
Sivapatham VITTAL FRCSEd 1974
Dental Fellows and Members
Nadine Victoria MILLER MFDS RCSEd 2012
Roger Arthur PRUDHOE MGDS RCSEd 1984
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
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