The CREATE PhD Programme is a three-year (full-time or equivalent) PhD programme, which will train future global health research leaders who are not only technically excellent, but are equipped to work effectively across scientific and clinical disciplines in equitable partnerships with their peers in low-income countries.

The CREATE PhD Programme will provide 25 doctoral fellowships to UK professional body registered health professionals who will register for their PhD at one of the five UK Partner Institutions  and conduct their research at one of six African Partner Institutions. In addition, the CREATE PhD Programme will also recruit and support an equal number of fellows based in African partner countries (Uganda, The Gambia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia) to undertake a PhD. The fellows from the African countries will have the choice to register their PhD in their home country or at one of the UK partner institutions.  It is generally expected that all fellows will spend approximately 2 years in the African partner country undertaking their research.

UK recruited fellows will be paired with the African PhD fellow in the same country where they will be based, to create a blended south-north cohort of fellows. All CREATE PhD Programme fellows, regardless of their source of recruitment, will be able to access a large supervisory pool, training and mentorship offered by the Programme.

We welcome applications from individuals who have the scientific rigour, drive and ambition to carry out world-class research that focuses on issues of public health importance in Africa. Academic excellence, evidence of prior productive research or other relevant  experience and a vision of how the PhD will shape their career goals are essential.

We strongly encourage interdisciplinary research projects and our supervisory pool covers a range of academic disciplines and global health expertise from infectious diseases, maternal, child and adolescent health, and non-communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases and mental health. Research does not need to be restricted to these areas but should be focused on the health needs of people in sub-Saharan Africa.

All fellows will have one or more supervisors from the UK institution, as well as a supervisor from the African Partner Institution or a Health Education Institution (HEI) in the African partner country. All fellows will also have a mentor (matched to their health profession) to provide support and guidance for balancing their clinical and research career. Fellows will be provided with rich training opportunities aimed at equipping them to be future academic leaders and mentors, to maximise their research impact and to address the substantial inequalities in global health.

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