Fulbright Royal College of Surgeons of England Award
This prestigious fellowship, in partnership with the Fulbright Commission, provides you with support while you undertake a 3–6 month surgical research project at an accredited institution in the US.
The award provides:
- full basic salary (and employer) costs up to ST6-8 on the resident doctor pay scale, for the duration of the award period (administered by your UK employer); and
- Fulbright monthly stipend (administered by the Fulbright Commission).
Deadline
Open annually for applications from summer. The 2027 application window is now open, and closes at 5pm on 2 November 2026.
Duration
Three to six months.
We recommend you read the information below and on the Fulbright Commission website fully before starting an application.
Eligibility
To apply for this award, you must:
- be a surgical trainee or SAS surgeon;
- be a member of the College;
- have passed MRCS Part A;
- be planning to sit the final MRCS exam at RCS England.
If you are an SAS surgeon, please note that basic salary cost payable for a successful candidate will not exceed ST6-8, Nodal point 5 on the pay scale for resident doctors.
Further Fulbright Commission eligibility criteria apply. You can read more on the Fulbright Commission website.
About our Fulbright RCS England award
The Fulbright RCS England Award enables you to visit any accredited US higher education institution to pursue research into a range of surgical areas including:
- development of new operative techniques
- improvements in patient care and recovery
- causes of surgical conditions
- treatment and procedure
You will not be permitted to practise clinically in the US, so your research project must not involve direct contact with patients.
This grant covers any appropriate three to six-month project.
What’s expected from grant holders
The Fulbright RCS England Award is made on the understanding that you, your host centre and supervisor agree to the terms and conditions relating to the scheme and any amendments issued during the course of the award. You must make your own arrangements with your chosen US host institution(s).
You must also:
- only use your grant funding for the project detailed in the application form and identified on the award letter;
- notify us of any proposed changes to your project, supervisor (or wider circumstances) from the application, at which point further guidance will be provided;
- remain in good standing order with your membership fees throughout the tenure of the award;
- provide a report for inclusion in our surgical research report at the end of your fellowship.
Further Fulbright Commission conditions apply. Read more on the Fulbright Commission website.
What you’ll gain from the grant
This grant offers you financial support while you research, including:
- Basic salary support for up to 6 months’, up to ST6-8 nodal point 5 on the resident doctor pay scale. This is administered by your employing NHS Trust in the UK. Please check that this financial arrangement can be accommodated by your NHS employer before applying.
- A stipend of £2,275 per month, converted to dollars at the prevailing rate toward institutional fees, accommodation, and maintenance costs while in the US. This grant will be paid directly to the awardee, by the US-UK Fulbright Commission.
No further funds are available beyond the grants stated above, from either the College or the US-UK Fulbright commission.
In addition, you will benefit from:
- cultural enrichment programmes and events;
- opportunities to network, build links and present your research;
- an invitation to receive your certificate at a diplomates’ ceremony.
Depending on the Award, the Fulbright scholarship programme also offers other benefits. You can read more on the Fulbright Commission website.
How to apply
You’ll apply through the Fulbright Commission application portal.
You will need to complete an online application form and a separate online supplemental form.
Full details of the application process can be found on the Fulbright Commission website.
What happens next
Every application is checked against the eligibility criteria, and all eligible applications go through an independent peer review process.
Applications are ranked based on the combined peer review scores and comments.
If you are shortlisted, you will participate in the US-UK Fulbright Commission selection process.
How this grant is funded
These grants are funded through the generosity of our funding partners, along with legacies and endowed restricted funds.
Some grants will have eponymous titles which acknowledge the funding source. If your grant has been funded by one of our funding partners, you may have the opportunity to meet your funder to share the progress of your research.
Contact
If you have any questions about applying for The Fulbright RCS England Award, please email research@rcseng.ac.uk or Fulbright.