There is no single route to becoming a clinical academic: opportunities can and will arise throughout your training, from being part of a research project as a medical student or undertaking an intercalated degree, to holding an NIHR Integrated Academic Training (IAT) programme post.
There are many points in the NIHR IAT programme (see video below) at which to join. The Specialised Foundation Programme is the earliest stage in the IAT. Many clinicians join the Academic Clinical Fellow scheme, aiming to do a PhD. There are also many other routes into research if you are not part of these schemes. One example is our NIHR BRC-funded fellow posts, or standalone Clinical Research Fellow posts, which offer opportunities to explore research prior to committing to a further degree.
The most important thing you can do is speak to people about your interest, look for and follow up on opportunities. The SoCATS Committee is happy to help point you in the right direction.
I could not recommend more highly the blend of research, education and clinical practice that a clinical academic career has given me: it’s a crime to be paid in my job.
Professor Cyrus Cooper, Former Director and Professor of Rheumatology, MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Centre and Vice-Dean, Faculty of Medicine.
Developing a clinical academic career
Explore our programmes
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Clinical LectureshipsClinical Lecturers split their time between specialist clinical training and undertaking research. They use their findings to develop applications for externally-funded fellowships. -
Academic Clinical FellowshipsACFs offer dedicated time to develop academic skills whilst preparing to apply for training fellowships for higher degrees.
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Specialised Foundation ProgrammeThe Specialised Foundation Programme allows 5% of trainee doctors to combine clinical training with research methods training.
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Appyling for a PhD as a clinical academicif you’re interested in applying to do a PhD as a clinician, then explore our resources to find out more about the process.
