NIHR INSIGHT North London • City St George's, University of London

Inspiring Students into Research

INSIGHT is a partnership between City St. George’s, University of London, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), University of East London, NHS North East London Integrated Care Board and NHS Trusts and local councils.

The initiative is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. It provides opportunities for early-career healthcare, social workers and public health professionals to develop research skills and clinical academic careers.

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What is on offer

Funded studentships for research Masters degrees: Fully supported opportunities, including student stipends
Research internships and externships: Gain hands-on experience in leading clinical research environments
Research engagement events across North East London: Join workshops, networking opportunities, and expert-led sessions to deepen your understanding of clinical academia.

Further details and key dates are available:

Fully funded scholarships for research Masters degrees

Application open: 1^st November 2025
Application deadline: 23^rd March 2026 at midnight
Interviews: 13^th April and 15^th April 2026
Programme start date: October 2026

Final-year students and early career staff within eligible professions across our partners can apply for flexibly structured (full-time or part-time) funded Research Masters studentships at City St George’s or QMUL, whilst maintaining clinical employment contracts.

The scholarships include course fees and a stipend of £20,266 (pro rata) per year.

Funded Masters courses on offer:

Eligibility

To be eligible for a funded studentship you must be:

on track for registration with one of the UK healthcare, social work or public health profession regulation body by September 2026. (Doctors and dentists are not eligible).
at an early stage of your career, with up to 5 years full time equivalent practice in your profession
studying or working in the North London area.

Professions eligible to apply for the INSIGHT programme are:

art/music/ drama therapists
dieticians
healthcare scientists
midwives
nurses
occupational therapists
operating department practitioner
orthoptists
osteopaths
paramedics
pharmacists
physiotherapist
podiatrists
prosthetists & orthotists
public health professionals
radiographers
social workers
speech and language therapists.

(Doctors and dentists are not eligible).

How to apply

To apply for this scholarship please use our online form.

Apply now

If you have any questions, please email the INSIGHT Programme Manager.

Research internships and externships

INSIGHT internships and externships will provide you with a practical research experience.

There are two options available:

Internship hosted by City St George’s – up to 30 hours over a 12-week period at a placement matched to your needs.
Externship hosted by QMUL – over eight weeks and provide insight into how to develop a research proposal. You will spend up to 30 hours across six weeks as a cohort.

Apply now

INSIGHT Internship plan – City St George’s, University of London

Applications deadline: 2nd February 2026
Placement start: May 2026

Overview

An INSIGHT internship at City St George’s will provide you with the opportunity to work with a research team in a research area aligned to your professional interests.

The internship will support you in understanding and evaluating the factors that influence and shape effective research in practice.

The activities on the internship will be determined by the individual in negotiation with the host research team. You will participate fully, as appropriate, in the ongoing research taking place in the research team you join.

Aims

To build a comprehensive and critical understanding of a clinical research area, and to understand and critically evaluate the factors that influence and shape effective clinical research in practice
To develop skills and understanding in research practice (service-user involvement, recruitment, data collection analysis, dissemination), research management and research ethics and the relevant issues and challenges that might arise.

Structure

Flexible opportunities to suit different interests, needs and working patterns
Interns will be matched to a mentor who will provide support
Duration: Up to 10 weeks between May and July
Number of hours: up to 30
Time pattern: flexible; from half a day a week over a set period to a more flexible pattern of hours.

Eligibility

Students or early-career professionals in health or social care with interest and enthusiasm for healthcare research and a willingness to listen, learn and reflect. The eligibility criteria are the same as for the studentships (see above).

NHS-based placements to be offered only to existing NHS employees.

You must be studying or working in the North London area.

If you have any questions, please email the INSIGHT Programme Manager.

INSIGHT Externship plan – Queen Mary University of London

Applications deadline: 2nd February 2026
Placement start: May 2026

This externship is designed as a “taster” program, enabling participants to gain first-hand experience and a comprehensive understanding of the diverse facets of research practice.

Whether you are new to research or looking to enhance your skills, this program offers a supportive and enriching environment to take your first steps into the world of research.

Duration

- 30 hours over 8 weeks

Key components of the externship:

Pragmatic Clinical Trials Unit: Three days dedicated to learning about research methodology, developing a research question, and gaining insight into pragmatic approaches to trial design.
Public Engagement: Time at the Centre for Public Engagement to explore effective ways to involve the public in the development and delivery of research projects.
Research Delivery: An introduction to research delivery – workshop – research in practice. in partnership with Barts Health, offering practical insight into managing and implementing studies in clinical settings.

At the end of the externship:

You will come together as a group with each individual presenting their research idea, and how it has changed over the process of the externship
One of these ideas will supported to take forward and develop a bid for pre doctoral clinical academic funding with mentorship
As a cohort you will work through the best way to support each other going forward and provide peer support.

Further details can be found within our document.

If you have any questions, please email the INSIGHT Programme Manager.

Engagement events across North East London

The NIHR INSIGHT programme includes a range of activities and initiatives to provide information and support for early career professionals. These include:

Research Cafés: Monthly hybrid forums for informal discussions on key research topics, hosted by partner institutions
Networking Events: Biannual hybrid sessions featuring inspiring speakers and workshops to help attendees map out their research aspirations
Public Engagement: Opportunities to join events like Barts NHS International Clinical Trials Day and QMUL’s Festival of Communities to share and explore research ideas
Online Resources:
- Co-produced podcasts and video animations showcasing research careers and practical guidance
- Webinars providing insights into internships, studentships, and broader NIHR career development pathways.

These initiatives are designed to connect you with peers, mentors, and resources to kickstart or advance your clinical research career.

Podcast series

INSIGHT Podcast 1 - Developing a clinical academic career 40:30

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INSIGHT North London Programme – Frequently Asked Questions

Course structure, teaching and time commitment

How many days per week are students expected to be on campus?

For the MRes Clinical Research, City St George’s, University of London and Master of Public Health (MPH), City St George’s, University of London, part time students are expected to be on campus one day per week and this is two days per week for full time students.

Expectations may be different for QMUL programmes (MSc Public Mental Health, QMUL, MSc Global Public Health, QMUL, MSc Healthcare Research Methods, QMUL). Please check with the admissions team at QMUL.

What is the balance between lectures, tutorials, self-directed study, and the clinical research placement?

For the MRes Clinical Research, City St George’s, University of London taught component, lectures/tutorials take up to 1 day/week (PT) or 2 days/week (FT). For the MRes Clinical Research placement, this is 30 hours between January–May, scheduled flexibly with your placement host.

Many additional hours are expected to undertake self-directed study, research, and supervision meetings.

Expectations may be different for Master of Public Health (MPH), City St George’s, University of London and QMUL Masters programmes (MSc Public Mental Health, QMUL, MSc Global Public Health, QMUL, MSc Healthcare Research Methods, QMUL). Please check with the admissions team at QMUL or City St George’s.

What assessments are involved?

For the MRes Clinical Research, City St George’s, University of London there are five taught modules, each with two assessments (mostly essays; one MCQ). The dissertation includes a systematic review and an empirical study (where you collect your own data) or secondary data analysis (where you analyse an existing dataset).

Working while studying

Can I work full-time alongside the Master’s?

This is strongly discouraged. The NIHR studentship and stipend is designed to allow reduced working hours.

Can I opt out of the stipend to work full-time?

It most cases you cannot opt out of the stipend to work full-time. In some circumstances, such as when visa terms require full time work, exceptions can be made.

Eligibility

How many years of professional experience can I have to be eligible?

The INSIGHT programme is designed for early-career professionals with up to 5 years’ full-time equivalent experience, calculated from the date of graduation from your qualifying degree up to the date of the application deadline, whether obtained in the UK or overseas.

Do I need to be registered with my professional body before applying?

No. But you will need to be registered with your professional body before beginning your Masters programme, and to indicate when you expect to be registered, if you are not already, on the application form. If you are undertaking a degree course that entitles you to register with a professional body, you need to provide evidence that your degree is eligible if we ask you to. If you are working towards an experience-based registration, you need to provide evidence that you have begun this process if we ask you to.

Do I need to have completed my degree before applying?

No. But you will need to have successfully completed your professional degree (and be registered with your professional body) before beginning your Masters programme, and to indicate when you expect to complete, if you are not already, on the application form. Any offer you receive for one of our Masters programmes will be conditional on your professional degree award.

I have more than 5 years of experience. Can I still apply?

If you have more than 5 years of experience, you will not be eligible for these opportunities. If you are at a more advanced stage of your registered profession, and are looking to start your career in research, the NIHR offers a number of other predoctoral funding opportunities.

Why are only particular professional specialties eligible?

The INSIGHT programme is NIHR-funded and designed specifically for health, public health and social care professions excluding doctors and dentists, because these professions are under-represented in research careers.

If I am already enrolled in one of the Masters programmes at City St George’s or QMUL, can I apply for an NIHR INSIGHT scholarship?

If you are already enrolled and start your Masters programme before the start date of the NIHR scholarship programme you will not be eligible to apply for the scholarship.

If I am already in receipt of an NIHR funded grant or scholarship, am I eligible to apply?

Yes, provided your grant or scholarship is not already funding a Master’s degree, you can manage the scholarship alongside your Masters, and you meet the eligibility criteria.

I am studying for a Master’s in Public Health or I work in public health. Am I eligible for the NIHR INSIGHT Programme?

You may be eligible, but a Master’s in Public Health, or working in public health, does not on its own meet NIHR INSIGHT’s requirement for applicants to be registered with, or working toward registration with an NIHR‑recognised professional regulator.

For public health applicants, this regulator is the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR). Because UKPHR practitioner registration is not automatic for MPH graduates or for people working in public health, applicants must already be accepted onto a UKPHR regional practitioner scheme at the time they apply to INSIGHT. UKPHR accepts applications only through these schemes and requires portfolio assessment and verification.

If offered a place on INSIGHT, you must have been recommended for UKPHR registration by your regional scheme and have submitted your formal UKPHR application before your INSIGHT‑funded degree begins.

Application process

Do I apply for the Master’s programme and the INSIGHT scholarship separately?

You should apply to your top two preferred Master’s programmes on the relevant website, and apply for the INSIGHT scholarship separately. The funded Master’s courses are:

What questions will be on the application form?

In addition to your contact details, you will be asked about:

your qualifications
professional registration
employment experience
demographic information
your reasons for applying
how the studentship/internship relates to your career goals
how your previous study and/or experience has prepared you
why you deserve the studentship/internship, and
how your participation will benefit your current or future clinical team.

Can I save the online form and return later?

There is an option to save the form and return to it within a defined period (usually one month).

I submitted my application before it was complete, do I reapply or can I access my previous application?

Please contact us on insight@city.ac.uk and we can send you a unique link to access your application.

Will I receive feedback on my application?

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria or you have not met the requirements expected in your application we will advise you via email.

When will interview outcomes be available?

You will be notified at the interview of a time period when you should expect to hear the outcome of your interview.

Funding and stipend

Is the stipend paid to individuals or organisations?

NIHR stipends can be paid to the individual or their employer via the university.

Can I receive tuition funding only (no stipend)?

No. There is no option to accept tuition fees-only funding.

How many INSIGHT scholarship places are available per year?

There are 30 places per year across the North London region, shared across the eligible MSc programmes at QMUL and City St George’s.

Will terms and conditions of the scholarship be published?

Please contact insight@citystgeorges.ac.uk for a copy of the terms and conditions.

Course delivery and research experience

What types of research projects can I undertake?

Both qualitative and quantitative projects are welcomed. Your project can be shaped to suit your background and interests.

Can you give examples of previous student projects?

Yes. Examples include:

Integrating genomics into clinical trials in India
Working practices of SLTs with functional neurological disorder
Telehealth vs face-to-face access to aphasia assessments
Barriers to AAC use in special education
and more.

Programme logistics

Do I need to live or work in a particular location?

Yes. These studentship and internship/externship opportunities are for eligible professionals working or studying in North London.

There are other NIHR INSIGHT programmes offered around the country. If you do not study or work in North London, please visit the NIHR website for information about programmes local to you.

What happens if I leave my job before or during the Master’s?

If you leave your job this does not affect eligibility or the stipend.

Is the programme accessible for applicants on visas?

If you hold a skilled workers visa and are otherwise eligible for the programme, you can apply.

What leave options are available?

Should you need to take leave any at point during the programme the usual university policies and procedures will apply. Your stipend will be paused for the duration of your leave.

Support, contacts and communication

Who can I contact for support at each university?

QMUL: Jamila Kassam (NIHR INSIGHT QMUL manager) – j.kassam@qmul.ac.uk
City St George’s: Kirsten Barnicot (NIHR INSIGHT North London manager) – insight@city.ac.uk.

Will there be more information sessions?

Yes. More North-London-focused sessions will be available during the application opening window. For updates check: visit this page.

Programme capacity and availability

How many places are available per course?

There are 30 INSIGHT scholarship places in total each year across the North London region. These are shared between the eligible MSc programmes at QMUL and City St George’s, rather than a fixed number per course.

Do UEL programmes participate?

No, INSIGHT-funded Master’s programmes are offered only at QMUL and City St George’s. However, eligible UEL students are welcome to apply.