The NIHR INSIGHT: Inspiring Students into Research Programme funds a wide range of engagement activities and research masters training opportunities for students and recent graduates within registered healthcare, social work and public health professions. It takes place across 12 regions in England and is led by the participating institutions within each region.
The NIHR INSIGHT programme for South West Central is one of these regional programmes. It is a partnership between the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and Bournemouth University who together have 6,000 pre-registration and 4,000 post registration students across more than 15 health and care professions.
The South West Central region includes the following integrated care systems:
- Gloucestershire
- Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire
- Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire
- Dorset
- and works with Collaborators across the region
Building collaborative partnerships and student networks across the region is a key aim of the programme. More than 20 co-collaborators spanning health and social care providers and NIHR organisations across the South West Central Region are involved.
The NIHR INSIGHT programme includes
- A programme of activities for student and early career health and care professionals to become more familiar with research and its delivery. It aims to enhance their practice career and to showcase and attract health and care professionals to the full range of research careers, including careers that combine research and practice.
- 30 Research Masters studentships in the South West Central region funded by NIHR INSIGHT each year for the three years (2024-2027).
INSIGHT MRes Studentships
These fully-funded Master of Resarch (MRes) Studentships are available linked to two courses in South West Central England.
- MRes Health and Social Care Research at UWE Bristol
Both courses will develop your research skills and experience and are explained in more detail here.
INSIGHT Studentship supported professions
- nurses and midwives
- allied health professionals comprising of:
- art, music and drama therapists
- dental care professionals
- dieticians
- occupational therapists
- operating department practitioners
- orthoptists
- osteopaths
- paramedics
- physiotherapists
- podiatrists
- prosthetists and orthotists
- diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers
- speech and language therapists
- pharmacists
- healthcare scientists
- registered social work professionals
- registered public health professionals
- other registered health and care professions (not including doctors and dentists) that can register with one of the approved regulatory bodies
The INSIGHT Programme is NOT available to doctors and dentists. However, NIHR detail options available to you here.
Please see the NIHR INSIGHT page for approved regulatory bodies.
Studentship Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, you’ll need to be:
- an undergraduate student, postgraduate student, or early career health and care professional (with up to five years full time work experience)
- working towards or have recently completed your professional registration with one of the approved regulatory bodies (not including doctors and dentists)
In case you have more than five years experience, please check out the NIHR Health Care Professional Internship programme.
Please view our 2026 webinar about the INSIGHT MRes studentship, here.
2026 INSIGHT Studentship Applications are now open until the 15th of March,
Apply here: INSIGHT Application 2026
For more information, please contact: insight.swcentral@uwe.ac.uk