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What is an Academic Clinical Fellowship (ACF)?

ACFs are run-through training posts for doctors entering specialist training, with potential for development as a researcher and/or educationalist. They offer dedicated time to develop academic skills whilst preparing to apply for training fellowships for higher degrees.

Funding for ACFs is available for a maximum of three years (four years for GPs). This allows for the completion of clinical training, a quarter of which is spent in academic training.

We appoint ACFs in various specialties every year. Visit our vacancies page to find out more about what is available. If you are interested in applying for a post in any of these specialities, please contact the relevant Academic Lead.

Why choose Southampton?

Choosing to do an ACF at Southampton gives trainees:

• the chance to join a world-class research community.
• access to a range of research facilities.
• a taste of working in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• opportunities to link with University researchers in other disciplines including Biological Sciences, Engineering, Computer Science and Informatics, and Mathematics.

We support all NIHR-funded ACFs at Southampton developing their careers as clinical academics through:

• support from a dedicated Academic Lead.
• a £1000 travel bursary to attend conferences and events, present research and expand professional networks.
• funding for training courses.
• access to in-house training opportunities and resources.
• an active community of fellow clinical academic trainees.
• annual networking opportunities.
• help developing fellowship applications from mentors and the University Research and Innovation Service.
• access to the Faculty of Medicine mentoring scheme.

Our ACFs have a strong track record in securing funding for higher research degrees from bodies including the MRC, Wellcome Trust, NIHR and CRUK.  They have published their research in high impact journals, and regularly present at national and international conferences.  Many have gone on to Clinical Lectureships and other research-active clinical positions.

Learn more about the experiences of some of our ACFs

Our Current Academic Clinical Fellows