Apply for the next cohort
Information regarding the application process including guidance, FAQs and who needs to support your application to the AHP Careers Fellowship Scheme.
Key dates
The AHP Careers Fellowship Scheme is now closed for applications.
Application guidance
Support to develop your application and write your learning outcomes
The online module Writing Great Applications for Learning and Development Opportunities can be helpful to consider your areas for further development. (Please note you will need to have a Turas account and login to access this resource).
For writing learning outcomes you can watch this video about constructing learning outcomes.
The NES NMAHP Development Framework can be used to help you plan your development across the Four Pillars of Practice.
Who needs to support my application?
Your application must be supported and approved by:
- Your own line manager
- Your service manager and budget holder
- Your AHP Director (if you work in the NHS, an integrated health and social care team) or a Director/Associate Director level senior manager (if you work in a Local Authority)
Seeking support for your application from the people listed above is vital and can make a huge difference to your proposed Fellowship successfully progressing.
Guidance and Application Form
For more details about the Scheme, how it works, the review panel, timeframes and advice about completing the application form please see our Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document.
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Application guidance and frequently asked questions (FAQs) in respect of the NHS Education for Scotland (NES) AHP Careers Fellowship Scheme
Project themes
Themes for 2026-27
Each year, the Scheme supports AHPs to contribute to the delivery of health and social care priorities and ambitions, this year we are particularly interested in projects that in some way address one of the three themes listed below:
- Innovations for sustainability or to increase capacity within services to focus on prevention and early detection. This can include upskilling others to promote healthy lifestyles, social-prescribing, exploring one-stop clinics, proactive care and screening tools amongst other solutions or improved access to screening and imaging services. Using faster, more accurate tests and scans can help identify issues earlier, support timely treatment, and reduce pressure on other parts of the system.
- Strengthening cross-sector partnerships to ensure equitable access to person-led, community-based services. This theme emphasises enhancing collaborative practice between roles and agencies, with a focus on co-designing improvements around the needs and experiences of the people who access them.
- Empowering individuals who face barriers to participation to access employment or engage in meaningful activities that enhance wellbeing, independence, and personal resilience. This can include support for people entering into or returning to work, and working with individuals with disabilities or long-term conditions, carers, those experiencing poverty, neurodivergent individuals, and others who may be at risk of exclusion.
Please note that these themes are intended to be broad and to generate creative ideas that you may have to innovate services. The themes can be interpreted broadly and the examples within each theme are illustrative.
Applications are particularly encouraged from local authority, radiography and from the north region of Scotland
We also remain open to applications about other strategies and priorities as usual.
More information about these themes is available in the Guidance and FAQ document.
Discuss your ideas
It’s never too early to start discussing your work-based project ideas with your colleagues, team leader and, of course, with us.
We recommend that you Join an AHP Career Fellowship Scheme application drop-in session which are scheduled as follows:
3 September 2025 – 14.00 – 15.00
9 September 2025 – 10.00 – 11.00
17 September 2025 - 15.00 – 16.00
23 September 2025 –11.00 – 12.00
This provides an opportunity for you to discuss project ideas with the NES team and ask questions.
Promote the fellowship
We are keen to reach as many AHPs as possible to raise awareness of the AHP Careers Fellowship and to highlight the application opening window. Please download and share the poster or print the poster and place this on notice boards in your locality. Your support is appreciated.
You can download the poster from the link below:
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Poster to be used by health boards and organisations locally to promote to staff the availability of the AHP careers fellowship scheme and how to find out more and apply for cohort 8.
Previous fellows experiences
I have thoroughly enjoyed my Fellowship experience. I wasn't sure what to expect initially, but can honestly say that I have achieved things I never thought possible and have found ways to develop in my career that I wouldn't have previously considered. I am genuinely sad that it has now come to an end, but also excited to see what being an Alumni will bring!
I have thoroughly enjoyed the career fellowship programme, it has been a huge learning curve for me, but it has had a profound effect on my NHS career aspirations. I would encourage any Healthcare Support Worker to step out of your comfort zone you will be surprised what you can bring to the cohort and the learning you will gain!
Overall the fellowship has been invaluable in many different ways personally and professionally to enjoy and develop myself and within the post I am in. Doing the fellowship as a joint project helped in many aspects to jointly work on a project and allow me to explore directions.
Fellow's manager and project mentor feedback
"The fellowship has a high potential for impact not only on the individual but also the service. I have seen each individual grow in confidence and skill set. The team has benefitted by the enthusiasm of the individuals which has undoubtedly impacted us as a whole. We have many more individuals keen to step forward for opportunities to grow. The projects that NES have supported have varied but each brought different elements of change and benefit to the individual, patients, team and profession. "
"The reason we are so willing to support staff members wanting to be fellows is that we can see how much they grow in knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm. Every single fellow has come out a better professional with a huge amount of skills and ways of thinking and this has huge benefit to the department."
Contact the NES team
To talk direct to the NES team email ahp.fellowships@nes.scot.nhs.uk