BCS-Heart Research UK Fellowship opportunities
The British Cardiovascular Society has partnered with Heart Research UK to provide exclusive fellowship opportunities for BCS members. Heart Research UK is a leading charity supporting research into heart disease prevention, treatment, and cures, while also funding advanced training and educational initiatives.
BCS-Heart Research UK fellowships offer clinical top-up training and opportunities to gain new clinical skills or experience, for a broad spectrum of the NHS workforce practicing in the cardiovascular arena.
Applications for the BCS-Heart Research UK fellowship schemes are open until midnight on Friday 31 October 2025.
About the BCS-Heart Research UK Fellowships
These fellowships aim to support NHS cardiovascular professionals by enabling clinical placements in global centres of excellence, which may be in the UK, Ireland, or elsewhere in the world.
Fellowships are open to resident doctors and consultant cardiologists, cardiology nurse specialists, Cath-lab staff, physiologists and scientists, and other AHP groups.
Fellows gain new skills, insights, and experiences that contribute to the advancement of cardiovascular care in the UK.
All applicants, irrespective of the type of fellowship award, must be fully paid-up ordinary, associate BJCA or Affiliate members of BCS. If not a member, applicants may sign up using the button below.
Fellowship Awards
Three fellowship schemes are available:
Individual Clinical Placement (up to 2 months)
This scheme allows for one individual clinical placement for a senior resident doctor or consultant cardiologist. The scheme could particularly suit a clinician with unmet training needs in a specialised area such as ACHD, cross-sectional imaging (CMR/CT), or ICC (other subspeciality areas will be considered).
Award Value: Up to £15,000
Download the Individual Clinical Placement (up to 2 months) application form
Team Placement (1 week)
For up to six members of an NHS cardiovascular team to observe a care pathway or procedure for future implementation in the UK. This scheme could suit a cath-lab team in complex intervention, structural intervention, EP/devices, paediatric or ACHD, or an imaging department planning to start a new clinical service (e.g. cardiac CT or CMR).
Award Value: Up to £16,000 per team
Individual Placement for Healthcare Professionals (up to 1 month)
For healthcare professionals (e.g. nurse specialists, technologists, clinical scientists, pharmacists, physiologists etc) to learn new practical skills or pathways of care for future implementation in the UK.
Award Value: Up to £5,000
Download the Individual Placement for Healthcare Professionals (up to 1 month) application form
All fellowships are to be completed by the end of May 2026, with recipients expected to present their experiences at the BCS Conference in June 2026.
Funding can only be used to contribute to travel, accommodation, salary, and any local medical regulatory/certification costs. Indicative budget, detailing proposed expenses, should be sent with the application form.
How to apply
To apply, please submit the following documents as one PDF document to [email protected]
- Completed application form, including all signatures
- Curriculum Vitae
- Draft itinerary or timetable
- Indicative budget, detailing proposed expenses
- Letter of invitation/acceptance from the visiting centre Head of Department
- Letter of acceptance from Clinical Director/Dean of applicants UK employer
- Letter of support from Training Programme Director (if a registered cardiology resident doctor)
Previous delegate experiences
Click below to view insights from the 2024 recipients of a BCS-HRUK Fellowship.
They talk about their BCS-HRUK Fellowship, why they applied, what they learnt, and what learnings they’ll bring back to their roles in the UK.
Ms Alex Savis
Alex was awarded the 2024 individual clinical placement for a healthcare professional for up to a month.
She spent two weeks with Dr Gabriela Leal, director and coordinator of the Paediatric and Neonatal Echocardiography Laboratory at the Instituto da Crianza e do Adolescente in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Alex wanted to learn the best practice in strain imaging (LV and LA) in children with acquired heart disease, with a specific focus on learning to use and interpret LA strain in patients with cardio-renal disease.
Sarah talks about why she learnt on her BCS-HRUK Fellowship.
Alex discusses the plan she had going into her BCS-HRUK Fellowship and the benefits of having time to learn.
Alex talks about how she will implement research from her BCS-HRUK Fellowship back in the UK.
"I would thoroughly recommend a clinical placement to anyone who has a passion to learn and the motivation to keep up to date with new technology to improve outcomes for their patients."
Dr Reshma Amin
Reshma was awarded an individual clinical placement for up to two months in 2024.
During the placement, Reshma visited the AZ Sint Jan Hospital in Bruges, Belgium – an institution known for its global excellence in cardiac electrophysiology and devices.
Reshma wanted to experience an alternate healthcare model, engage with an international training environment, participate in clinical research, and deepen exposure to advanced electrophysiological techniques.
"The experience has been formative, shaping both my clinical perspective and professional aspirations. I will return to the UK equipped with new techniques, fresh insights, and a broader appreciation for the diversity and innovation that characterise global cardiovascular care."
Dr Sarah Birkhoelzer
Sarah was awarded an individual clinical placement for up to two months in 2024.
She visited the Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School for six weeks, under the mentorship of Dr Muthiah Vaduganathan, co-director of the Centre for Cardiometabolic Implementation Science at the hospital.
Sarah wanted to work with a world-class research group involved in designing and delivering landmark heart failure trials, with a specific focus on heart failure and cardiac amyloidosis.
Sarah talks about why she wanted to apply for a BCS-HRUK Fellowship.
Sarah talks about what she learnt from her BCS-HRUK Fellowship and what she’s bringing back to her professional practice.
Sarah talks about how much she got out of her BCS-HRUK Fellowship and why you should apply!