The LSHTM ISEP Postgraduate Training Fellowship in Medical Statistics 2026 is a fully funded opportunity for talented individuals from sub-Saharan Africa to advance their careers in medical statistics and epidemiology. Offered by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) through the International Statistics and Epidemiology Partnership (ISEP), this fellowship addresses the shortage of highly trained medical statisticians across Africa.
Funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC), the programme provides comprehensive support and hands-on experience to build capacity in health research.
Programme Overview
The two-year fellowship includes:
- Year 1: Full-time, in-person MSc in Medical Statistics at LSHTM in London (starting September 2026). Fellows select a dissertation project linked to their future placement research topic.
- Year 2: A one-year placement at an ISEP partner research centre in Africa, gaining practical experience in study design, data management, analysis, and reporting findings.
Throughout the fellowship, fellows receive continual mentoring, supervision, and support from ISEP partners and on-site statisticians/researchers.
Placement partner institutions include:
- MRC/Uganda Virus Research Institute and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit (Uganda)
- Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit (MITU) (Tanzania)
- Zambia AIDS Related Tuberculosis (ZAMBART) (Zambia)
- THRU-Zim Biomedical Research Training Institute (Zimbabwe)
- African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) (Kenya)
- MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM (The Gambia)
Number of places: Two fellowships are available for the 2026 intake.
Benefits
The fellowship is fully funded and covers:
- MSc tuition fees
- Annual tax-free stipend (living allowance)
- Return air travel
Note: The fellowship cannot supplement or be combined with other funding sources.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a national and resident of a country in sub-Saharan Africa (see the list of eligible countries: Here.
- Hold a degree equivalent to a UK 2:1 or above (first-class or upper second-class honours) in mathematics, statistics, or a closely related subject.
- Have at least one year of work experience in medical statistics or epidemiology.
- Meet LSHTM’s English language requirements (as detailed in the policy: here. Shortlisted candidates may need to complete an English language assessment.
Required Documents
- Completed online application form
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Academic transcripts (undergraduate degree and any postgraduate studies)
- Two references/recommendation letters
- Identity document (e.g., passport or national ID)
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Guide
- Review eligibility and prepare documents — Ensure you meet all criteria and gather your CV, transcripts, references, and ID.
- Access the application portal — Visit the dedicated ISEP online application portal: here.
- Complete the application — Fill in all sections of the form. Upload your CV, academic transcripts, references, and any other required documents directly to the portal.
- Submit before the deadline — 5:00 pm GMT must submit applications on Monday, 31 March 2026. Late applications will not be considered.
- Selection process — Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a Zoom interview. Successful interviewees may need to undertake an English language assessment. Final offers are conditional on meeting all requirements, including, if applicable, providing evidence of English proficiency by mid-June 2026.