Introduction
The Medical Research Council-funded International Statistics and Epidemiology Partnership (ISEP) established in January 2024, aims to address a long-standing shortage of highly trained and experienced medical statisticians in Africa. This is to fill a critical gap in capacity amid the rapid expansion of health-relevant data and related research across the continent.
ISEP is distinctive in its focus on career pathways for early-mid career applied medical statisticians, who often lack career and skills development opportunities, and may experience professional isolation which can lead to poor job satisfaction and retention. The ISEP approach is grounded in principles of equitable partnerships, African-centred and embedded with management and leadership training.
ISEP is working to strengthen capacity through its network of applied statisticians at several African institutions. The ISEP Fellowship Scheme in Medical Statistics is for students from Sub-Saharan Africa to undertake a one-year in-person MSc at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in London, followed by a one-year placement at an ISEP partner research centre in Africa: The Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit in Uganda; Mwanza Intervention Trials Unit (MITU) in Tanzania; Zambia AIDS Related Tuberculosis (ZAMBART) in Zambia; THRU-Zim Biomedical Research Training Institute in Zimbabwe; African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) in Kenya; The Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM.
In the first year, Fellows undertake the MSc in Medical Statistics at LSHTM in London, and are encouraged to select a dissertation linked with their research topic to be pursued during the placement year. In the second year, Fellows undertake the placement to gain practical experience in different aspects of research including study design, data management, analysis and reporting of findings. Mentoring, supervision and support is provided as part of the scheme throughout the Fellowship from members of the partnership.
2026 - ISEP Postgraduate Training Fellowship in Medical Statistics
Two Fellowship places funded by the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) are available to support Fellows to study for the MSc degree in Medical Statistics at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in the UK, followed by a placement year. The Fellowships will start in September 2026.
Award details
Each Fellowship funds MSc tuition fees, an annual stipend, and return air travel.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible, candidates must:
- (i) be resident in and a national of a country in Sub-Saharan Africa (list).
- (ii) be in possession of a 2:1equivalent degree or above with a background in mathematics, statistics, or a closely-related subject.
- (iii) have at least one year of work experience in medical statistics or epidemiology.
- (iv) be able to meet the English language requirements as set out in the English language requirements policy.
- English Language Requirements – Successful applicants must provide evidence to the Admissions team that they meet the English Language proficiency requirement by Monday, 15 June 2026. Failure to do so may result in any scholarship offer being withdrawn and offered to a reserve candidate instead.
Support will not be given as a supplement to other funding, nor to students who have funding from other sources.
How to apply
Step 1
- Candidates should complete their application through the ISEP online portal. A curriculum vitae, 2 References, and academic transcript must be uploaded as part of the application.
Step 2
- Successful candidates must state ‘ISEP’ in the funding section of the Admissions application so that the Admissions team can more easily identify relevant applications.
Please note: an academic transcript should be included for studies at undergraduate degree level as well as any additional postgraduate study.
The deadline for the ISEP application is 5pm GMT on 31 March 2026. Applications received after this date will not be considered.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed via Zoom, and if successful, may be required to undertake an English language assessment.
Important information
Enquiries
- Find out more about the MSc in Medical Statistics.
- Find out more about visa requirements.
- Informal enquiries concerning the Fellowship can be made to the Programme Director for the MSc in Medical Statistics, Melissa Neuman.
- Informal enquiries concerning the MSc can be made to the Admissions Tutors.
Past fellows
The scheme was originally led by the MRC-funded International Statistics and Epidemiology Group (ISEG), and 51 Fellows have completed the scheme since its inception in 2003. The majority were funded by ISEG MRC Programme grants, with further funding secured from the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and the Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health at LSHTM.
All but one of our previous fellows are currently working as medical statisticians with a large number having completed a PhD or currently studying towards one. Fellows have co-authored many publications and presented work to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the Global Fund. They contribute to capacity strengthening of medical statistics and epidemiology in their current roles, including teaching on MScs and short courses, PhD supervision, and mentoring junior colleagues. Two past fellows are now a part of the team that shortlists and interviews future applicants to the ISEP Postgraduate Training Fellowship scheme.