Explore professional opportunities at the College and discover ways to develop your surgical or dental career and contribute to the profession.

Education & Career Development Funding

Funding opportunities to support the education and career development of Affiliates, Members and Fellows.

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Funding & Awards

Education & Career Development Funding

The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh endeavours to champion the education and professional development of every individual within our healthcare community at every stage of their career by improving equity to opportunities through financial support and professional connections. Our education and career development opportunities include elective support, observership placements, professional development grants and fellowship experiences, and aim to fulfil our chartered purpose of advancing professional competence and conduct in healthcare.

Please direct questions regarding the College's research funding opportunities to the Research, Grants and Fellowship Officer.

The Alban Barros D'Sa Memorial Travelling Fellowship in General Surgery

Application open
Closes 01-06-2026

The Alban Barros D'Sa Memorial Fellowship aspires to champion young general surgeons who aspire to attend international educational meetings or conferences by providing up to £1000 of funding towards travel and accommodation costs.

Applicants should be UK or Internationally based Members or Fellows who are Specialist Surgical Trainees or Consultants.

RCSEd is proud to partner with the D’Sa family to provide this opportunity.

With this generous award, I was able to visit two leading centres for surgical education and training in the USA: The Brigham and Women's Hospital and STRATUS Centre for Medical Simulation. During my week long visit to Boston, I spent time with surgical educators and trainees, observing training practices and reflecting on the parallels and contrasts with my own experience as a trainee in the UK. I also had the opportunity to learn about simulation delivery in the USA and how it can be utilised effectively for research into surgical skill assessment.

Mr Lachlan Dick

Apply Here
The Cutner Travelling Fellowship in Orthopaedic Surgery

Application open
Closes 01-06-2026

The Cutner Travelling Fellowship in Orthopaedic Surgery will award up to £3000 annually to support orthopaedic surgeons who wish to travel to specialty centres to develop their surgical skills and knowledge.

Applicants must be Core Trainees with a proven interest in Orthopaedic Surgery, Specialty Trainees, SAS, LEDs or Consultants in the first two years of their first post, who are Members or Fellows of RCSEd. Applicants can be based in the UK or internationally.

RCSEd is proud to work in partnership with the Cutner Family to provide this opportunity.

The Cutner Travelling Fellowship supported my time Orthosport Victoria, Melbourne, under the stewardship of Prof Julian Feller, an internationally recognised knee surgeon with expertise in sports injuries. My time with Prof Feller, and the wider team, provided a world-class experience in all aspects of knee surgery with an excellent balance between clinical and research activities. The experience that I derived, both surgically and through research, will help me to provide a better standard of care for the patients that I treat. I hope that by continuing my academic output through research collaboration with this highly renowned unit I can contribute to future innovations in treating their patients with ACL injuries.

William Wilson

Apply Here
Ethicon Foundation Travel Grant

Application closed

The Ethicon Foundation Fund Travel Grant provides £1000 to support travel with the purpose of developing a surgical skill, or experience, that is not available in the applicants own region.

Applicants should be UK or International Members of RCSEd who are Core Trainees or Specialist Trainees. Dental equivalents may apply.

This fellowship was a transformative experience—refining my surgical skills, expanding my expertise in a highly specialised field, and immersing me in a team culture that truly felt like family. It has had a lasting impact on both my professional practice and personal growth.

Nastaran Sargazi
The Saleem Khwaja Memorial Fellowship In Paediatric Surgery

Application closed

The Saleem Khwaja Memorial Fellowship provides up to £5000 to one individual to access education, training or professional development opportunities in Paediatric Surgery at a centre outside of their region or country. Applicants can also apply to use the Fellowship to provide a charitable service outside of their region or country.

Applicants must be Specialist Trainees or Consultants within two years of their first appointment who are Members or Fellows of RCSEd.

RCSEd is proud to celebrate Professor Saleem Khwaja’s life and work in neonatal and paediatric surgery in the tropics and across Africa through this Fellowship and thank the Khwaja family for their support.

This fellowship provided an exceptional opportunity to gain first‑hand exposure to world‑leading expertise in hypospadias surgery. Observing Professor Warren Snodgrass and his team allowed me to deepen my understanding of innovative surgical techniques and refined decision‑making in both simple and complex cases. The experience has had an immediate and lasting impact on my clinical practice, enabling me to adopt advanced approaches with the aim of achieving the best possible outcomes for children under my care.. It also established enduring professional links with an internationally recognised centre, supporting future collaboration and shared learning which will create long‑term benefits for paediatric surgical services.

Mr Mohamed Mostafa

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Research Funding