Global CARE

We fund initiatives that improve access to surgical and dental care in underserved communities. Our projects focus on building sustainable local capacity through education, training and infrastructure development.

We provide scholarships to healthcare professionals from low and middle-income countries, enabling them to gain essential surgical and dental skills currently unavailable in their regions. These scholarships may cover attendance and/or tuition fees for specialised courses, skill training programs or clinical experiences. Recipients are expected to return home to strengthen their local healthcare systems.

We leverage the expertise of our surgeons and dentists to develop targeted educational resources and training programs that address specific healthcare needs in low and middle-income countries. Our goal is to foster a sustainable, lasting impact by empowering local communities to independently manage and sustain these initiatives.

Global CARE is a health initiative run by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to address healthcare inequality worldwide by building sustainable surgical and dental capacity in communities suffering from chronic shortages of care. We work through strategic partnerships and targeted initiatives to create sustainable, long-lasting impact in low and middle-income countries. 

Global CARE, formerly known as the Global Surgery Foundation, was established in 2015 and has since undergone a rebranding to broaden its impact and reach.

Global CARE Grants: Project Funding for small grants up to £3,000 and for large grants up to £10,000 for projects in low and middle-income countries.

Global CARE Scholarships: Up to £25,000 for healthcare professionals from low and middle-income countries, enabling them to gain essential surgical and dental skills currently unavailable in their regions. These scholarships may cover attendance and/or tuition fees for specialised courses, skill training programs or clinical experiences.

• Project funding (Global CARE Grants) is open to applicants from both the UK and abroad for initiatives in low and middle-income countries.
• Individual Training Support (Global CARE Scholarships) is specifically for healthcare professionals from low and middle-income countries. If you have already applied for the IPD and are successful in your application, you may apply for a Global CARE Scholarship to secure funding.

For all applications, you must provide:

• Evidence of need
• Sustainability plans
• Expected outcomes
• Detailed budget
• Implementation timeline
• Evidence of local support and engagement

You can support through direct donations here or partnership opportunities. For partnership discussions, please contact g.elliott@rcsed.ac.uk.

Application inquiries: m.micola@rcsed.ac.uk.

Partnership opportunities: g.elliott@rcsed.ac.uk

You are eligible to apply for training opportunities in any country outside of your home country; this is not limited to the United Kingdom.

If you are unable to secure confirmation of a placement, qualification, or clinical experience by the application deadline, unfortunately, you will not be eligible to apply for this round. However, rest assured that we intend to run the scholarship again in the following year, and you will be eligible to apply for the next round of applications.

We currently do not require a specified duration for the training. What is more important is that the training is valuable and relevant to the skills you need. If someone applies for a full postgraduate qualification and can demonstrate its necessity and relevance, we may be able to fund part of the qualification. However, if the entire course exceeds the funding period we can offer, the training would not need to be completed within a specific timeframe.

Please sign up for your free affiliate membership here: Free Affiliate Membership.

All applications are based on merit and the potential impact the scholarship will have for the individual and the community they are trying to serve.

*Applicants must be healthcare professionals from low and middle-income countries

*Applicants must be core-trainees or equivalent or above (2-year post registration as a doctor / could be MRCS, post MRCS or consultant)

*Applicants must sign up to become an affiliate member of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh if they are not already

*This scholarship is not intended for medical students

*Previous recipients of this scholarship within the past 3 years

*Training that duplicates existing skills/services already available locally

* Proposals focusing primarily on research without clear service implementation

* Proposals without clear connection to improved healthcare delivery

*Evidence of current healthcare role and qualifications

*Detailed training proposal including specific learning objectives

*Clear identification of local healthcare needs to be addressed

*Two references

*Proposed budget and timeline for training

*Course/program tuition fees or part thereof

*Attendance fees for specialised training

*Clinical attachments or observerships

*Essential skills development programs

*Any associated study expenses, including flights and or accommodation if necessary

We will award up to £25,000 in funding for Global CARE Scholarships per year. This means one person could be awarded the full £25,000 or this amount might be split between several people based on the pool of applicants.

Yes, you should only apply for the scholarship once you have received confirmation that you have been accepted for the qualification, training, or clinical experience opportunity with your chosen host institution.

No, there is no official list of participating institutions. Applicants are expected to independently identify and secure their own placement.