The Colledge Family Memorial Fellowship Trust

Charity Number: 281012

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

Geographic Focus: Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £164,408 (total expenditure in most recent financial year)
Decision Time: Applications reviewed and announced late June/early July
Grant Range: £10,000 - £30,000 per candidate
Geographic Focus: UK medical graduates; overseas study supported globally

Contact Details

Email: research@rcseng.ac.uk (administered by Royal College of Surgeons of England)

Application Portal: rcsengland.flexigrant.com

Website: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/research/fellowships-awards-grants/awards-and-grants/travel-awards/colledge-fellowship/

Overview

The Colledge Family Memorial Fellowship Trust was established in 1980 by a Deed of Trust from Miss M C Colledge to establish a fund in memory of her father, Lionel Colledge FRCS, a famous London surgeon. The charity was created by a generous bequest from his daughter Cecilia Colledge (Magdalena Cecilia Colledge). With an endowment of approximately £2.5 million, the trust uses the interest to fund a small number of high-value awards for overseas study each year. Registered as charity number 281012, the trust has total income of £143,734 and expenditure of £164,408 (financial year ending 30 June 2024). The fellowship is administered by the Royal College of Surgeons of England and specifically supports senior trainees and recently appointed consultants in head and neck surgery/ENT to gain clinical or research experience at centres of excellence worldwide.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Colledge Family Memorial Fellowship - £10,000 - £30,000 per candidate

A travel fellowship supporting overseas study in otolaryngology, head and neck surgery, and laryngology. Applications are submitted via the Royal College of Surgeons of England's Flexi Grant online portal with a fixed annual deadline.

Priority Areas

The fellowship prioritises:

Clinical experience: Hands-on surgical training at overseas centres of excellence
Research experience: Overseas research opportunities in head and neck surgery specialties
Subspecialty training in areas including:
Otology and neurotology
Rhinology and anterior skull base surgery
Head and neck oncologic surgery
Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery
Transorbital neuroendoscopic surgery (TONES)
Microvascular reconstruction

The fellowship enables fellows to study at leading institutions in countries including Australia, Canada, South Africa, the United States, and Germany. The fellowship explicitly aims to advance surgical practice and ultimately improve patient care in these specialist areas.

What They Don't Fund

Conference attendance or scientific meeting participation
Fellowships for non-UK medical graduates
Applications from those who have previously received this award
Individuals who are not fellows or members of the Royal College of Surgeons of England
Surgeons beyond early consultant level (typically more than 5 years post-appointment)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The trust has 3 trustees. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trust has no employees, with administrative functions handled by the Royal College of Surgeons of England.

Selection Committee

Applications are reviewed and scored by a small group of senior ENT surgeons, ensuring peer review by specialists in the field.

How to Apply to The Colledge Family Memorial Fellowship Trust

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the Royal College of Surgeons of England's Flexi Grant portal at rcsengland.flexigrant.com.

Application Requirements:

Completed applicant form via online portal
Letter of support from current Head of Department or Consultant
Letter of support from Head of Department at the destination institution
Applicants are responsible for ensuring all relevant parties access and complete required documentation and submit together by the deadline

Eligibility:

Must be a fellow or member of The Royal College of Surgeons of England
Must be a UK medical graduate
Must be a senior trainee or recently appointed Consultant (typically within 5 years of appointment) in head and neck surgery
Must conduct clinical study/research overseas in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery
Must never have previously received this award

Decision Timeline

Application Deadline: Fixed annual deadline (check Royal College of Surgeons website for current deadline)
Review Period: Applications reviewed and scored by senior ENT surgeons following submission
Announcement: Fellowships usually announced late June/early July
Fellowship Start: Fellows typically commence their overseas placements following announcement

Post-Award Requirements

Recipients must submit a report within three months of returning from their fellowship.

Success Rates

The fellowship is highly competitive. The fund provides “a small number of high value awards” and successful applicants typically target world-leading centres of excellence for highly specialised training.

Reapplication Policy

Applicants who have previously received the Colledge Fellowship are not eligible to reapply. However, there is no explicit restriction on unsuccessful applicants reapplying in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

Key Selection Criteria

Based on the fellowship's stated priorities:

Clear Learning Objectives: Applications must demonstrate specific, well-defined objectives for the overseas placement. The selection committee evaluates the "merits of the proposed centre in relation to the candidate's learning objectives."

Clinical/Research Focus: “All applications will be considered, but applicants seeking to gain clinical or research experience will be prioritised.” The fellowship explicitly does not favour applications solely for conference attendance.

Centre of Excellence: The destination institution should be a recognised leader in the specific subspecialty. Successful applications have targeted world-leading centres in Australia, Canada, South Africa, the United States, and Germany.

Strong Letters of Support: Two letters are required - one from the applicant's current supervisor and one from the host institution. These should clearly articulate the value of the placement.

Career Stage Appropriateness: The fellowship targets surgeons at a specific career stage - late-stage trainees or consultants within approximately 5 years of appointment.

UK Benefit: The fellowship's charitable objectives emphasise that “activities are carried out for public benefit as the grants awarded support surgeons in the study of specialisms which promote better practice in patient care.”

Profile of Successful Applicants

Successful recipients pursue diverse subspecialties within head and neck surgery and ENT, including:

Otology, Neurotology and Skull Base Surgery
Transorbital Neuroendoscopic Surgery
Facial Plastic and Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery
Rhinology and Anterior Skull Base Surgery
Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery

This demonstrates the fellowship supports depth in specialised areas rather than general training.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Target advanced trainees and early consultants: The fellowship is specifically designed for surgeons in late-stage training or within approximately 5 years of consultant appointment in head and neck surgery/ENT.

Focus on clinical/research experience, not conferences: Applications prioritising hands-on clinical training or research at overseas centres are explicitly favoured over conference attendance.

Choose world-leading destinations: Successful applicants consistently target recognised centres of excellence in countries including Australia, Canada, South Africa, the United States, and Germany.

Be subspecialty-specific: Successful applications pursue highly specialised areas within ENT/head and neck surgery. Demonstrate how the fellowship will develop expertise in a defined subspecialty.

Secure strong institutional support: Letters from both current and destination supervisors are required. These should clearly articulate the learning objectives and value of the placement.

Plan for £10-30k budget: Award amounts vary within this range, so fellowship plans should be realistic for this funding level.

Allow adequate preparation time: With a fixed annual deadline and announcement in late June/early July, successful applicants need to plan well in advance, particularly for securing host institution commitments.

Emphasise patient care benefit: The trust's charitable objectives emphasise that supported training should “promote better practice in patient care in these areas.”