Tenovus Scotland

Could Tenovus Scotland fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants
£15,000 – £100,000
Where they fund
Dundee (DD), Kirkcaldy and Fife (KY), Perth (PH), Scotland, Edinburgh and Lothians (EH), Falkirk (FK), Tweeddale (TD), Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire (AB), Western Isles (HS), Inverness and Highlands (IV), Kirkwall and Orkney (KW), Lerwick and Shetland (ZE), Glasgow (G), Dumfries and Galloway (DG), Kilmarnock and Ayrshire (KA), Motherwell and Lanarkshire (ML), Paisley and Renfrewshire (PA)
Applications
Accepted
How to apply
Email application

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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tenovus-scotland.org.uk

About Tenovus Scotland

Tenovus Scotland is a charity that funds medical research across Scotland, with a particular focus on supporting early-stage projects through small pilot grants and PhD scholarships. They aim to enable innovative research that can lead to larger studies and improved health outcomes. Their funding is organised regionally, with programmes tailored to specific areas including Grampian, Highlands and Islands, Tayside and NE Fife, Edinburgh and Lothians, and Strathclyde. This regional approach matches local fundraising to local research capacity, and their focus is on early-stage, proof-of-concept research that can attract larger funding later.

What Tenovus Scotland funds

Tenovus Scotland funds medical research, including pilot studies and PhD scholarships, across Scotland. They support research projects and equipment costs, and for PhD scholarships they also fund stipends for students. Their funding is organised regionally, with programmes tailored to specific areas: Grampian, Highlands and Islands; Tayside and NE Fife; Edinburgh and Lothians; and Strathclyde. They fund work conducted within the relevant region and by organisations based there.

Who can apply

Tenovus Scotland accepts applications from registered charities and other eligible organisations based in Scotland. Their funding is organised regionally, so applicants must be based in and conduct work within the relevant region for each programme. They do not fund applications from PhD students for pilot grants, or from established investigators for work within their usual field of expertise.

What Tenovus Scotland doesn't fund

Tenovus Scotland does not fund salaries for small pilot grants, equipment for routine patient care or assessment of new products, applications from established investigators in their usual field, or PhD students applying for pilot grants. They also do not fund follow-on work previously supported by them, partial funding for projects already supported by other funders, or work conducted outside the relevant region.

How they like to fund

Tenovus Scotland offers small pilot grants and PhD scholarships. PhD scholarships are multi-year, typically providing funding for three years. They welcome unsolicited applications. Their funding is organised regionally, with programmes tailored to specific areas of Scotland.

How much does Tenovus Scotland give?

Tenovus Scotland runs 6 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 70 sourced facts

Large Grants – Tayside & NE FifeCurrently closed
Up to £100,000
  • Online application form
  • 1 rounds a year
PhD ScholarshipsCurrently closed
Up to £91,600
  • Online application form
  • Multi-year funding
Small Pilot Grants – EdinburghCurrently closed
Up to £25,000
  • Online application form
  • 1 rounds a year
Small Pilot Grants – Grampian, Highlands & IslandsCurrently closed
Up to £15,000
  • Online application form
  • 1 rounds a year
Small Pilot Grants – StrathclydeOpen to applications
Up to £25,000
  • Online application form
  • Next deadline 15 September 2026
  • 2 rounds a year
Small Pilot Grants – Tayside & NE FifeCurrently closed
Up to £20,000
  • Online application form
  • 1 rounds a year

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Tenovus Scotland funds — and what they won't

Where they fund
Dundee (DD)Kirkcaldy and Fife (KY)Perth (PH)ScotlandEdinburgh and Lothians (EH)Falkirk (FK)Tweeddale (TD)Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire (AB)Western Isles (HS)Inverness and Highlands (IV)Kirkwall and Orkney (KW)Lerwick and Shetland (ZE)Glasgow (G)Dumfries and Galloway (DG)Kilmarnock and Ayrshire (KA)Motherwell and Lanarkshire (ML)Paisley and Renfrewshire (PA)
Costs they'll cover
ResearchSalariesEquipment
They don't fund
Salaries
The full exclusions list (7)
  • Applications for work conducted outside the relevant region
  • Failure to provide evidence of appropriate ethical permission or statistical justification
  • Equipment for routine patient care or assessment of new products
  • Applications from established investigators for work within their usual field of expertise
  • Applications from PhD or other students
  • Follow-on work previously funded by Tenovus Scotland (except exceptional)
  • Partial funding for projects supported by other funders

Good to know

FaithNo restriction
Focus areas
Health

How to apply to Tenovus Scotland

Tenovus Scotland takes applications via email application.

  • Published programme route: online application form.
  • Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

How it works

  1. 1
    Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
  2. 2
    See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
  3. 3
    Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Tenovus Scotland could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Tenovus Scotland provide?

Tenovus Scotland runs 6 grant programmes — Large Grants – Tayside & NE Fife: Up to £100,000 · PhD Scholarships: Up to £91,600 · Small Pilot Grants – Edinburgh: Up to £25,000 · Small Pilot Grants – Grampian, Highlands & Islands: Up to £15,000 · Small Pilot Grants – Strathclyde: Up to £25,000 · Small Pilot Grants – Tayside & NE Fife: Up to £20,000.

Where does Tenovus Scotland fund charities?

Tenovus Scotland funds charities operating in Dundee (DD), Kirkcaldy and Fife (KY), Perth (PH), Scotland, Edinburgh and Lothians (EH), Falkirk (FK), Tweeddale (TD), Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire (AB), Western Isles (HS), Inverness and Highlands (IV), Kirkwall and Orkney (KW), Lerwick and Shetland (ZE), Glasgow (G), Dumfries and Galloway (DG), Kilmarnock and Ayrshire (KA), Motherwell and Lanarkshire (ML), Paisley and Renfrewshire (PA).

Does Tenovus Scotland accept unsolicited applications?

Tenovus Scotland accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Tenovus Scotland not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Applications for work conducted outside the relevant region; Failure to provide evidence of appropriate ethical permission or statistical justification; Equipment for routine patient care or assessment of new products; Applications from established investigators for work within their usual field of expertise; Applications from PhD or other students. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Tenovus Scotland?

Tenovus Scotland takes applications via email application. Published programme route: online application form.

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Could Tenovus Scotland be a fit?

Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.