Brian Chapman Scholarship

The Edinburgh International Course in Medicine of the Older Adult represents an opportunity for physicians from countries with limited old-age services not only to benefit from the educational programme, but also to network with colleagues from countries with greater experience of elderly medicine.

The scholarship is named in memory of the late Dr Brian Chapman, a distinguished Geriatrician in Edinburgh who made significant contributions to the International Course and to the work of the College during his career.

Dr Brian Chapman FRCP Edin

"This course was especially relevant to my professional expertise, and therefore I highly appreciate and feel honoured for getting an opportunity to attend this event, which gathered professionals from all over the world... The mixture of knowledge in the RCPE course and the historical city of Edinburgh mesmerized me very much. Edinburgh is really a beautiful place."

Dr Ramesh Kandel, 2019 scholarship winner

The Brian Chapman Scholarship 2026 allows doctors from low or lower middle income (by World Bank criteria) to gain free online access to talks from the 2026 Edinburgh International Course of Medicine for the Older Adult (EICMOA). Awardees will be granted access for six months following the course.

The world’s population is ageing with developing countries experiencing the most rapid increase in the number of older people. With this comes the challenge of managing associated chronic disease and morbidity. Many developing countries are ill-prepared for the predicted burden, not only due to scarce medical resources, but also because of a lack of health workers trained and skilled in the management of older patients.

2026 applications are open; closing date 29 March 2026

Eligibility

Applicants must be based and working within any country classified as low or lower middle income by the World Bank*
Applicants must be a fully qualified medical practitioner and

in a training post in Geriatric Medicine (Medicine for the Older Adult) or in a training post in postgraduate medicine and have a specific interest in developing geriatric medicine as a specialist interest, or

in a Consultant or equivalent post in Medicine (either Medicine for the Older Adult or General Medicine) with an interest in developing geriatric medicine as a specialist interest and be within 5 years of starting that post.

Applicants must be able to describe how attendance at this course will contribute to the development of Geriatric Medicine within their local clinical service and/or country
Applicants must not have previously received any bursary or scholarship from the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

*Eligible countries:

Afghanistan; Angola; Bangladesh; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Comoros; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Republic of the Congo; Côte d’Ivoire; Djibouti; Egypt; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; The Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Haiti; Honduras; India; Jordan; Kenya; Kiribati; Democratic People's Republic of Korea; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Madagascar; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Federated States of Micronesia; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nepal; Nicaragua; Niger; Nigeria; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Rwanda; São Tomé and Príncipe; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Solomon Islands; Federal Republic of Somalia; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Syrian Arab Republic; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Timor-Leste; Togo; Tunisia; Uganda; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Vietnam; West Bank and Gaza; Yemen Arab Republic; Zambia; Zimbabwe. 

Application and Selection Process

Applicants will be asked to provide:

- Contact details and date of birth

- Details of their present training or consultant post (location / level of training) and when commenced

and to complete the following essay question:

Please describe the present healthcare challenges of an ageing population in the country you work in and outline how attendance at this course will benefit the delivery of care to older adults within your clinical service (Minimum 150 words. Maximum 300 words). Please note that AI must not be used in answering this question.

Please prepare your answer before applying online.

Your application will be scored by a minimum of two assessors. Where the scores are tied, the College reserves the right to make the final decision.

If you have any questions please contact Ninette Premdas at n.premdas@rcpe.ac.uk

Scholarship terms and conditions

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