Job Overview

Apply for the 2025 BMJ Clegg Scholarship  

Do you want to gain insight into how a medical journal is run, get involved in creating engaging educational material, and learn how to get published? If so, then apply for The 2025 BMJ Student Clegg Scholarship

We are looking for four students who are studying medicine within the UK or European Union who will spend 16 days with us, remotely, between March and June 2025. There may also be the opportunity to spend time in The BMJ office in London. We welcome students at any stage in their medical school career, including those who want to join us as part of their medical elective.

As a Clegg scholar, you will learn more about The BMJ and BMJ Student by meeting members of the team, learning about different article sections, and getting involved in the running of the journal. The content of the placement is flexible, with opportunities to be involved in pitching article ideas, writing, editing and researching content aimed at students. You will also have an opportunity to create social media and multimedia content for our channels. You may virtually attend and report from press conferences or perform interviews. There’s a lot to choose from and explore.

As this is predominantly a virtual placement, we will not be reimbursing travel or accommodation. However, we pay all Clegg scholars a grant of £1200 (€1380). Experience with writing or editing may be beneficial, however, we welcome all applicants irrespective of previous experience. We are looking for candidates who are motivated, familiar with The BMJ and BMJ Student, and full of great ideas.

On completion of the scholarship, certificates will be provided for your portfolio.

At The BMJ we take equal opportunities seriously; diversity and inclusion are more than just words, they are an organisational priority. We strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups, and we are a Disability Confident Committed employer.

Views from previous Clegg scholars

Sameed Shariq—2024 Clegg scholar

The BMJ Clegg Scholarship is a truly unique experience. As medical students, we often have creative talents but rarely get to apply them to the medical world. Through this scholarship, I was able to do exactly that, working alongside experts across journalism, academia, and multimedia. You are given the freedom to shape your experience, choosing projects that interest you and setting your own pace. There's plenty to do and even more to learn. The BMJ is vast, and this scholarship is an ideal opportunity to understand how a leading medical journal operates as both a publication and a business. I would apply again in a heartbeat—don’t miss out.

Elisabeth Perreau-Saussine—2024 Clegg scholar

The Clegg Scholarship has deepened my understanding of medicine and revealed so much about the paths that can flow from it. I was excited to meet the team shaping the medical agenda field nationally and internationally. Participating in the Sharp Scratch podcasts has been incredibly fulfilling, as it has allowed me to have conversations with experts that have reshaped my perspectives on practices that I undertake daily in hospital. My experience at The BMJ has helped me to understand that writing and thinking are just as integral to medicine as diagnoses and treatments, and it has had a positive, long lasting impact on me that I’m sure I will take forward with me into the future. The scholarship is flexible, and I felt supported by the team at The BMJ to explore my interests. Any student considering the scholarship should certainly feel confident to apply, and I cannot recommend throwing yourself into The BMJ family more.

Judith Ugwuja—2023 Clegg scholar

Diving into academic writing was like entering a new universe for me. As a creative writer with a love for literature, the polished and structured vibe of academic writing had always felt like an alien language to me. The Clegg scholarship turned out to be my interstellar journey, satisfying my curiosity about the medical field and beyond. Witnessing the journey from an idea to a published piece was like discovering the secret sauce of the writing world. Each section’s meticulous detail and attention was awe inspiring. I found myself in a community of inquisitive, kind, and clever minds and I revelled in it. Now, I strut with confidence in academic writing and understand the intricacies of running a journal as renowned as The BMJ. From crack-of-dawn huddles to manuscript marathons and quirky social media posts, it was a thrilling experience. Seriously, I cannot sing its praises enough.

To Apply

Please send the following in one document:

● A covering letter (maximum 400 words) stating why you would be suitable for the position. Please make clear the dates between March and June 2025 that you are available, which medical school you are attending, and which year you are in.

● Your CV (maximum 2 pages).

● An article you’ve written, aimed at students, in the style of BMJ Opinion—see guidance here - on a topic you would want to publish if you were a Clegg scholar.

Please send any questions to the current editorial scholar, George Webster (gwebster@bmj.com).

The closing date for applications is 9 am on Monday 13 January 2025. We will interview shortlisted candidates by video call in February 2025.