WHO Fellowships Programme 2026: International Health Training and Professional Development Opportunities
The World Health Organization (WHO) Fellowships Programme 2026 offers health professionals and scientists opportunities to strengthen their technical expertise, gain international exposure and develop skills that can contribute to stronger national health systems. The programme, coordinated through the WHO Western Pacific Region, supports different forms of training, including academic study, technical courses, distance learning and study tours.
For eligible health workers and scientists, the fellowship can provide valuable professional development while also supporting national priorities in healthcare, medicine, public health and scientific research.
What Is the WHO Fellowships Programme?
The WHO Fellowships Programme is a capacity-building initiative designed to help health professionals acquire knowledge and technical skills that may not be readily available in their home countries.
Rather than functioning solely as an individual scholarship, the programme is closely connected to national health workforce priorities. Fellowships are developed through cooperation between WHO, national health administrations, fellows and training institutions.
Depending on the approved programme, participants may undertake:
- Undergraduate study
- Postgraduate study
- Short-term training
- Long-term training
- Distance learning
- International professional development
- Study tours
- Specialized technical programmes
The overall objective is to strengthen health systems by improving the expertise and capabilities of health workers and scientists.
Objectives of the WHO Fellowship
The programme has several major objectives that make it particularly relevant to professionals working in healthcare and public health.
Strengthening Health Workforce Capacity
Fellows can acquire specialized technical knowledge and practical skills that may not be available through existing training opportunities in their home countries.
Developing Health Leaders
The programme contributes to the development of professionals who can take on greater responsibilities and leadership roles within national health services.
Supporting International Knowledge Exchange
Participants can interact with health professionals, scientists and institutions in other countries, creating opportunities for professional networking and knowledge sharing.
Improving Training and Professional Standards
The programme can also contribute to strengthening education and training standards in medical, scientific and related health professions.
Who Can Apply?
The programme is primarily intended for health staff from Member States in the WHO Western Pacific Region.
Eligibility is closely linked to national health priorities and the workforce needs identified by the relevant national health administration.
For study tours, candidates are expected to be health workers or scientists in good health and must be nominated by their national health administrations. The information provided by WHO indicates that study-tour candidates are generally not over 55 years of age.
Because fellowship arrangements can differ according to the country, programme and type of training, prospective applicants should confirm the current eligibility requirements through the appropriate national health authorities and WHO channels.
How the WHO Fellowship Programme Works
The fellowship process generally consists of four stages.
1. Planning
WHO representatives work with national health administrations to identify training needs and determine how fellowships can contribute to national health plans.
This ensures that training opportunities respond to actual workforce gaps and healthcare priorities.
2. Selection
For fellowships lasting three months or longer, available opportunities are advertised and eligible candidates can submit applications online.
Applications are then processed through the relevant WHO channels and Regional Office.
Applicants should note that there is not necessarily one universal deadline for every WHO fellowship. Application timelines can depend on the particular programme and country.
3. Fellowship Implementation
Successful candidates undertake their approved training or study programme.
During the fellowship, participants are expected to meet the conditions associated with their programme and may need to submit academic or progress reports.
4. Follow-Up
After completing their fellowship, participants are expected to submit final reports detailing their training and experience.
The programme also emphasizes returning to and contributing to national health administrations after completion. This helps ensure that the knowledge gained through the fellowship can benefit the fellow’s home health system.
Study Tours Under the WHO Programme
Study tours are another important component of the WHO Fellowships Programme.
They allow groups of health workers or scientists to visit institutions and countries to learn about approaches to specific health challenges.
Study tours may support:
- Professional learning
- Fact-finding
- Scientific collaboration
- International networking
- Knowledge exchange
- Exposure to health-system innovations
WHO can also organize tailor-made short-term training programmes depending on identified needs.
Participants are expected to follow the approved itinerary and provide a final report after completing the study tour.
Where Can Fellows Study?
WHO maintains information on institutions where fellows can undertake training. Examples mentioned in the programme information include institutions in countries such as Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Samoa.
Examples include:
- Fiji National University
- University of Fiji
- Sapporo Medical University
- Massey University
- University of Otago
- University of Papua New Guinea
- National University of Samoa
However, the availability of a particular institution should not be assumed for every applicant or fellowship. Candidates should verify current host-institution arrangements as part of the application process.
Is the WHO Fellowship Fully Funded?
One important point for prospective applicants is that financial benefits can vary according to the specific fellowship arrangement.
The programme information refers to fellow entitlements and obligations but does not establish one universal financial package applicable to every fellowship.
Therefore, applicants should avoid assuming that every WHO fellowship provides identical funding, allowances or travel benefits.
Candidates should check the official documentation for their particular fellowship to determine what costs and benefits are covered.
Application Process
Interested professionals should first determine whether the relevant fellowship opportunity is available through their national health administration.
For fellowships lasting three months or longer, WHO indicates that opportunities are advertised and eligible candidates can apply online before applications are forwarded to the appropriate Regional Office.
Applicants should ensure that their proposed training is relevant to their professional responsibilities and aligns with national health priorities.
A strong application should clearly demonstrate how the proposed training could contribute to the applicant’s professional development and, more importantly, to improved health services in their home country.
What Happens After Selection?
Successful candidates undertake their approved programme and comply with the conditions of the fellowship.
Depending on the programme, fellows may be expected to provide:
- Academic reports
- Progress reports
- Training documentation
- Final reports
After completing their fellowship, participants are expected to return and contribute to their national health systems.
This return-and-serve approach highlights an important feature of the programme: the ultimate objective is not only to benefit individual professionals but also to strengthen healthcare capacity at national level.
Why Should Health Professionals Consider the WHO Fellowship?
For eligible healthcare professionals and scientists, a WHO fellowship can provide valuable opportunities to gain specialized knowledge, experience different health systems and establish international professional networks.
The programme may be particularly useful for professionals working in areas where additional technical expertise is needed.
It can also provide exposure to international institutions and approaches that participants can potentially adapt to their own healthcare environments.
Most importantly, the programme places strong emphasis on capacity building, knowledge transfer and national health-system development.
Key Benefits at a Glance
The WHO Fellowships Programme can offer eligible participants opportunities to:
- Develop specialized health-sector skills
- Undertake international or distance learning
- Access professional training opportunities
- Participate in study tours
- Build international professional networks
- Exchange medical and scientific knowledge
- Strengthen leadership capabilities
- Contribute to national healthcare priorities
- Gain exposure to international health institutions
- Transfer newly acquired knowledge back to their home systems
How to Apply for the WHO Fellowships Programme 2026
Professionals interested in the programme should carefully review the current fellowship information and confirm eligibility, available programmes, deadlines and financial arrangements before submitting an application.
Because fellowship opportunities are connected to national health workforce planning, applicants should also contact the relevant national health administration for guidance on nomination and application procedures.
Apply and learn more through the official WHO Fellowship Programme:
LEARN MORE & APPLY
Final Thoughts
The WHO Fellowships Programme 2026 presents an important professional development opportunity for eligible health workers and scientists seeking to strengthen their technical expertise and contribute more effectively to their national health systems.
With opportunities that may include postgraduate study, specialized training, distance learning and international study tours, the programme provides several pathways for professional and technical development.
However, prospective applicants should remember that eligibility, available training opportunities, deadlines and financial entitlements can vary. Applicants should therefore verify all details through WHO and their relevant national health administration before applying.
For health professionals whose career goals align with public health, medicine, healthcare leadership, scientific research and health workforce development, the WHO Fellowship Programme can be a valuable pathway for acquiring new expertise while contributing to stronger health systems.
For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook,Linkedin & WAchannel
Join Our WhatsApp Community
Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
