Summer Vacation Bioscience Research Scholarships
Key Details
Overview
The Faculty of Science, together with the sponsors of this scheme (the Wellcome Trust and the UKRI-BBSRC Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership), are committed to encouraging participation in postgraduate study.
We are delighted to host up to 16 paid research projects during the summer of 2025.
The available projects will link to bioscience and biomedical research and reflect our interdisciplinary approach with groups across Science, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Norwich Research Park.
You can apply for a Biomedical Vacation/NRPDTP Scholarship if you are studying for an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject to the project offered.
The closing date for applications is 23:55 on Sunday 2 March 2025.
About the projects
Your placement will take place over a 6-8 week period and the earliest it could begin is from when your university summer term finishes, which is normally mid June. It must be completed by Friday 22nd August 2025. The exact length and dates that each scholarship is run will be decided between the successful candidate, the project supervisor and administrators of this scheme.
How to apply
There will be no interviews required for this scheme. Therefore, applicants should ensure their application includes as much relevant detail as possible. Where a word limit is indicated for an answer, this highlights the amount of detail expected for that answer.
University Careers services can provide useful advice about writing good job applications, including for these types of schemes, so you may wish to consult the resources available at your university.
The resources on this website may also help you when completing your application.
All applicants will be informed whether they are successful or not via email.
Eligibility Criteria
You must be studying your undergraduate degree in the UK or Republic of Ireland in a relevant subject. Examples include science (e.g. biosciences, biochemistry, biomedical, natural, computing or physical sciences), medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, engineering, mathematics and psychology.
You will be in your penultimate year, or middle years i.e. year two or three of a four year degree, of study of your undergraduate degree course. In September 2025, the student will either be about to start their final year, or be entering the third year where the student is studying a four year degree.
Students are ineligible to apply if they:
- Are enrolled on a course outside the UK or the Republic of Ireland.
- They are currently in their first year or foundation year.
- Are currently undertaking or have completed an intercalated year.
- Have completed or currently undertaking a one-year placement in research as part of their degree (e.g. a sandwich year).
- Have undertaken a substantial period of research, for example, a previous vacation scholarship from the Wellcome Trust, or another funding body.
- Are a graduate-entry medical student who has completed a previous undergraduate degree in a science-related subject.
These awards are intended to provide students with new experiences with the aim of encouraging them to consider a career in research, and it is for those who have not yet undertaken a substantial period of research. If you are in this group, we encourage you to apply. The Wellcome Trust and the NRPDTP, funders for these Scholarships, wish to ensure a greater diversity of students (in relation to socio-economic background and ethnicity) progress to postgraduate research. Therefore, we particularly encourage eligible students to apply for these scholarships who meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Students who grew up in an area (POLAR Quintile 1 or 2) where not many people from that area went on to Higher Education, also known as students from low participation neighbourhoods. POLAR Quintile 1 or 2 may be checked here. This is not the address you currently live at university, unless you live at the same address that you also grew up in.
- Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority students
- Mature students. Students aged 21 or over when starting their undergraduate studies, with no previous university experience
- Students with a disability, including people with specific learning difficulties and mental health problems as defined by UCAS
- Students who have previously been in local authority care ('care leaver')
- Young adult carers (aged 16-25) - Young adult carers have caring responsibilities for a family member with any type of illness, disability or addiction, who cannot manage without the young adult carer's support
- Estranged students - Students who are irreconcilably estranged from their parents, meaning that they have not had verbal or written contact with any living biological or adoptive parents for a significant period, usually 12 months or more
- Refugee and asylum seekers. Students with refugee status, and those seeking sanctuary
- Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
- Students attending alternative or therapeutic education provision
- Students eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) within last 7 years
Any questions should be directed to scienceoutreach@uea.ac.uk.