Undergraduate Research Assistantship Scheme

The apprentice will be provided (either face to face, virtually or via mixed methods) with research training, direct experience of research and insight into scientific research to encourage them to consider an academic career.

This prestigious grant scheme aims to help identify potential PhD students as well as provide early mentoring experience for existing PhD students, post-docs etc.

The senior researcher, to whom the award is made, will be responsible for the development of the student's potential and interest in research.

The project must provide real benefits to students and give them tangible training and career development support.

Deadlines

• Applications open on 13 January 2025 at 9:00am
• Applications close on 09 March 2025 at 11:59pm

About the grant

• Up to twenty grants are available each year.
• The award provides a student stipend at a weekly rate of £270.
• The HEI will need to meet all other related overheads.
• Students will engage in a defined research project for either 6 or 8 weeks of their summer vacation.
• This will enable them to gain insight into scientific research as a career. It will also give their CV a distinctive edge.
• In addition to being able to conduct a specific research project during the summer vacation, supervisors will also be able to demonstrate a commitment to science and education by supporting the research assistant. 

Application criteria

Please note: Application criteria and eligibility are subject to change.

Any changes will be applied when the scheme is open to application.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria.

Students must be:

• Completing a BPS-accredited undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in psychology
• Considering research as a career
• Expecting to achieve a 2.1 or a 1st-class degree
• Be finishing the penultimate year of their degree and due to start their final year following the completion of the project

In addition, the supervisor:

• Must be employed in a UK HEI at the same institution as the selected student
• Can only make one application in any year
• At least a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society

Other relevant information

Please read the following information before submitting your application.

• The project should take place over either 6 or 8 weeks
• We award the grant to the supervisor who must be a member of the society and actively engaged in research. They may then appoint an undergraduate student to become their research assistant during the summer vacation before the beginning of the student's final year of undergraduate study
• We will send a Final Report form for the supervisor to complete with the student on completion of the project, along with an end-of-grant evaluation questionnaire (Student Questionnaire) for the student to complete and return

Assessment criteria

Applications will be assessed according to

• Project outline: Is the project outline sufficiently detailed to give a clear account of the intended project? 
• Timetable: Is the timetable for the project clear and achievable?  
• Training: Is a specific training component clearly specified? 
• Outputs: Does the proposal have an assessable aspect with a tangible output, e.g. findings, a presentation, an article etc? 
• Student Statement: A statement written by the student, judged on the extent to which it supports the aims for, and the purpose of, the project 
• Rigour, originality and significance of the proposed research 

How to apply

Applications must be made online.

Submit application

The deadline for submissions is 09 March 2025 at 11:59pm

All applications are assessed anonymously to discourage unconscious bias.

Please note: We cannot accept late applications.

Contact [email protected] with any questions and queries.