The WWIEM Summer Studentship Application Process for 2021 is now closed

The application process for Summer 2022 will commence in December or January and full details will be available on this webpage at that time.

The WWIEM Summer Students Programme

The WWIEM Summer Student Programme provides students with the opportunity to achieve hands-on research experience during the summer months.  Projects run for eight weeks during the summer and students work in the laboratory from Monday to Friday on a full-time basis.  Graduates of UK universities who successfully complete the programme will be eligible for Degree Plus status upon graduation

Research areas include: Immunology and Microbes, Vision and Vascular Medicine, Respiratory Medicine

Eligibility criteria:

• Open to students from all Universities currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree in Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedical Sciences, Human Biology or a related area.

• Students in their final year are not eligible for this scheme.

What is it like to be part of our Programme?

Hannah Gardiner, who took part in our 2016 programme, wrote an article about her experience that was published in the Ulster Medical Journal: Gardiner H, So you want to be a Summer Student? Ulster Medical Journal, 2018;87(1):73. 

Read about our 2018 Summer Student Programme.

Funding Opportunities

Depending on your stage of education, there are a number of funding opportunities available to facilitate visiting researchers to WWIEM during the summer months. 

If you are interested in applying for any of these opportunities, it is recommended that you identify one or more Principal Investigators (PIs) in WWIEM that you would like to work with and discuss potential opportunities with them. 

WWIEM PIs and their research areas

School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences Summer Studentships for Undergraduates

Each year, a number of studentships funded by the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences are available for University Undergraduate students to experience medical or scientific research in WWIEM.   The student gets the opportunity  to undertake an exciting, real life, research project, attending Monday to Friday on a full-time basis.  Projects run for a specified 8-week period during the summer months and typically pay £150 per week for 8 weeks to help with expenses. The application process generally runs from January - March each year.

External Summer Studentship Funding Opportunities

A number of external funding bodies also offer studentships for summer projects, some of which are outlined below‌. For all funding opportunities, please check full eligibility criteria, application information and deadlines online. 

View or download External Funding Opportunities.

Nuffield Research Placements (Schools and Colleges)

Managed in Northern Ireland by Sentinus, Nuffield Reserch Placements allows students in the first year of a post-16 science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) course to take part in science research projects during the summer.

WWIEM is pleased to support this scheme, and projects hosted by WWIEM researchers will provide students with the opportunity to gain 4-6 weeks of valuable hands-on experience in a laboratory setting working alongside WWIEM researchers.  Training will be provided.

Students wishing to apply for a WWIEM project should be working towards a Science AS/A level in Biology and/or Chemistry (or an equivalent) and have an enthusiastic interest in WWIEM’s research areas.  WWIEM researchers are also happy to talk to any student who has their own idea about a project appropriate to WWIEM.  Details of WWIEM PIs and their research areas can be found here. 

Further information on these Placements and details of the application process can be found on the Nuffield Foundation website  (http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/nuffield-research-placements). 

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