Research Funding
Research scholarships
Our 2024 summer research scholarship scheme is now closed.
Research scholarships provide support to selected middle-year undergraduate students who wish to pursue summer research projects. Working alongside academic supervisors, this provides an opportunity to:
- experience a research environment
- stimulate an interest in pursuing further postgraduate study and research
For more information about the funding available to support summer research projects please email us.
Summer research projects
Eligibility
Research scholarships support summer research projects and are open to undergraduate students.
As an undergraduate, you should also be one of the following:
- in the middle year (preferably penultimate) year of your first degree;
- a medical or dental student between the end of your second year and the end of your penultimate year;
- studying for language or other four-year degrees, either at the end of your second year or third year (just before or after your overseas study year)
You won't be considered for a research scholarship if:
- you are in stage one of your undergraduate studies
- you have been awarded funding by the University expeditions committee in the same year as your application for a research scholarship
You can only submit one internal research scholarship application in any one academic year.
How to apply
If you want to apply for research scholarship to complete a summer research project you (and your supervisor) will need to submit a fully completed application form.
The closing date for 2024 applications has now passed and we will not be able to accept any further applicants.
Applicants (and their supervisors) will be notified of the outcome of their application by late April 2024.
We hope to lauch the 2025 scheme in January 2025
Interdisciplinary opportunities
Opportunities for interdisciplinary research are available under this scheme.
To reflect the University’s strategy and strong ethos of supporting interdisciplinary work, students studying different subjects can work together on research projects in small groups of two to four. For example:
- up to four students studying different types of Engineering would constitute an eligible interdisciplinary group
- a group of students studying Medicine, Fine Art and History
To apply for a research scholarship to undertake a summer research project your team (and supevisor/s) will need to submit a fully completed team application form.
The closing date for 2024 applications has now passed and we will not be able to accept any further applicants.
Applicants (and supervisor/s) will be notified of the outcome of their application by late April 2024.
Method of adjudication
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education), Faculty taught programme deans (or their nominees) will judge applications for summer research projects primarily on academic merit and potential for providing research training. Discretion may be used when selecting awardees.
Preference will be given to:
- research projects that have a clearly defined objective relating to one or more of the University’s guiding principles or strategic pillars, that is achievable by the student/s in the time available
- Research Scholarships will not be awarded for work that will form a substantial part of your undergraduate degree work
- projects that give scope for genuine leadership, thought and initiative on the part of the student(s) and do not use the student(s) as general assistant
- it will be expected that the student will source their own supervisor, contribute to the design of their project and the framing of their application
- students demonstrating academic achievement and potential and showing an interest in and motivation to undertake research
Research support available
Research Scholarships are available for six to eight weeks (two to four weeks for interdisciplinary projects). A non-repayable award will be available to help recipients meet their living costs during the project. The value of the grant for 2024 summer research projects is £420 per week.
The nature of the project will likely determine how many hours of study will be required to complete the project:
- the Research Scholarships Committee do not recommend that any student spends more than 35 hours per week on their project
Any additional costs, such as consumables, travel or equipment incurred as a result of the project will not be covered by the scholarship and Schools and Institutes are asked to provide modest grants for materials in support of the award.
Similar schemes
There are number of external organisations offering similar schemes.
Where appropriate, students, or staff on their behalf, should apply to these schemes as well as the University scheme. If you are awarded an external scholarship in addition to a University award, we may increase the value of the outside award's student maintenance to the equivalent of the University's award. This means that you are not disadvantaged by accepting the outside award which could enhance your CV.
Maximising the University’s success in external competitions raises the University’s external profile. It also enables many more of our students to experience work in a research situation by enabling the University’s resources to go further.
Expeditions
As a student, you can benefit from our 70-year track record in expeditions.
Newcastle University is particularly keen to encourage those organised by students to carry out research at destinations outside the UK.
We have a proven record of this kind of activity stretching back over 50 years. We are currently recognised by the Royal Geographical Society as one of the leading UK universities for student expeditioning.
Find out more about how you can apply for funding and take part in expeditions here.