Research Interns@Strathclyde

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Key facts

  • Number of scholarships: TBC
  • Value: £2106
  • Opens: 22 January 2024
  • Deadline: 28 March 2024
  • Helps with: Living costs
  • Duration: June 2024 to August 2024

Summary

The goal of Research Interns @ Strathclyde (RI@S) is to provide undergraduates with direct experience of real research environments. To do this, we will be offering a number of funded internships over the summer of 2024, where successful applicants will get the opportunity to carry out an independent, self-contained programme of enquiry in a live research area.

We also offer a research development programme that is open to all undergraduate students at the University of Strathclyde on funded summer internships, work placements or projects. Any students on funded summer scholarships (including RI@S, EPSRC, and Carnegie) are invited to participate in the programme. If you are not funded by one of these schemes but wish to participate, please do get in touch via the contact details below.

The programme offers skills training, workshops, and hands-on insight into the breadth of opportunity in research and is particularly suited for students considering further study and a career in research, inside or outside academia.

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Eligibility

RI@S is aimed at undergraduate students (including international students) of the University of Strathclyde in their penultimate year, i.e., students in the third year of a four-year degree, or the fourth year of a five-year degree (integrated Masters).

Postgraduate students and students who have already completed their undergraduate studies are not eligible to apply. Incoming exchange students are also not eligible as they cannot participate in the whole programme due to the limited time they spend in the University. This does not apply to outgoing Strathclyde students.

The RI@S funding cannot be used to support research that forms part of a credit bearing programme. While the experience should strongly benefit a student's studies through the skills developed, the actual work must not be part of, or directly contribute to, any undergraduate degree programme.

Students may only submit one application to the RI@S programme, though are encouraged to apply for other summer internships available to them. Students should be encouraged to apply for the Carnegie Undergraduate Vacation Scholarships given their prestige and if successful make this their first choice. Supervisors are limited to supporting two applications.

Subject eligibility

Accounting & finance, Architecture, Biomedical engineering, Chemical engineering, Chemistry, Civil & environmental engineering, Computer science, Design manufacture & engineering management, Economics, Education, Electronic & electrical engineering, English, Entrepreneurship, History, Human resource management, Law, Marketing, Mathematics & statistics, Mechanical & aerospace engineering, Languages, Naval architecture ocean & marine engineering, Pharmacy & biomedical sciences, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Speech & language therapy, Business, Journalism, Hospitality & tourism, Management, Forensic science, Management science, Social policy, Teaching, Aeronautical engineering, Biochemistry, Biology & biological sciences, Biomedical science, Civil engineering, Data analytics, Environmental engineering, Health, Immunology, International relations, Mechanical engineering, Microbiology, Naval architecture, Ocean engineering, Pharmacology, Product design, Prosthetics & orthotics, Renewable energy, Social work, Software engineering, Sports engineering, Engineering, Science, Marine Engineering

Levels eligibility

Undergraduate

Study modes eligibility

Part Time

Fee Status

Home (Scottish), England or N. Ireland or Rep. Ireland or Wales, International

Student type

Current student

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Project details

RI@S encourages flexible working and our scholarships reflect this. Students are paid for 150 hours of work, and can choose how to distribute that across the Summer. We recommend 15 hours per week for 10 weeks to coincide with the Development Programme, but recognise this may not always be feasible.

RI@S also encourages limited projects (of up to five weeks). We will also consider additional flexible working arrangements for summer internships, and supervisors should get in touch with us before applying to discuss these.

RI@S funded internships should take place over the summer. They should begin at the earliest by the 1st June 2024 and should be completed by the 31st August 2024. The precise dates of the project, and the working pattern, should be agreed between the student and their supervisor.

The research activity in which RI@S interns will be involved must constitute an independent, self-contained programme of enquiry that has its own specified aims and objectives. It might, where relevant, form part of a larger programme of work in which the student, the department or research group is engaged. Additionally, the research could be undertaken in local and regional organisations, businesses and community agencies and development projects with which the department or student has links. 

Any type of research activity that is normally conducted within the faculties will be considered for support and sponsorship. All research that is conducted, on or off campus, will be subject to relevant legislation and regulations, including ethical approval, health and safety requirements, risk analysis and the University policy on academic misconduct. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that these are completed.

RI@S Theme – 2023/24

This year we are strongly encouraging projects which explore the development, application, evaluation, impact, and ethics of generative artificial intelligence (Gen-AI). Gen-AI is a disruptive technology that presents us all with new challenges and opportunities and which will shape how we learn, work, research and innovate, and collaborate across industry, public and third sectors. Projects could be in any disciplinary area and address any topic.

Information and support sessions will be provided in February where you can learn more about RIAS and discuss your project ideas.   

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Further information

Funding

NOTE: There is no additional funding for consumables, equipment, overheads etc. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring the student has access to all the necessary equipment and consumables to undertake their project.

If projects can cover 100% of the costs (including internship wages) from either internal or external sources, this should be declared within the relevant section of the application form. We also consider partially funded applications. Where an external partner (private, public, or charitable organisation) is involved, a contribution to the funding of the internship should be sought.

Frequently asked questions

Is RI@S a competitive scheme?

Yes. In the academic year 2022-23, we received 85 applications, of which 19 were successful.

When will I find out if my application has been successful?

Applications close on the 15 March 2024. Students and Supervisors will be notified of the outcome in mid-May.

I’m a postgraduate student, can I apply to the RI@S scheme?

No. Only undergraduate students in their penultimate (second-to-last) year of their programme are eligible to apply. This means you can apply if you’re in the third year of a four-year-degree, or the fourth year of a five-year-degree (integrated Masters).

If I’m not eligible for the RI@S scheme, are there any other internships or scholarships I could apply for?

There are range of scholarships available to Strathclyde students. They are listed on the Scholarships webpage.

I don’t have a supervisor and I don’t know how to get one, what should I do?

Departmental webpages include lists of academic staff, with their research interests and lists of publications. You can use that information to find academic staff working in areas that you find interesting, and then approach them to act as your supervisor.

Alternatively, your lecturers are likely to know the research interests of academic in their department, and may be able to suggest academics for you to contact.

If there is a class that you find particularly interesting, a good first step could be to approach the lecturer teaching that class to see if they would be willing to supervise a project in that area.

Do I have to come up with the idea for my research project?

There are different ways of developing the research proposal. You can develop it yourself in discussion with your supervisor. Alternatively, a staff member may already have an idea for a research project.

Can I apply to the RI@S scheme for funding to support me to complete my dissertation?

No. The work that you do for the RI@S internship must be separate from the work you do for your degree programme.

Can I apply to the RI@S scheme as well as the Carnegie and EPSRC scheme?

Yes, you can apply for multiple different internship schemes, but you will only be able to accept one offer. If you are successful for both the RI@S and the Carnegie scheme, you will be expected to accept the Carnegie offer, as you would allow a place on RI@S for another student.

When does the internship start and finish?

There is a lot of flexibility in when you can undertake the work for your internship to find a fit that works for you. Internships can take place any time in June, July, and August. The precise timing of the internship should be agreed by the student and the supervisor.

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How to apply

Supervisors should apply here.

Students will receive their element of the application upon successful submission by the supervisor.

Supporting documentation can be found here.

Supervisor Deadline: Friday 22 March 2024

Student Deadline: Friday 28 March 2024

Applications cannot be accepted after this time.

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Contact us

If you have any questions about the RI@S scheme, please contact the RI@S mailbox, researchinterns-admin@strath.ac.uk.