How will applications by university hosts be assessed?
Proposals will be reviewed and scored in line with the following categories (see the guidance at section 11 for more information):
- Research opportunity and strategic fit
- Programme and student experience
- Inclusive practice
- Delivery and adminstration
- Cost and value
What is included in the funding?
Fixed costs are the same for all universities to ensure fairness and consistency.
- Student stipend: £4,588 per student. This is based on 37 hours per week for eight weeks and is set above Real Living Wage levels at £15.50 per hour.
Capped costs may vary by university, but the programme will only reimburse costs up to the limits below.
- Student accommodation: up to £300 per week per student
- Administrative expenses: up to £5,500
- Student travel: up to £250 per student for the full placement
- Events and activities: up to £250 per student for the full placement
What are university hosts expected to do?
University hosts must organise:
- the recruitment of research supervisors that will deliver their proposed research placement programme
- the call for student applications, review, and selection of students, based on robust criteria reflecting patterns of underrepresentation
- issuing of awards to students, drafting appropriate placement agreements with them, and providing training
- delivery of the 8 week research placement in summer 2027, including supervision, structured mentoring, skills development and postgraduate research preparation, and ensuring community development among participants
- payment of the stipend to participants, administering other costs (e.g. travel) and arranging accommodation
- safeguarding, risk management, participant support and quality assurance arrangements throughout delivery
- engagement with cultural inclusion activity including training, a Community of Practice, and creation of an EDI action plan and progress updates
- support for monitoring, evaluation and learning from the programme
- attending a celebration event in September 2027, including an exhibition of the participants' work
What universities are eligible to apply to host placements?
This opportunity is open to UK universities that are able to deliver a suitable science or engineering research placement for six students in the summer of 2027. Applications may be submitted by a single university or jointly by two universities. In either case, each application is for a total of six placements.
What type of research should placements focus on?
We encourage universities to be creative and deliver a programme that builds on the strength and capacity of their staff and students, as well as delivering maximum value to the undergraduate participants. The research should be meaningful, and in an applied or discovery research area within engineering/technology and/or natural sciences, with a particular focus on emerging and interdisciplinary research. One of the application questions asks about the impact and benefits of the proposed research for your institution – consider whether it could lead to new opportunities beyond the period of the placement itself.
Who are the placements intended to support?
Research Ready is designed to help participants move from undergraduate study into postgraduate research. It is expected that students will be selected from the university’s own student body and from other institutions. As a positive action programme, it has a particular focus on students and recent graduates who are underrepresented in engineering, technology and natural sciences, including those who are:
- women;
- from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds;
- socioeconomically disadvantaged;
- disabled; or
- otherwise underrepresented in STEM.
The relevant target group(s) will depend on evidenced underrepresentation in the proposed research area.
As a minimum requirement, universities must apply the following participant eligibility criteria:
Essential criteria (all required)
- Be resident in the UK and eligible to pay UK home fees.
- Have, or expect to have, the right to live and work full time in the UK for the duration of the programme.
Be either:
- in the penultimate year of an undergraduate degree in a science, engineering or technology-related field; or
- have completed an undergraduate degree in a science, engineering or technology-related field within three years of the placement start date.
- not currently be studying, or have previously studied, a Master's or PhD. Students studying an integrated Master's degree are not eligible.
What are the key dates to know?
- Applications close: 29 October 2026
- Awards confirmed and agreements signed: by 19 January 2027
- Hosts recruit academic supervisors and students: 19 January - 3 March 2027
- Students selected and notified: March - April 2027
- Research placements take place: for 8 weeks between 28 June and 3 September
- Celebration event: September 2027
What terms will be used for my funding agreement?
If you are successful, your funding will be awarded under the RD&I Terms and Conditions found on the Academy’s website. This agreement has been developed to ensure funding aligns with our Academy values, is used for the purposes for which it was awarded and is managed in compliance with our own funders’ agreements, UK legislation and funding best practice.