We offer bursaries to fund 6–8 week undergraduate summer research placements in chemistry-related research areas, for both lab-based and remote projects.
The purpose of the awards is to give experience of real research to undergraduates with research potential and to encourage them to consider a career in scientific research.
Who can apply?
In order to be eligible, the student must meet all of the following criteria:
- They are in the middle years of their first undergraduate degree at time of application
- Mature students are eligible to apply, but must not have a previous degree in any subject.
- They are members of the RSC. Student membership is free and it is very quick and easy to join. For more details, please see our membership page.
- They must be registered at a UK or Republic of Ireland Institution (whether full-time or part-time) for the majority of their undergraduate degree in the chemical sciences.
- They must not be in receipt of financial support from other sources for the project that is the subject of application.
Please ensure you read our guidelines to applicants and conditions of award fully before you begin your application.
What can I request funding for?
✓
The bursary provides a contribution to the student's wages equivalent to 35 hours per week at the UK National Living Wage (£10.42 per hour from April 2023) for up to 8 weeks to cover a defined research placement.
We welcome applications for both lab-based and remote projects.
✕
The project must not count towards the student’s academic credits, be used for expeditions or be conducted overseas for more than 50% of the project time.
Application timelines
| Applications open | 16 January 2023 |
| Application close | 20 February 2023 |
| Initial screening decisions | Week commencing 6 March 2023 |
| Funding decisions | By middle of May 2023 |
Assessment criteria
All applications will undergo an initial screening by staff. Applications will be rejected at this stage if:
- You do not meet our eligibility criteria (see above)
- Your application is incomplete
- Your application does not adhere to the length limits instructed in the application system
All remaining eligible applications will undergo peer review by our panel of researchers. They will assess applications on the following criteria. No more than four applications from an individual institution will be funded. We request that institutions are thoughtful about the number of applications they submit (if submitting more than 4) and are considerate about the time given by our volunteer reviewers to ensure the scheme runs smoothly for our applicants.
Where a student applies to undertake their project at a different UK/ROI university to the one they are enrolled in, the application will not count towards the allocation of either university.
| Merit of the student | Reviewers will assess the student’s aptitude and interest in practical work; their academic abilities; career ambitions and how much this project is likely to benefit them. |
| Suitability of the project | In addition to high-quality science achievable in the time available, the project must be suitable for the student’s skill level, whilst providing an appropriate level of challenge. It should give the student experience in a range of techniques and concepts. |
| Supervisor support | The application should demonstrate how the student will be given the support they need to make the most of their time in the lab. The application should also take into account provision of adequate resources to train and supervise the student. |
For full details, please see our guidance for applicants or contact us using the form below.
Researcher Grants Peer Review Group
We are looking for researchers from across the chemical sciences to join our Researcher Grants Peer Review Group. You might be based in academia or industry, at any stage of your career and based anywhere in the world.
Peer review is an essential part of our grant assessment process. Our grant reviewers provide expert and impartial reviews, allowing our grant decision panels to make considered funding decisions.
Join the peer review group now
Funding
- Email:
- Send us an email