FAO Year 13 Pupils – Nuffield Research Placement Programme

Nuffield Research Placements-340

Nuffield Research Placements are funded by the Nuffield Foundation and delivered by STEM Learning. They are engaging, hands-on research projects, where Y13 students can make a real and meaningful contribution towards the work of a host organisation. They are a fantastic opportunity for students to apply skills and knowledge learned at school and work alongside researchers and industry professionals to:

  • Develop subject understanding alongside research and quantitative skills to expand career prospects
  • Learn more about higher education and different career paths
  • Enhance UCAS personal statements and applications to university.
  • Apply for a Gold CREST Award

 

Cost?

Students can take part in a placement at no cost. Travel costs are reimbursed, and students may be eligible to receive a bursary.

 

What?

Nuffield Students are guided through a well-supervised but independent research project relating to an area of science, quantitative social science, computing, technology, engineering, or maths (or a combination!).

Nuffield students will be guided through the following: –

an independent study support package consisting of online module assignments designed to develop student’s essential professional, research, data, and numeracy skills

collaboration with a knowledge expert on a ‘live’ research question relating to an area of science, quantitative social science, computing, technology, engineering, or maths (or a combination!) to develop your essential STEM skills and result in a research poster & report

a timetable of optional supplementary workshops and webinars that are geared towards careers guidance and training on key topics e.g., Python programming language.

 

When?

NRPs take place over the summer after Year 13. Taking part in an NRP includes some independent study online for the students ahead of the on-site* real-world research collaboration with a Project Supervisor over 2-3 weeks in July and/or August.

 

Where?

Placements are in a variety of locations, including offices, museums, research centres, laboratories, or fieldwork settings*

We work with a wide range of employers, including universities and research institutes, local government and public sector agencies, tech, and pharmaceutical companies, think tanks and market research agencies.

*Due to the impact of COVID-19 and Government guidance and subject to the limitations of the placement host organisation, the real-world research collaboration with a Project Supervisor may not be able to go ahead on-site. If on-site research is not possible, this activity will continue online instead.

 

STUDENT APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE 2021- 2022 CYCLE!

 

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, students must:

  • Be over 16 years old and in Year 13.
  • Be in full-time, state-funded education in the UK.
  • Have at least 5 GCSEs at Level 6 (Grade B) or above, including maths, a science subject and English (or another humanities subject).
  • Be studying one or more A-levels or Scottish Highers (or equivalent) in science, technology, engineering, economics, geography, psychology, computing, statistics, or maths.
  • Be available for a few consecutive weeks over July and/or August to collaborate with your Project Supervisor.

Students must also meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Be living, or have lived, in local authority care.
  • Come from a family with a combined household income of below £30,000 a year
  • Be entitled to free school meals, either now or at any time in the last six years.
  • Be entitled to discretionary payments and school or college
  • Be the first in your immediate family to participate in higher education (not including any older siblings).
    • This means that neither of your parents/carers have participated in higher education, either in the UK or another country
    • If your siblings have attended higher education, but your parents/carers have not, you are still eligible.

 

If any student would like to know more about how you can get involved, click here.