Undergraduate Studentships

These run over the summer and are normally designed for undergraduate students who have just finished their second year of study (although this is flexible in some cases).

The Society of Biology offer Travel Grants to Student Affiliate and Associate AMSB members that helps cover costs of overseas travel in connection with biological study, teaching or research.

Undergraduate Studentships are essentially work experience in a specific area of biology and may involve laboratory research or practical fieldwork. Normally you have to find these 'research placements' on your own but some of our Member Organisations below may be able to help you organise them. 

They also offer a range of scholarships and subsidies in order to allow you to pursue your research interest in biology and still survive as a student:

Society of Biology - Biology Undergraduate Reserach Bursaries

The Biology Undergraduate Research Bursaries Programme run by the Society of Biology in conjunction with the British Ecological Society, British Pharmacological Society, Genetics Society, Society for Endocrinology, Society for Reproduction and Fertility, The Physiological Society with the support of the Nuffield Foundation.

Award: £180 per week for a period of between 6 and 8 weeks

Application Deadline: 15th February 2013

Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) – Undergraduate Project Scholarships

To enable undergraduates to undertake supervised research projects, which fall within the field of animal behaviour, defined as the sphere of interest of papers published in Animal Behaviour, lasting from 1 to 8 weeks during academic vacations under the auspices of Institutions of higher education. Undergraduates may also apply for awards for work to be carried out in the vacation immediately following graduation. 

Award: £150 per week towards subsistence and £40 per week towards research expenses

Application Deadline: 1^st March, 1^st July or 1^st November

BBSRC - Research Experience Placements

Students in the middle years of their first undergraduate science degrees are given the opportunity to gain greater experience of bioscience research. Placements should last for a maximum of ten weeks during the summer vacation period 2010 at a UK higher education institution or research institute.

Award: The value of the award is £2,500 to cover a minimum stipend of £200 per week to the student and to contribute towards reserach expenses during the placement

Application Deadline: See website

Biochemical Society – Summer Vacation Studentships 

The Biochemical Society sets aside as much funding as possible for its annual Summer Vacation Studentships and makes every effort to increase this total each year, providing many undergraduate students with the valuable experience of laboratory research.

Award: Stipends of £200 per week for 6 – 8 weeks and up to £1,600 in total

13 February 2013

Botanical Society of Scotland- Fieldwork projects

Criteria for support: it should not form part of a university or college course, it should be undertaken in the British Isles, preferably in Scotland and it may be carried out by individual students or groups of students. The maximum grant available for each project is £400. More details can be found here.

Award: £400 for each project

Application Deadline: See website

British Dragonfly Society – Grants

They offer two grants for young (anyone up to the age of 25) people who are engaged in, or wish to establish, a small odonatological research project. The potential research topics are wide-ranging and could involve almost anything that may further biological or ecological knowledge, or support the conservation of British dragonflies. Another grant is available for over 25s.

Award: £250

Application Deadline: See website

British Lichen Society – Summer Vacation Scholarship 

The British Lichen Society offers one student scholarship annually for a summer vacation project at a British academic or other research institution. Suitable candidates are likely to be higher education/university students who would like to pursue a project investigating some aspect of lichenology. This could involve, for example, their ecology, taxonomy, physiology, structure, evolution or chemistry, or an area of particular local interest.  

Award: £180 per week for a maximum of 10 weeks, plus a small grant towards the cost of materials, to a maximum of £2,000

Application Deadline: 31^st March every year

British Mycological Society – Undergraduate Student Bursaries

The British Mycological Society offers a number of Undergraduate Student Bursaries to give students experience of research in any branch of mycology in the summer vacation prior to their final year of study.

Award: £200 per week normally for a period of between 4-10 weeks

Application Deadline: 31^st March in any year

British Pharmacological Society - Vacation Studentships

These are aimed at either school leavers entering a biomedical science degree, or undergraduates studying biomedical science. Studentships will receive funding to help support students while they undertake a research project in the host laboratory. 

Award: £900 to support living costs (£150 per week for 6 weeks)

Application Deadline:  24 March 2013 sent to Paul Tizard at the BPS office

British Phycological Society - Summer Research Projects

These undergraduate summer research projects last 6 to 8 weeks and the emphasis is on providing a research experience and training for the student.

Award: See website for details

Application Deadline: June 1^st and December 1^st

British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy - Vacation Scholarships

These are designed to give undergraduates experience in research. Research projects funded under the scheme can last up to 10 weeks.

Award: £180 per week and consumables grant of £500

Application Deadline: 31^st March of each year

British Society for Cell Biology – Summer Studentship

These are offered to high calibre undergraduate students, who wish to gain research experience in cell biology during their summer vacation. Applications must be made by the prospective supervisor on behalf of a named student.

 Award: £180 per week  and a consumables grant of £500

Application Deadline: 29 April 2013

British Society for Neuroendocrinology – Undergraduate Student Laboratory Experience Grants

To provide some financial support for a student who undertakes a vacation lab project  

Award: Undergraduate student laboratory experience grants. Each studentship will provide £130 per week (£150 per week in London) for a maximum of 8 weeks while they undertake a summer vacation research project in the host laboratory.  

Application See website for specific deadlines

British Society for Plant Pathology – Undergraduate Vacation Bursary Fund 

The objective of the bursaries is to provide undergraduates considering a research career with some practical experience in a plant pathology laboratory and to assist supervisors to meet some specific research objectives. Bursaries will be for a maximum of 10 weeks and a minimum of 8 weeks.  

Award: £200 per week to cover living expenses and £500 will also be provided for consumables

Application Deadline: 1^st April each year

British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) - Summer Placement Scheme

These enable companies and institutes to have access to students to help complete specific projects and tasks. Depending upon the individual companies and institutes involved the work available ranges from practical field work or lab studies to computerised data handling of literature reviews and report writing. BSAS help match appropriate companies and students and put them in touch. Placements last for a minimum of 6 weeks.

Award: £500 for each project

Application Deadline: End of April

Carnegie Scholarships - Undergraduate Vacation Scholarships

These are available to undergraduates who were born in Scotland or who have a parent born in Scotland or who have at least two years of secondary education in Scotland, may be considered for the award of a Vacation Scholarship for the pursuit of a full-time research project, usually in the vacation between their second and third years. Scholarships are for maintenance of up a maximum of eight weeks, whether based at home, elsewhere in the UK, or abroad.

Award: See website for details

Application Deadline: 1^st April

Experimental Psychology Society (EPS) – Undergraduate Research Bursary Scheme

This scheme will finance a limited number of bursaries (5) to support undergraduates in the summer vacation immediately prior to their final year.

Award: EPS will provide up to 10 weeks’ support (£200 per week)

Application Deadline: Early March

Genetics Society Genes and Development - Summer Studentships

These are offered to undergraduate students in any area of genetics, to gain research experience by carrying out a research project in the long vacation, usually prior to their final year. Studentships will only be awarded for students who have yet to complete their first degree i.e. who will still be undergraduates during the long vacation when they do the studentship.

Award: £225 per week for up to 10 weeks plus a grant of up to £750 to cover expenses incurred by the host laboratory

Application Deadline: 31^st March each year

Marine Biological Association of the UK - Grants

These are available each year to Members for work to be carried out in Plymouth. A limited number of bursaries are available to enable undergraduates to gain experience by working in the MBA Laboratory. They are available throughout the year but students wishing to be considered for the summer vacation are advised to apply before the end of February.

Award: Maximum of £1000

Application Deadline: See website

Physiological Society – Undergraduate Vacation Studentship Scheme

Vacation Studentships offer undergraduate students who have completed at least two years of full-time study, in a higher education institute or equivalent, the opportunity to undertake physiological research projects. 

Award: No more than £150 per week available for a maximum of 8 weeks

Application Deadline: 1^st April

RNID – Summer Studentships

RNID offers funding for 8 week long placements in a UK hearing research lab open to undergraduates.

Award: £200 a week towards student living expenses

Application Deadline: Spring 2013

Science and Plants for Schools / Gatsby Plants – Sainsbury Undergraduate Studentships

Sainsbury Undergraduate Studentships are awarded to support undergraduate summer projects in plant science. The studentships are open to students in their second year (or in their third year, if on a four year course). Eight Sainsbury Undergraduate Studentships are offered each year.

Award: £4,000

Application Deadline: See website 

Society for Applied Microbiology – Students into Work 

Can I apply? - If you are FULL member who can offer an undergraduate microbiology student work during their summer vacation. If you would like to read about the experiences of Students who have benefited from this Grant, you can do so in each issue of Microbiologist magazine.

Award: £160 per week and up to £500 for specified research costs

Deadline: At least six weeks before the proposed start date

Society for Endocrinology – Summer Studentships

These are to assist undergraduate students in gaining research experience by working in a research environment.  A stipend is offered for a period of study of up to ten weeks, together with a sum for the host department consumables. 

Award: £185 per week up to a maximum of £1850 per grant for a period of up to 10 weeks plus £1000 for consumables

Application Deadline: 11^th March 2013

Society for General Microbiology (SGM) – Undergraduate Studentships

The SGM funds over 50 summer vacation studentships each year. These support 6-8 week projects undertaken by undergraduate students in the summer vacation before they enter the final year of study. Applications are made by SGM Members and the successful students are also offered 1 year's free membership of the SGM.

Award: £185 per week for a period of up to 8 weeks. An additional sum of up to £400 for specific research costs may also awarded

Application Deadline: Mid-February each year

Society for Reproduction and Fertility – Vacation Scholarships

They offer a maximum of 8 week vacation scholarships for undergraduate students. The work is offered in university departments or research institutes in the UK or Irish Republic on research projects related to reproduction, fertility and lactation in man and other animals.

Award: £750

Application Deadline: 16^th March

The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion – Uses and Abuses of Biology Grants

The aim of the programme is to investigate contemporary non-scientific uses and abuses of biological thought in philosophy, the social sciences, politics and theology. Grants will be awarded for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years and will typically fund a postdoctoral investigator plus some research and conference fees.

Award: As requested

Application Deadline: 31^st October   

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) - Student Scholarship

These are available to students studying at universities or colleges in the British Isles or an overseas institution at which there is a UFAW University Links representative. Students will usually be undertaking courses in the agricultural, biological, psychological, veterinary or zoological sciences.

Award: £170 per week

Application Deadline: 28^th February 2013

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