A reminder that the online application system for Nuffield Research Placements 2019 is open.
The Nuffield Research Placement Scheme is aimed at the current 5th year pupils who will be sitting their Highers in 2019 and who are studying any Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Maths (STEM) subjects at that level. We are also now placing students into Social Science placements where there is an aspect of analysis, statistical investigation and mathematics involved, so the placements are very wide ranging. The placements help increase confidence and improve key skills including practical, communication, report-writing and presentation skills. They also provide students with excellent experiences & skills to include on CV’s and personal statements. By working with professional scientists and engineers in a real-life environment, the students gain an invaluable insight into a wide variety of careers.
We find that students who benefit the most from a Nuffield Research Placement are those who come from lower income families, or whose parents have not attended higher education. In light of this – and the fact we always receive more applications than we have placements – we have decided to focus exclusively on these students. This means our charitable funding is targeted where it will have the greatest benefit. It also means that we will have fewer unsuccessful applicants.
Before encouraging your son/daughter to apply, please read the following eligibility criteria carefully as these are different to previous years.
To be eligible to apply for a Nuffield Research Placement, students must:
• Be over 16 years old
• Be in full-time state-funded education in the UK
• Have at least 5 National 5 / GCSEs (or equivalent) at Level B / 6 or above, including maths, a science subject and English (or another humanities subject)
• Be studying one or more Scottish Higher, A-level (or equivalent) in science, technology, engineering, economics, geography, psychology, computing, statistics or maths
• Be able to spend several weeks (4-6) of their summer holiday working on a research project
Students must also meet at least ONE of the following criteria:
• Come from a family with a combined household income of below £30,000 a year
• Be entitled to free schools meals, either now or at any time in the last six years.
• Be the first in their immediate family to participate in higher education (not including any older siblings). This means neither of their parents/carers have participated in higher education, either in the UK or another country. If their siblings have attended higher education, but their parents/carers have not, they are eligible.
• Be living, or have lived in, local authority care
Further information on the application process can be found at:
