Nuffield Research Placements 2021 application reminder (and pre-application video link below).
The Nuffield Research Placement Scheme, aimed at the current 5th year pupils sitting their Highers in 2021 and studying any Science, Technology, Engineering and/or Maths (STEM) and Social Science/Humanities subjects at that level. This is an amazing opportunity for students to work alongside a knowledge expert on a research project and build many transferable skills to use going forward. The deadline for applications in Scotland is 31st March 2021 – placements take place during the school summer vacation period.
The presentation is “unlisted” on YouTube and so anyone wishing to view it will need this link: https://youtu.be/LhORij5NtJU This will hopefully give your interested pupils an insight into the scheme, the process, the benefits of participation, and the confidence to apply.
Interested S5 students can apply here: https://www.nuffieldresearchplacements.org/apply-student-placement
There is an eligibility tool for students: https://www.stem.org.uk/nuffield-placement-tool
The scheme, managed by STEM Learning, aims to widen access, focusing on economic and social deprivation, as it has been found that students who come from lower income families, or whose parents have not attended higher education, benefit most from the scheme. In light of this, the scheme is now only open to these students (and priorities are placed on students eligible for the bursary). This means the charitable funding is targeted where it will have the greatest benefit.
As mentioned previously, this year we are going for a blended approach and we are hoping to have face-to-face projects where possible (2-3 weeks, possibly staggered over a longer period), or if needed virtual/online projects only, this will all depend on government guidance and individual institutions/organisations policies. We will be implementing the research skills modules again and hope to roll these out to all successful applicants, even if they do not receive a project offer, and boost this with other skills opportunities, so most applicants will now benefit.
