Wellcome Trust Biomedical Vacation Scholarships

How will the research projects be structured?

• Projects will be 6-8 weeks in duration over the summer holidays and are full time, unless otherwise agreed with your Academic supervisor.
• Academic supervisors will advertise their individual research projects like a job and students will be asked to apply with a CV and covering letter.
• The research project may be done in the laboratory, office, clinic or field and may involve experimental or theoretical approaches, depending on the type of research the supervisor undertakes.
• Each supervisor is permitted to host only one Wellcome Trust funded student.
• A total of 8 projects will be offered each summer.

Will I be paid for this work?

 You will be paid £11.28/hour, plus holiday pay and National Insurance contributions. 

Am I eligible to apply?

Participating students must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Either a current Queen Mary University of London student or a current student of a non-Russell Group University located in the UK or Republic of Ireland. Please click here to see a full list of Russell Group Universities.
• Students must be registered on a relevant undergraduate course. Examples of relevant subjects include: science (biomedical, computing or physical sciences), medicine, dentistry, global health, engineering, mathematics and psychology.
• Students are in either their 2^nd year of a 3 or 4 year degree or the 3^rd year if in a 4 year degree.
• Please note that these awards are intended to provide students with new experiences with the aim of encouraging them to consider a career in research. QMUL will therefore give preference to undergraduates with no previous research experience.

This scheme particularly welcomes students who are currently underrepresented in Higher Education research. We are particularly welcoming applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria:

• are from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background
• are a mature student (aged 21 or over when they started their first undergraduate course)
• have lived in a postcode listed as Polar4 quintiles 1 or 2, Acorn quintiles 4 or 5 and IMD quintiles 1 or 2
• have a disability
• are a care-experienced or estranged student

Applicants who do not meet any of the above widening participation criteria are still eligible to apply to the scheme.

 Students are ineligible if they:

• Have previously undertaken a vacation scholarship from Wellcome or another funding body, or have had significant research experience
• Have completed or are currently undertaking a one-year placement in research as part of their degree, as they would have had the opportunity to undertake research before the scholarship period.
• Are a graduate-entry medical student who has completed a previous undergraduate degree in a science-related subject, as they would have had an opportunity to apply during their first undergraduate degree 

How do I apply?

Applications for Summer 2025 will open in February 2025.

Any queries can be sent to wellcomebvs@qmul.ac.uk

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