Nuffield Foundation

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Overview

Nuffield Foundation Science Bursaries offer up to 1000 bursaries a year, for students to work alongside practising scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians. Projects take place during the summer holidays, giving students an insight into the world of scientific research and development.

Nina Klein during her Physics placement at Royal Holloway
Nina Klein during her Physics placement at Royal Holloway
Students in the first year of a post-16 science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) course are eligible to apply for a bursary of £80 per week to support them during their project. Placements are available across the UK, in universities, industry or research institutions.

Who is eligible to apply

Anyone in the first year of an Advanced or Higher STEM course (Key Stage 5) may apply (eg. Year 12 in England or Wales). This includes vocational as well as academic courses.

The projects

Thomas Moens worked at Advanced Pest Solutions in Scotland
Thomas Moens worked at Advanced Pest Solutions in Scotland
Unlike work experience schemes, students carry out projects which are well defined from the start and have an outcome that is achievable within the time available and which will make a contribution to the work of the host organisation.

How to find out more

Contact your Nuffield Coordinator to register your interest and choose one of two ways to set up a placement:

  • arrange your own project placement with the help of teachers and organisations
  • apply for a project placement that has already been set up.

It is advisable to apply for a bursary placement in the Autumn term, as places are limited and demand is often high.

Last Updated Thu, 10 December 2009

Contact information and latest news

Apply for a bursary in 2010
If you are interested in applying for a bursary in 2010, the first step is to contact your Nuffield Coordinator.


Saad Fyyaz took part in a 4 week project at the Dept of Chemistry, University of Manchester with Dr K Flower in 2007. His work on computational chemistry has now been published. Click here to read the article.


4 6th form students from Old Swinford Hospital School in Stourbridge have recently been featured in the Stourbridge News. Follow the link to read about their projects.


Congratulations to Courtney Williams, who was recently awarded the EIROforum CERN prize at the EU Competition for Young Scientists. Read about Courtney's bursary experience here.


Considering taking on a student for 2010? Click here to read about the experiences of previous Project Providers.


Hertfordshire student wins trip to America
Rosy Halfyard was the first student from her school to do a Nuffield bursary project. Now, she is off to America after winning the prestigious Intel ISEF Prize at the Big Bang Fair. Click here to read more.


Students from Yorkshire & Humberside interested in applying for a bursary should contact the Foundation directly. Click here for more details.


Click here for a list of projects undertaken in Summer 2009.


Contact information
Sarah Saunders
Nuffield Foundation
Tel: 020 7631 0566
email: Sarah Saunders

You must apply to your local Nuffield Coordinator to find out more and to apply for a bursary. Queries about the scheme are not handled centrally by the Nuffield Foundation.

To download a low-res version of the 2010 brochure for the Bursary programme click here. A high-res version can be downloaded by clicking here.

An overview leaflet about Nuffield Science Bursaries can be downloaded from here.