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Kirsty Ireland on her bursary placement at Organon Laboratories Ltd in Summer 2007
Kirsty Ireland on her bursary placement at Organon Laboratories Ltd in Summer 2007
If you’re a student in the first year of an advanced or higher-level science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) course, you could join a project for four to six weeks in an area of STEM that interests you.

You’ll receive a bursary of £75 a week to help you make the most of your experience. It will give you an insight into the world of STEM research and development, and be highly valued by future employees and admissions tutors at centres of higher education.

Working as part of a team, you’ll take the initiative on projects that make a difference, write a project report and receive a certificate of achievement.

Demand for bursaries will be high and we advise you to apply early.

What you can hope to gain from your bursary placement

• First hand experience of science, technology, engineering and maths in a working environment

• An opportunity to use the knowledge gained in school physics, chemistry, engineering, technology etc. in a real context

• Insight into current research and development

• The chance to make a contribution to the work of your host organisation

• A greater awareness of possible career opportunities

• The chance to meet professional and graduate engineers, scientists, mathematicians and technologists

• Something to talk about at university interviews

• Experience of teamwork, interviews, presentations, and writing reports

• The chance to develop personally as well as professionally

• The chance to apply for a BA Crest Award at Gold/Silver level, through which you might have the opportunity to attend Regional/National /International Science Fairs

• An opportunity to meet students from a variety of schools/colleges and backgrounds

• The chance to become an ambassador for the scheme and share your experiences with other interested parties

Other useful links

• If you are a student who has been accepted onto the bursary scheme, and you want to make sure you are fully prepared for your placement, please download the following checklist.

• Applying for a bursary

• The types of projects available

• BA CREST awards

• Writing the Bursary report


Mark Richmond from Linlithgow Academy on his bursary placement at the School of Biology in the University of Edinburgh in Summer 2007
Mark Richmond from Linlithgow Academy on his bursary placement at the School of Biology in the University of Edinburgh in Summer 2007



Last Updated Wed, 6 August 2008

Quotes from students who took part in the scheme in the Summer of 2007

I thoroughly enjoyed engaging in the problems put before me, and found I had a greater capacity for evaluating a situation and logic than I previously thought.
Kai Oliver, Penglais Comprehensive School, Aberystwyth.

What I found most valuable about my experience was being given the independence and responsibility to feel like a professional.
Rebecca McEwan, St Aloysius College, Glasgow.

I thoroughly enjoyed the project - so much so that I would rather have stayed there than gone back to school!
Faye Rothwell, Westhoughton High School, Bolton.

I look back at each aspect of my bursary placement with a sense of achievement and discovery.
Patrick Bachtiger, Worthing Sixth Form College.

This was a great opportunity to learn more advanced science and to witness the application of science in the real world.
Samirah Hassan, Esher College, Thames Ditton.

The experience of using SEM and TEM daily was exhilarating - these were machines I had only learned about in class before, and I never thought I would get a chance not only to see them, but to become proficient at using them too!
Deepti Lobo, Nottingham Girls’ High School.

I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people, and students from other schools who I am sure I will stay in contact with.
Victoria Lake, Wymondham High School.

I found the independence given when carrying out the project very valuable. I really enjoyed doing research and discovering things out for myself and then using this knowledge in the lab.
Katherine Lawlor, Camden School for Girls, Camden.

I have wanted to be a research scientist for some time, and this has given me the opportunity to confirm this wish.
Elizabeth Wells, The Priory LSST, Lincoln.

It was an excellent experience working with some top scientists. The projects were challenging, yet very interesting and it was good to extend my knowledge of physics into university work. I definitely want to pursue a career in sciences.
Christopher Jackson, Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Lancaster.