Final independent evaluation of Nuffield Research Placements is released
The Nuffield Foundation is delighted to publish the final independent evaluation of its Nuffield Research Placements (NRP) programme – a long-running initiative that has enabled around 25,000 school and further education students across the UK to gain hands-on experience working on STEM projects.
The evaluation, conducted by Frontier Economics and CFE Research, confirms the programme’s long-term impact on education and career outcomes for the young people who took part in the longer and wholly in-person placements that ran before Covid in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
Covering three cohorts of students and comparing their outcomes to similar peers who did not undertake a placement, the study provides robust evidence of the programme’s effectiveness. It covers both qualitative and quantitative analysis, tracking students’ A Level or Advanced Highers achievement, higher education enrolment, and projected employment and earnings outcomes.
Benefits the evaluation highlights include:
- Improved A Level attainment
- Increased higher education enrolment, employment rates, and earnings
- Successful reach to underserved groups
- The value work experience at a key stage in young people’s education
What were Nuffield Research Placements?
Originally launched in 1996 as the ‘School Science Bursaries’ programme, NRPs offered post-16 students the opportunity to complete a four- to six-week STEM research placement in their summer holiday between Years 12 and 13. Hosted by universities, research institutes, and industry partners, students worked on research projects under expert supervision, producing written reports and presentations, and also gaining important soft skills such as creativity, problem solving, and resilience.
In 2012, the initiative became Nuffield Research Placements, with a renewed focus on widening access. Key changes included:
- Expanding to reach around 1,000 students annually
- Prioritising students from low-income households, care-experienced backgrounds, and those without a family history of higher education. From 2018 NRPs focused exclusively on these young people
- Extending eligibility to students in further education colleges
- Broadening the reach to include data science and quantitative social sciences alongside traditional STEM subjects
Key findings from the evaluation
Improved academic outcomes
NRP students achieved better results in STEM A Levels. On average, they gained the equivalent to nearly one grade improvement. These gains were consistent across all students, including those eligible for Free School Meals.
Increased higher education enrolment, employment rates, and earnings
Placements were associated with increased enrolment in STEM courses at higher-status institutions. The evaluation also estimates that NRPs could lead to a 1.2 percentage point increase in employment rates, and a 3.3% rise in average earnings by age 30. The greatest benefits were for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Improved transferable skills and confidence
Students reported gains in motivation, confidence, and essential skills such as time management, writing, and presenting. These skills are valuable across all career paths and align with the Foundation’s Skills Imperative 2035 project, which highlights the importance of creativity, collaboration, and resilience.
Subject-specific impact
Placements in astronomy, physics, maths, statistics, and data science had the greatest impact on A Level achievement and HE enrolment. Those in biology, chemistry, and biomedical sciences showed smaller effects, while computing and engineering placements fell in between.
Equity and inclusion
The programme successfully reached under-served groups. FSM-eligible students and those from ethnic minority backgrounds were more likely to apply and participate. The cohort was ethnically diverse (58% white, 26% Asian, 7% Black, 8% mixed/other), and 54% were female, a notable achievement given the underrepresentation of women in STEM. Given the focus of the programme on pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, the benefits would have accrued to a greater degree to those from poorer backgrounds, helping to reduce socioeconomic inequality.
This evaluation identifies how Nuffield Research Placements were transformative experiences for many young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with tangible benefits to learning, academic achievement, and employment all evidenced in the report.Josh Hillman, Director of Education
Nuffield Research Placements today
In 2020, the Foundation launched the Nuffield Future Researchers programme – an online alternative developed during the pandemic. A specific external evaluation of this initiative was also positive, and identified lessons for the post-pandemic version of the NRP programme.
Since 2021, STEM Learning has taken over the delivery of NRPs, transitioning to a hybrid model that combines the original in-person placements with online resources and support.
