Undergraduate Academic Research Projects

Programme Details

A number of grants from College funds are available to support undergraduate academic research projects or academic Summer Schools related to their courses, to be undertaken in the Long Vacation at a University, including Cambridge, or other approved academic institutions. All undergraduate students, including finalists, are eligible. Students who receive payment for their project by the hosting Institution cannot be considered for funding from the College unless they have a financial shortfall. 

Undergraduates may make one application per year and funding is available from the following funds:

General Fund

To support undergraduate academic research projects or academic Summer Schools.

Peter Munn Fund

To support Engineering students by providing funding for a specific project/research.

Robert Tong Bursary

To offer free accommodation and access to the Library at Queen Mary, University of London during a set period in the Long Vacation (Monday 8 July until Saturday 3 August 2024).  Postgraduates are also eligible to apply.

*Students who, for practical reasons, cannot pursue an activity or project during the Long Vacation but could plan an activity during the Christmas or Easter vacation instead, may be exceptionally considered for funding. Such requests will only be considered when there are reasonable restrictions which do not allow a student to undertake a project during the summer, and not when this is a matter of preference. Funding of projects taking place during Christmas or Easter vacation will only be possible in years when not all available funding has been exhausted for summer projects. We would expect you to apply during the normal application round but we understand that some projects cannot be arranged so far in advance. Please contact Student Services to discuss your request as early as possible, and no later than the division of Michaelmas Term for activities during the Christmas holidays and the division of Lent Term for activities during the Easter holidays.

Restrictions

Paid / Funded projects

If you  have other sources of funding for your project, either from the College or from an external organisation, your application will be considered and assessed only if you have a shortfall and the total funds that you have access to do not cover the cost of living during your project or the cost of the project itself.

Projects / Internships at the University of Cambridge

Students who undertake internships or research projects organised by and held at Faculties, Departments or Institutes affiliated to the University of Cambridge ordinarily receive remuneration at the National Living Wage rate. We expect you to check with your supervisor and/or the hosting Faculty / Department / Institute whether the placement will involve remuneration. In the event that there is not any remuneration, the College may be able to partially fund your project.

Further information

The amount of each UARP award is decided based on the total cost of the project and any other funding that the student may have. In many cases, the UARP award is a contribution and will not cover the full cost of the project. 

Students with worthwhile research projects at Cambridge University are ordinality awarded £120 per week of their project, with the total amount capped at £1,200, provided they don't have any other funding. 

A College subcommittee chaired by the Senior Tutor reviews all applications submitted. Even though the College endeavours to support all worthwhile summer projects, the funds are finite and, in years that the competition is strong, we cannot guarantee that all worthwhile projects will be successful.

UARP awards histogram

Applying

Applying

The application system will open in the week of 12th February 2024. There will be two decision rounds this year:

  • Early round: The applications which will be submitted by Monday 11th March 2024 will be considered at an early round and applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application by mid-April 2024. 
  • Final round: The closing date for the final round is Tuesday 7th May 2024 and applicants will be notified by mid-June 2024.

Students who wish to apply will have to complete the Summer Funding Application Form 2024 and upload it onto the online application form. Please note that students who wish to also be considered for a Summer Bursary do not need to complete a separate form.

Student Services would be happy to respond to informal enquiries and requests for information.

All payments will be made at the beginning of July. Successful students will be asked to submit a report by 1st October 2024.