As part of the University of Surrey’s flagship scheme for improving the wellbeing, attainment and retention of Black and Mixed-Black students, we are delighted to announce that we are accepting applications for University of Surrey Undergraduate Vacation Research Internships for summer 2023. Funded by Office for Students and Research England, the SURREY BLACK SCHOLARS: To Become Visible programme aims to improve the pipeline into postgraduate research and academic careers for Black and Mixed-Black undergraduates at Surrey.
The Vacation Research Internships offer undergraduate students an exciting opportunity to work with academics and get a taste of research. The internships are funded by the University of Surrey, Surrey Black Scholars project and EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership.
Through the scheme you will have access to:
The opportunity to gain practical, first-hand experience of research. This is invaluable if you are considering a research career, including going on to do a PhD.
Leadership and guidance from academic experts
The research facilities you need to undertake your project
A salary of £10.61 per hour for up to 350 hours
Funds of up to £300 for research consumables
Internships are to be undertaken between 12th June – 1st September 2023
An internship will be funded for up to 350 hours (35 hours x 10 weeks or part-time equivalent).
FEPS internships funded by EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership should last an average of 10 weeks.
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Black and Mixed-Black undergraduate students at the University of Surrey who will be starting the final year of their undergraduate degree in September 2023
For students on degree programmes longer than 3 years, eg. MSci students, those who will be starting FHEQ L6 in September 2023 are eligible
Level P (placement students) are eligible but must have finished their placement and have sufficient time to complete the internship prior to returning to their studies
Successful applicants will need to have the right to work in UK, and if studying on a visa will need to abide by the conditions on the visa regarding work.
The research project should fit into one or more of your faculty’s strategic themes:
The project can last for up to 350 hours (equivalent to 35 hours per week x 10 weeks) and must take place during the summer vacation between 12th June – 1st September 2023.
The work conducted during a vacation internship should not be used towards credit bearing modules – this is additional experience to your degree programme
The project should have a clearly defined objective, which could be part of a much larger research project.
The project will be at a suitable level for you to reasonably complete within the timescale of the scheme.
We have ringfenced some funding for vacation internships that include Open Research practices. To be eligible, the project must follow at least one Open Science practice. For example: preregistration of the research, preparation of a Registered Report, using open-access software for experimentation, using open data, submitting the project on the Open Science Framework (OSF), sharing of the project – open materials, open data, open analysis codes, uploading a preprint; for more see https://www.surrey.ac.uk/library/open-research). We recognise that not all Open Research practices can be addressed within the timeline of a summer internship; the objective is that the intern and their supervisor demonstrate a contribution to Open Research as much as is possible within the proposed project.
Step 1:
Approach a prospective supervisor – you will need to approach an academic member of staff to act as your supervisor. This might be a lecturer who has taught you during your degree programme or somebody whose research activities are of interest to you. Please note that all academics have staff profiles within the department webpages. You might find it helpful to discuss this with your personal tutor who can advise you of who in the department needs help with one of their research projects.
An additional supervisor will also be appointed to give you access to a wider pool of expertise and to ensure continuity in any period of absence, e.g. annual leave
If you have difficulty identifying a prospective supervisor, please contact:
FASS: Dr Femi Adeyemi-Ejeye, Associate Dean Doctoral College
FHMS: Dr Ruan Elliot, Associate Dean Doctoral College
FEPS: Department Postgraduate Research Director, contact j.pango@surrey.ac.uk if you need further help.
Step 2:
Discuss a project. You will not need to come up with a new idea for a project. Instead, you can discuss with your prospective supervisor what project you could work on. This will likely involve supporting a supervisor and/or a PhD student on an existing research project.
Step 3:
Complete the application form – you will need to do this in collaboration with your prospective supervisor.
Step 4:
The application must be signed by the supervisor to indicate their agreement to the project and their willingness to provide supervision.
The application must also be signed by the Head of Centre/Division/Department to confirm that the proposed project is adequately resourced, and that adequate supervision will be available.
Submit the form and a scanned copy of your HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Record) or transcript. In order to be considered for the Vacation Internship you will need to submit the application form electronically; paper copies will not be accepted.
Please submit your documents to Jane Pango.
The deadline for applications is 16.00 Wednesday 29th March 2023.
Applications received after the deadline above will not be considered.
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Applicants will be informed of the outcome by Friday 5th May 2023.
Please note if you are successful, we will ask you to confirm acceptance of the offer of an internship by a specific deadline. Please keep an eye on your email.
You will be asked to submit a 1-page report on your project and complete an evaluation form to feedback on your experience.
Unitemps will conduct pre-employment checks and administer pay. Students will submit timesheets via the Unitemps portal, and the primary Supervisor will authorise the timesheets. Salaries will be paid according to the Unitemps payroll calendar.
£300 is available to use to purchase consumables. These are items that will be required to enable you to undertake your research. The funds are not available to be used for publishing results. Please purchase your consumables before the end of the 2022/23 financial year – 31st July 2023.
| Deadline for applications | 29th March 2023, 16.00 hrs |
| Notification of outcome by | 5th May 2023 |
| Earliest start date | 12th June 2023 |
| Latest end date | 1st September 2023 |
| Report deadline | 8th September 2023 |
To discuss the Surrey Black Scholars Summer Research Internship scheme, contact Jane Pango, Doctoral College Placement & Employability Coordinator, j.pango@surrey.ac.uk or Jay Rowe, Research Project Manager for the Surrey Black Scholars programme, jay.rowe@surrey.ac.uk
The University of Surrey's flagship scheme for improving the wellbeing, attainment and retention of Black and Mixed-Black students
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