The NERC Research Experience Placement (REP) scheme is intended to encourage students to consider a career in the environmental sciences through funding to support paid summer placements for undergraduate students. Students will carry out research projects within the environmental sciences and undergraduates from any science discipline will be eligible.
Students will be paid the appropriate National Minimum Wage rate (for those 22 and under) or National Living Wage rate (for those 23 and over) and where necessary receive a contribution towards research and training expenses of up to £500 during the placement. Placements may be undertaken as full or part-time. Placements will commence after the end of the undergraduate summer term and will last between 6-10 weeks.
There are no further funds available for relocation or living expenses and students must be resident in the UK during the placement.
Successful students and supervisors will be required to complete a report on the outcome of the placement.
We particularly welcome applications from student groups that are typically underrepresented within the Higher Education pathways. These could include (but are not limited to) students from ethnic minorities, those with a disability or from low-income backgrounds.
CENTA is offering placements through two routes:
- Students may apply directly to a placement.
- If eligible, students may apply for one of our CENTA-wide placements. Please note applications to our CENTA-wide placements are now closed.
General Eligibility of participating undergraduate students
Students are subject to eligibility criteria to be able to apply for NERC REPs and must be:
- undertaking their first undergraduate degree studies (or integrated Masters). Note: students in their final year who have graduated and no longer have student status at the time the placement starts are not eligible. If the student meets the eligibility criteria (i.e., has student status) at the beginning of the placement, we would consider the eligibility criteria to be met even if the student graduates during the course of the placement.
- eligible for subsequent NERC PhD funding (Details of eligibility for PhD studentships can be found here. Please note this guidance should be read in conjunction with the UKRI Training Grant Terms and Conditions and guidance documents available here).
Applying directly to a Placement
We have five Research Experience Placements at our CENTA host institutions. The following institutions are currently advertising projects. Please check back for further projects to be added at our other host institutions.
- University of Birmingham. Deadline now closed.
To apply for one of the projects listed above you will need to:
- Complete the REP student placement application form 2022.
- Submit a CV alongside your application, CVs should not be longer than 2 pages.
- Complete the CENTA Research Experience Placement Equality and Diversity Form 2022. Please note that for all questions on the form you will have the option of ‘Prefer not to say’. The form is for reporting and monitoring purposes only and will not be used in the selection process.
Your application should be emailed to [email protected] by the individual deadline for each project.
Interviews will be arranged by the host institutions.
CENTA-Wide Placements
In order to address a historical imbalance, it is our ambition to offer up to two Research Experience Placements to Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) Home applicants who meet the general eligibility requirements for participating undergraduate students.
Students wishing to apply for one of these placements should apply directly to CENTA. If successful we will then work with you to identify a suitable placement at one of our CENTA host institutions.
Please note that applications to our CENTA-wide placements are now closed.
Please note: all applicants, provided you meet the criteria for eligibility for participating undergraduate students listed above, are eligible to apply directly for a placement via our standard route..