Internship and placement schemes

Overview and commitment

We are committed to investing time and resources into informing and inspiring the next generation of young scientists, in particular, those from underserved groups in alignment with our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

The University of Exeter is committed to enabling social mobility through education and via their Access and Participation Plan, have set out their strategic aims and objectives for widening participation for groups experiencing barriers in higher education. We will utilise this framework and work in tandem with the University and NHS Trusts to propel our initiatives and Centre aims forwards.

We will provide opportunities for undergraduate and masters students at the University of Exeter to experience and get involved with research early in their training, facilitated by a range of internships and placements. Details of these are outlined below.

Our Internship Scheme

Our  internship programme is facilitated by the Universities Student Campus Partnership Scheme, with two separate pathways available:

• Pathway 1 aims to engage and attract undergraduate and students (doctors, nurses and radiographers) at the University of Exeter in the early stages of their academic studies to consider a career in health and social care research. These funded internships will be offered within one of our five research themes on a part-time basis, allowing students to fit this around their studies and other commitments. Applications for this pathway for 2024 starts are now closed.
• Pathway 2 aims to engage undergraduate students, completing their studies at the University of Exeter in a relevant discipline, including, but not limited to Medical Studies, Data Science and Biosciences, to consider a career in translational biomedical research. These funded internships will be offered within one of our five research themes on a full-time basis over the summer period. Applications for this pathway for 2024 are now closed.
  

Internship programmes we support

• HDRUK Black Internship Programme – we are delighted to be supporting this programme that tackles underrepresentation of Black people within the health data science sector. We will host our first intern in the summer of 2024.
• NIHR Undergraduate Internship Programme – aims to engage and attract students from underrepresented professions in the early stages of their academic studies to consider a career in health and social care research. Applications are to be submitted by early to mid-career researchers, where they can apply to host up to 3 interns. These internships can last between 2-8 weeks, and include a stipend for the student, travel and accommodation expenses, a training and development fund and a contribution towards supervisory costs. The NIHR Exeter BRC and happy to support our members in their application to this programme.
• INSPIRE – aims to increase medical student engagement in academic research. The local programme is a partnership between the GW4 Universities Exeter, Bristol, Cardiff and Plymouth. This programme offers funded summer internships, to which the NIHR Exeter BRC are happy to facilitate and support, should a researcher within the BRC want to support a student(s) through this scheme.
• Access to Internships – supports University of Exeter undergraduate students, meeting the widening participation criteria (ensuring equity of opportunities for those from underrepresented groups) to complete a 140 hour paid internship. The NIHR Exeter BRC are happy to facilitate and support these internships, should a researcher within the BRC want to support a student(s) through this scheme.

Mentorship

• In2Research – we are delighted to be supporting this programme that aims to improve access to postgraduate research degrees and careers for people from low socioeconomic and under-represented backgrounds. Researchers here at the NIHR Exeter BRC mentor individuals, offering subject-specific guidance and support them in accessing PhDs and research careers. If you are a BRC member and would like to get involved in this scheme, please submit an expression of interest form.

Professional Training Year (PTY)

We will provide funds to support a number of Professional Training Year (PTY) students and contribute £3,000 towards the student stipend, alongside a £2,000 contribution to the supervisory team to support with associated project costs. Details will be advertised internally.