Applicants must be undergraduates who have completed at least one year of study; postgraduates undertaking taught courses or postgraduates engaged in research for a higher degree.
Awards may be made to students having their ordinary residence in Scotland and studying anywhere in the world (including Scotland) or students having their ordinary residence outside the United Kingdom and studying in Scotland.
Applications must be signed by the applicant and then submitted to the School for signing by the School Administrator.
Applications received after the deadline WILL NOT be eligible for consideration. This requirement is absolute and NO EXCEPTIONS will be allowed.
Applications sent directly to Russel & Aiken, the solicitors handling the bursary, or the Principal's office, WILL NOT be considered.

Please complete a Thomas & Margaret Roddan Trust Application Form and a Thomas & Margaret Roddan Trust Personal Statement and email it to the School of Life Sciences office.

Application Deadline: Friday 31 May 2013.

Amgen Scholarship Programme

Through the Amgen Scholars Programme, every summer 75 undergraduates from across Europe have the opportunity to participate in research projects at the University of Cambridge, LMU Munich, and the Karolinska Institute. Participants also have a chance to attend a symposium about biotechnology, and hear from leading scientists in industry and academia. Please visit the Amgen webpage to learn more about the programme.

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

ASPB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) enables undergraduate students to conduct 10 consecutive weeks of mentored plant biology research while still undergraduates.

The fellowship gives a $4,000 summer stipend, a one year membership in ASPB, and $700 (to the mentor or institution) for materials. Recipients may not accept another salary or stipend for SURF research.

SURF winners must submit an abstract and present a poster at this ASPB annual conference. The $50 early-bird student registration fee is waived (other conference fees apply). Each fellowship also provides $575 for travel.

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

BBSRC Research Experience Placements

Three BBSRC Research Experience Placements (REP) have been awarded to the schools and research institutes in the WestBio Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). Each REP is for up to 10 weeks during the summer vacation 2013.

The total value of each REP is £2,500 to cover a minimum stipend of £200 per week to the student and a contribution towards research expenses during the placement.

Research projects must:

Be within the following strategic areas: Food Security, Bioenergy & Industrial Biotechnology, Basic Bioscience Underpinning Health and World Class Underpinning Bioscience.

Not be part of the normal degree course or be undertaken outside of the UK

Selected students must be:

Registered for a basic science (including mathematics and engineering) or veterinary degree

Expected to obtain a first or upper second class UK honours degree. Preference should be given to students who wish to use the placement to find out more about their suitability and aptitude for further research, particularly if the project is in an area of science different from their main subject area.

Applications must be submitted to the School of Life Sciences by your supervisor.BBSRC Application Form 2012

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

Biochemical Society Vacation Scholarship

Grants are available for stipends of £200 per week for 6 – 8 weeks, and up to £1,600 in total, to support a summer placement in a lab for an undergraduate student. Interested students must pair up with a potential supervisor, develop a project together, then apply for funding. Applicants (supervisors) must be members of the Biochemical Society working in a university or research institute, and apply for the grant on behalf of the student.

For more information, see the Biochemical Society webpage or contact education@biochemistry.org

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

Carnegie Undergraduate Vacation Scholarship

The Carnegie Trust offers Vacation Scholarships for Scottish students who have shown exceptional merit at the University and who would like to devote their full time during some portion of the long vacation to a programme of study or research which will be of direct benefit to them in their academic work. The awards will be available to undergraduates who will be of at least two years' standing at the end of the current academic year, those graduating in the current year who propose to proceed to research can be considered at the discretion of the Trustees.

If you are interested in applying, please complete BOTH the application form and the equal opportunities form and email the electronic copies to the School of Life Sciences office.

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

Cathcart Scholarship

This scholarship was set up as a memorial after the death of Dr Andy Cathcart in 2009 and is available to Physiology & Sports Science students; either between Year 3 and Year 4 or after the student completes their degree. The aim is to allow students to gain experience of sports science in an elite sports context.

If successful, the money will be awarded to the student, not the host of a student’s visit (i.e. for travel and living costs) to allow the student to gain the ‘direct experience’.

To apply for this scholarship, you must discuss your idea with any member of teaching staff and then submit an application form to the School of Life Sciences.Cathcart Scholarship Application Form

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

Dr Aileen Smith Travel Scholarship

The Dr Aileen Smith Travel Scholarship will be awarded to one postgraduate student within the School of Life Sciences. Selection of the scholarship holder will primarily be on the basis of motivation and academic excellence, for work connected with the student's curriculum or research, including conferences. Selection will be undertaken by a panel of senior academic and administrative staff.

The scholarship will be awarded in January. The total amount for this has yet to be confirmed.Dr Aileen Smith Application Form

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

Genes and Development Summer Studentships

The purpose of this studentship is to support vacation research by undergraduate geneticists. Grants of up to £3,000 are available to provide financial support for undergraduate students interested in gaining research experience in any area of genetics by carrying out a research project over the long vacation, usually prior to their final year.

The studentship will consist of an award of £225 per week for up to 10 weeks to the student plus a grant of up to £750 to cover expenses incurred by the host laboratory. Both elements of cost must be justified. The award will be made to the host institution. The student will receive free membership of the Genetics Society for one year.

Applications must be made by Principal Investigators at Universities or Research Institutes. The application must be for a named student. Studentships will only be awarded to students who have yet to complete their first degree i.e. those who will still be undergraduates during the long vacation when the studentship is undertaken. There are no restrictions concerning the nationality or membership status of the student.

For more information and details on how to apply, please see the Genetics Society webpage.

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

Harry Smith Vacation Studentships

The Society for General Microbiology wishes to offer a limited number of awards to enable undergraduates to work on microbiological research projects during the summer vacation. The purpose of the awards is to provide undergraduates with experience of research and to encourage them to consider a career in scientific research.

The awards have been named for Professor Harry Smith (1921 - 2011), SGM President 1975-1978, in honour of Harry's well-known support of microbiolgists and microbiology students at the start of their careers.

The studentships provide support at a rate of £185 per week for a period of up to 8 weeks. An additional sum of up to £400 for specific research costs may also awarded.

More details on this studentship can be found on the Society for General Microbiology webpage.

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

IAESTE Summer Work Placements

Would you be interested in gaining work experience overseas during summer 2013? The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) can help you do just that.

IAESTE student placements are normally 6-12 weeks long and are hosted in over 80 countries worldwide. Placements will involve real work on industry projects or research related to your studies. You will receive a salary to cover your living costs, accommodation will be arranged for you, a summer social programme and local support will be provided and assistance given should you need a visa or work permit.

IAESTE Summer Placements Flyer

If you are interested, please visit the British Council website for more information on how to register.

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

Medical Research Scotland Vacation Scholarship

Medical Research Scotland is an established Scottish charity which funds biomedical research in Scotland, with the long-term aim of improving the understanding, diagnosis or treatment of all and any human disease. It does this by providing support to young scientists at critical early stages in the development of research careers.

These scholarships offer a 6-8-week period of hands-on research experience during the summer vacation, provide a weekly stipend of £180 and must be held in university or recognised research institution laboratories in Scotland.

If you are interested in applying for one of these scholarships, please let the School of Life Sciences Office know before applying online.

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

School of Life Sciences Vacation Scholarship

A limited number of Undergraduate Vacation Scholarships are available for summer placements. Students who have identified a summer project/activity connected to their studies may apply for funding by this route, provided they are not already in receipt of another scholarship supporting the same work. Applications must be submitted via the webform.

Successful UG Vacation Applicants

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

Second First Degree Bursary

A small number of bursaries are available for graduates (or holders of equivalent qualifications) who are either starting a course for a second first degree or who are already attending such course.

To be eligible for this bursary you MUST follow the criteria:

Candidates should normally already possess a degree, but holders of other equivalent qualifications will also be considered

The main subject(s) of the second first degree course must be different from those of the first qualification

The qualification already held should be one which makes candidates ineligible for a grant from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, Local Education Authorities or other funding bodies for all or part of their second first degree course

Candidates may be supported for more than one year, but must re-apply annually.

Successful students will receive payment of the bursary via MyCampus so please ensure that all bank details are correct and up to date.

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced shortly.

Society of Biology Undergraduate Research Bursary

The purpose of the awards is to give experience of research to undergraduates with research potential and to encourage them to consider a career in scientific research.

The awards provide support for the student at a rate of £180 per week, for a period of between 6 and 8 weeks. The Society of Biology does not pay overheads nor offer research expenses except in exceptional circumstances. The bursaries produce no National Insurance contribution liability.

For more information on the bursary and terms of eligibility, please refer to the Society of Biology webpage.

Society of Biology Research Bursary Guidelines Society of Biology Research Bursary Application Form

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced shortly.

The Wellcome Trust Vacation Scholarship

This scholarship provides promising undergraduates with hands-on experience of research during the summer vacation, with the aim of encouraging them to consider a career in research. Scholarships are available for between six and eight weeks and currently provide a stipend for the student of £180 per week. Research expenses are not provided.

Applicants meet the following criteria:

applicants should be undergraduates in the middle year of a first degree (i.e. not the first or last year at the time of submission) and registered for a basic science, dentistry or veterinary degree

students on MSci courses can apply only during their second year.

More information on the Biomedical Vacation Scholarships can be found on the Wellcome Trust webpage.‌

Application Deadline: CLOSED. This is an annual competition. Details of next year’s competition will be announced when they are available.

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School of Life Sciences

Available Scholarships

The Thomas and Margaret Roddan Trust

Amgen Scholarship Programme

ASPB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship

BBSRC Research Experience Placements

Biochemical Society Vacation Scholarship

Carnegie Undergraduate Vacation Scholarship

Cathcart Scholarship

Dr Aileen Smith Travel Scholarship

Genes and Development Summer Studentships

Harry Smith Vacation Studentships

IAESTE Summer Work Placements

Medical Research Scotland Vacation Scholarship

School of Life Sciences Vacation Scholarship

Second First Degree Bursary

Society of Biology Undergraduate Research Bursary

The Wellcome Trust Vacation Scholarship