The NIHR Undergraduate Internship Programme (UIP) 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.
Early to mid-career researchers (the applicant[s]) can apply to host up to 3 interns. Interns will undertake a fully funded and flexible placement in the area or discipline they are interested in pursuing, whilst the applicant(s) will have an opportunity to gain valuable supervisory and grant application experience.
At present, the NIHR will prioritise funding internships in the following disciplines/professions of strategic importance:
- Health Care Professionals (HCPs)
- Nursing
- Midwifery
- Allied Health Professionals
- Pharmacy
- Healthcare Science
- Social Care
- Research Methodology
- Public Health
- Data Science
If successful, early/mid-career researchers will recruit interns via the host organisations normal recruitment processes.
Who can apply?
Early to mid-career researchers with a PhD (or equivalent demonstrable years of research experience), who are based at an eligible host institution in England, working within a field in one of the target disciplines. Full details are provided in the guidance notes for the scheme.
Please note: Prospective interns cannot apply directly to this scheme. Applications must be received from the early/mid career researcher.
Scope of Funding
If successful, awards will run from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 inclusive. Applicants will have the flexibility to choose when in this timeframe they recruit interns, start the placement and how they would like to structure it.
The scheme will support:
- A fully funded stipend/salary for the full duration of the internship, with the opportunity for interns to complete either a 2-4 week, 4-6 week, 6-8 week placements to allow greater flexibility for different course structures
- Requests for travel and accommodation expenses for interns to help them undertake the internship (where justified i.e if applicants want to consider internships away from their home/current organisation)
- A small training and development fund up to £200 per intern to attend any associated training activities
- The opportunity for both applicant and intern to attend an in person, cross-disciplinary event with other UIP award holders to share knowledge/learning from the award
Full details, including the funding available through the scheme, will be available in the guidance notes. Please read through these carefully before applying.