Considering postgraduate research in the future and want to gain research or lab experience?
The Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health runs a number of schemes to help current undergraduate students undertake a research placement over the summer.
These placements are designed for students in the middle year of their undergraduate degree and provide research experience to those students looking to gain practical experience in the lab.
BBSRC placements
Considering research in biotechnology or biological sciences?
Each year, we offer undergraduate students from universities across the UK the opportunity to undertake a research experience placement at The University of Manchester, funded through the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) through our BBSRC North West Doctoral Programme in Bioscience.
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More about BBSRC placements
Applications for this placement are currently closed
Placements will last for six weeks and a salary will be provided at the minimum living wage rate.
It is anticipated that all placements will run from 7 July to 15 August 2025, culminating with a showcase event where you will have the opportunity to present the outcome of your project to other summer research placement students.
To be eligible for a placement, you should:
- be in the middle years of your first degree;
- be registered for a basic science (including mathematics and engineering) or veterinary degree at a UK university;
- either have home status or be an EU/international applicant with evidence of your right to work in the UK;
- be expected to obtain a First or Upper Second class honours degree.
We particularly encourage applications from students who meet at least one of the following widening participation criteria:
- You have been in public care for a minimum of three months since the age of 11.
- You are from a low-income background evidenced by receipt of maintenance grant and/or a higher rate of maintenance loan during undergraduate studies. Consideration will be given to the number of years that a maintenance grant was received and the amount awarded, or the rate of maintenance loan received (if you started your undergraduate course following the phasing out of maintenance grants).
- You come from one of the most deprived areas of the UK as indicated by ACORN and LPN data. This is based on home postcode before attending university.
- You are/were in receipt of a Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) as part of your undergraduate studies or are receiving/received support from your undergraduate university's disability office.
- You have been recognised as a refugee or asylum seeker or been granted humanitarian protection status by the UK government, or are the partner or child of someone who has been granted refugee, asylum seeker or humanitarian protection status.
- You are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background.
- You are the first generation in your family to attend university and be studying an undergraduate or equivalent qualification (neither of your parents has a BA, BSc or equivalent undergraduate degree).
- You are studying at a non-Russell Group university.
Preference will 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.
Please note that medical students are not eligible for this scheme.
A list of projects available for summer 2025 can be viewed here: BBSRC project list (summer 2025)
Applications for this placement are currently closed.
When applying you must complete and submit an undergraduate placements application form.
When applying you will need to submit your completed application form, your CV and a transcript of marks so far by email.
MRC placements
Considering research in medical sciences?
Each year, we offer undergraduate students from universities across the UK the opportunity to undertake a research experience placement at The University of Manchester, funded through the Medical Research Council (MRC) and our MRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP).
More about MRC placements
Applications for this placement are currently closed
The placements are an excellent way to experience research activity and determine your suitability and aptitude for further research.
Placements will last for six weeks and a salary will be provided at the minimum living wage rate.
It is anticipated that all placements will run from 7 July to 15 August 2025, culminating with a showcase event where you will have the opportunity to present the outcome of your project to other summer research placement students.
A list of projects available for summer 2025 can be found in the following PDF: MRC Project List (2025)
To be eligible for a placement, you should:
- be in the middle years of your first degree;
- be registered for a basic science (including mathematics and engineering), medical, or veterinary degree at a UK university;
- either have home status or be an EU/international applicant with evidence of your right to work in the UK;
- be expected to obtain a First or Upper Second class honours degree.
We particularly encourage applications from students who meet at least one of the following widening participation criteria:
- You have been in public care for a minimum of three months since the age of 11.
- You are from a low-income background evidenced by receipt of maintenance grant and/or a higher rate of maintenance loan during undergraduate studies. Consideration will be given to the number of years that a maintenance grant was received and the amount awarded, or the rate of maintenance loan received (if you started your undergraduate course following the phasing out of maintenance grants).
- You come from one of the most deprived areas of the UK as indicated by ACORN and LPN data. This is based on home postcode before attending university.
- You are/were in receipt of a Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) as part of your undergraduate studies or are receiving/received support from your undergraduate university's disability office.
- You have been recognised as a refugee or asylum seeker or been granted humanitarian protection status by the UK government, or are the partner or child of someone who has been granted refugee, asylum seeker or humanitarian protection status.
- You are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background.
- You are the first generation in your family to attend university and be studying an undergraduate or equivalent qualification (neither of your parents has a BA, BSc or equivalent undergraduate degree).
- You are studying at a non-Russell Group university.
Preference will 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 for this placement are currently closed.
You must complete and submit an undergraduate placements application form.
When applying you will need to submit your completed application form, your CV and a transcript of marks so far via email.
CRUK MB-PhD placements
Considering the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Manchester Centre MB-PhD?
We offer research placements within the CRUK MB-PhD to University of Manchester and St Andrews-Manchester Pathway Medical School students in Year 1 and 2.
The placements, which last for up to a week, give you a taste of academic research and our MB-PhD programme.
More about CRUK Manchester Centre MB-PhD placements
Applications for this placement are currently closed
The placements will be with various supervisory teams and lab groups where you will get a valuable insight into the real world of academic research.
All these supervisors are offering projects to MB-PhD applicants this year, so if you are considering applying for the programme now or in the future, this is a brilliant opportunity to meet the team and to find out if this is the path for you.
See details of the placements available and the supervisory styles on the CRUK Manchester Centre MB-PhD Studentships webpage. Please note, available placements could change ahead of the deadline.
Placement weeks will be arranged between students and supervisors over the summer before the start of the next academic year (2-6 September).
University of St Andrews students can apply for funding from their university to cover expenses. These placements are unpaid but students at The University of Manchester interested in undertaking a summer placement and unable to do so due to financial reasons should get in touch with Georgina Binnie-Wright, Postgraduate Programme Manager, at MCRCTraining@manchester.ac.uk, to discuss.
Students who are interested in this opportunity should send the following details to Georgina Binnie-Wright, Postgraduate Programme Manager, at MCRCTraining@manchester.ac.uk:
- Your name
- Current year of MBChB study
- Are you intending to apply to the MB-PhD programme in future? (Yes/No)
- Are you applying for this opportunity due to a general interest in academic research? (Yes/No)
- 200 words maximum on why you are interested in a placement
- Lab preference(s)
Depending on how much interest is shown, preference may be given to students who are eligible to apply to the MB-PhD programme in the 2024-25 recruitment round (see eligibility on the Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre website).
Expressions of interest should be returned by Monday, 25 March 2024.
Kennedy Trust placements
Considering the Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD?
We offer research placements as part of the Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD to University of Manchester and St Andrews-Manchester Pathway Medical School students in Year 1 and 2.
The unpaid placements, which last for up to a week, give you a taste of academic research and our MB-PhD programme.
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More about Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD placements
The placements are available with various supervisory teams/lab groups where you will get a valuable insight into the real world of academic research:
- Prof. Anne Barton
- Dr. Kieron South
- Dr Gisela Orozco
- Dr. John Grainger, Prof Craig Smith, Prof Stuart Allen
- Dr Sebastien Viatte
- Tao Wang
All of these supervisors are offering projects to MB-PhD applicants for summer 2025, so if you are considering applying for the programme now or in the future, this is a brilliant opportunity to meet the team and to find out if this is the path for you.
See details of the placements available and the supervisory styles: MB-PhD summer placements (PDF).
Placement weeks will be arranged between students and supervisors at the end of the summer term (w/b 16th and 23rd June) or the beginning of the new academic year (1st – 5th September).
Students who are interested in this opportunity should send the following details to Jemma Fielding (jemma.fielding@manchester.ac.uk):
- Name
- Current Year of MBChB Study
- Intending to apply for an MB-PhD programme in future – Yes/No
- AND/OR applying for this opportunity due to a general interest in academic research – Yes/No
- 200 words maximum on why you have submitted an Expression of Interest
- Lab preference/s
Depending on how much interest is shown, preference may be given to students who are eligible to apply to the MB-PhD in the 2025-26 recruitment round.
Expressions of interest should be returned by 1 March 2025.
Wellcome Trust placements
Considering research in immunomatrix?
Each year, we offer undergraduate students from universities across the UK and Ireland the opportunity to undertake a paid Biomedical Vacation Scholarship during the summer holidays, funded by the Wellcome Trust.
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More about Wellcome Trust Immunomatrix in Complex Disease placements
Applications for this placement are currently closed
Placements will last for six weeks and a salary will be provided at the living wage rate.
It is anticipated that all placements will run from 7 July 2025 to 15 August 2025, culminating with a showcase event where you will have the opportunity to present the outcome of your project to other summer research placement students and supervisors.
To be eligible for a placement, you should:
- be in the middle years of your first degree;
- be registered on a relevant undergraduate course in the UK. Relevant subjects include science (biomedical, natural, computing or physical sciences), medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, engineering, mathematics and psychology;
- either have home status or be an EU/international applicant with evidence of your right to work in the UK;
- be expected to obtain a First or Upper Second class honours degree;
- have not yet undertaken a substantial period of research.
Widening participation criteria
Applicants who meet at least one of the following widening participation criteria are strongly encouraged to apply:
- You have been in public care for a minimum of three months since the age of 11.
- You are from a low-income background evidenced by receipt of maintenance grant and/or a higher rate of maintenance loan during undergraduate studies. Consideration will be given to the number of years that a maintenance grant was received and the amount awarded, or the rate of maintenance loan received (if you started your undergraduate course following the phasing out of maintenance grants).
- You come from one of the most deprived areas of the UK as indicated by ACORN and LPN data. This is based on home postcode before attending university.
- You are/were in receipt of a Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) as part of your undergraduate studies or are receiving/received support from your undergraduate university's disability office.
- You have been recognised as a refugee or asylum seeker or been granted humanitarian protection status by the UK government, or are the partner or child of someone who has been granted refugee, asylum seeker or humanitarian protection status.
- You are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background.
- You are the first generation in your family to attend university and be studying an undergraduate or equivalent qualification (neither of your parents has a BA, BSc or equivalent undergraduate degree).
- You are studying at a non-Russell Group university.
Applications are strongly encouraged from 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.
You are not eligible to apply for this scheme if you are:
- studying on a course with an integrated master's
- studying on a course with an industry/placement year
- enrolled on a course outside of the UK or Republic of Ireland.
A list of projects available for summer 2025 can be viewed here: WT ICD project list (summer 2025)
Applications for this placement are currently closed.
When applying you must complete and submit an undergraduate placements application form.
When applying you will need to submit your completed application form, your CV and a transcript of marks so far by email.