Eligibility

The programme is targeted at students who are studying at a UK or Republic or Ireland university for their undergraduate bachelor's degree.  

Eligibility Criteria 

Essential Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria:  

• be currently enrolled in a UK or Republic of Ireland college or university as an undergraduate student studying for a degree in a life sciences discipline
• have been ordinarily resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland (but not mainly for full-time education) since 1 July 2023
• be in the penultimate year of their bachelor's degree, at the time of application
• be on course for a 1st or a 2i, as evidenced by their referee
• be able to demonstrate a strong record of academic performance
• have an interest in undertaking a research postgraduate degree (MPhil or PhD)
• be available to participate in all elements of the programme from 13 July – 4 September 2026 during usual laboratory hours (9am to 5pm on weekdays) 

Other Criteria and Contextual Information

Applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:  

• have been in receipt of free school meals at secondary school
• be in the first generation of their family to study at undergraduate level    
• have been a young carer under the age of 18 or have/ had caring responsibilities during undergraduate study (providing unpaid support for a family who has a physical or mental health condition, or misuses substances)
• have entered university at undergraduate level from a care background or as a Foyer resident  
• receive the maximum Maintenance Loan for undergraduate study  
• be estranged from their parents/guardians  
• be either a single parent, or lone guardian of a young person who is aged under 18 and/or is still in full-time education
• have refugee status 

We also strongly encourage applications from candidates who:

• are not studying at a university listed in the Sutton-13 group
• are a mature undergraduate student, or would be a mature postgraduate student (i.e. aged 21 or over at start of undergraduate study and would be 25 or over at start of postgraduate study)
• do not have significant research experience (full time, 4 weeks or more and not part of degree course)
• are from any of the following ethnic groups, currently underrepresented across the Schools of Biological Sciences and Clinical Medicine at Cambridge

Underrepresented ethnic groups:  

• Arab
• Asian: Bangladeshi or Bangladeshi British
• Asian: Pakistani or Pakistani British  
• Black: African or Black African British
• Black: Caribbean or Black Caribbean British
• Mixed or multiple ethnic groups - White or White British and Black Caribbean or Black Caribbean British
• Any other Black background not listed below
• Any other White background (inc. Gypsy, Irish Traveller, and Roma) not listed below
• Any other ethnic background not listed below 

Ethnic groups not currently underrepresented:

• Asian: Chinese or Chinese British
• Asian: Indian or Indian British
• Any other Asian background
• Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background not listed  
• Mixed or multiple ethnic groups - White/White British and Asian/Asian British: Chinese
• Mixed or multiple ethnic groups - White/White British and Asian/Asian British: Indian
• Mixed or multiple ethnic groups - White or White British and Black African or Black African British
• White: British (including English, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish)
• White: Irish 

Applicants should not:

• be currently studying for an integrated master's degree

Notes for medical students:

Medical students in their second year until their penultimate year of studies would be considered but will need to state clearly in their personal statement how this programme will be important for their future career in research.
Medical students will only be eligible for consideration on the programme once, so we advise you consult with your tutor, or similar, for advice on when is best for you to apply.