Research Placements Programmes

A Summer of Skills, Confidence, and Career Growth

Research Placements are engaging, real-life workplace experiences, where talented S5 learners are placed at the heart of a UK host organisation. They are a fantastic opportunity for learners to apply skills and knowledge learned at school while providing a meaningful contribution to the work of researchers and industry professionals.

Aimed at S5 learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, Research Placements provide a 2-week collaboration over the summer with a STEM-related knowledge expert on a live research question or area of development. Learners have the opportunity to participate in online training and induction sessions to prepare them for their placement, have the support of their mentor during the placement and produce a scientific / technical report and poster post placement to document the outcomes of their project.

Participants can also work towards a STEM 7 Leader Award, part of the Young STEM Leader Programme, whilst undertaking their placement.

  • Applications for Research Placements are open December to March each year
  • Placements take place over 2 weeks in July and August.
  • Culminates with a Celebration Event in September where learners showcase their posters and receive their Research Placement Award.

SSERC offers two Research Placement Programmes to learners:

Learner Research Placement Programme

With the investment of our industry partner, Ocean Winds, SSERC introduced the new Learner Research Placement Programme for 2026, offering even more opportunitues for young people. This enables the SSERC Reseach Placement programmes in Scotland to grow and develop the mission to advance educational opportunity and social wellbeing.

Eligibility

Learners must have 5 National 5s at Grade B, studying at least one STEM Higher and must meet at least one of the elgibility criteria:

  • Family’s combined income less than £40,000 per year
  • Entitled to free school meals
  • Live, or have lived, in local authority care
  • In receipt of, or entitled to, discretionary payments at school/college
  • First in Family to go to University
  • Ethnic Minority background
  • School is classed as Urban Rural Classification (URL) 3-6, rural and remote
Apply for Learner Research Placement Programme here

Destination STEM Research Placement & Experiences Programme

In addition to the Ocean Winds Learner Research Placement Programme, the Destination STEM Research Placement & Experiences Programme (formerly Nuffield Research Placements) is available to learners, and is part of a collection of high impact, direct to student programmes that together form Destination STEM group of offerings from STEM Learning. Destination STEM provides support, advice, and opportunities to help young people explore pathways into STEM careers, develop their STEM skills, and connect with STEM employers.

Apply for Destination STEM Placement Programme here

Both Destination STEM and the Learner Research Placement Programme offer similar experiences for learners, but note that Destination STEM Programme elgibility is for those from disadvantaged backgrounds or first in the family to go to university only. Bursaries are availble to eligible learners.

For organisations who are interested in hosting a placement for Summer 2027 we will be pleased to discuss what you can offer, commitment required and the benefits it can bring to your organisation.

For more information, please contact researchplacements@sserc.scot.

Combined Pic RPE

SSERC is a Company Limited by Guarantee and a registered educational charity.

Headquarters
1-3 Pitreavie Court,
South Pitreavie Business Park,
Dunfermline,
KY11 8UU

☎ 01383 626070

Registered Office
Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP,
Level 5
9 Haymarket Square
Edinburgh
EH3 8RY

Material on this website, including text and images, is protected by copyright. It may not be copied, reproduced, republished, downloaded, posted, broadcast or transmitted in any way except for your own personal, non-commercial use, or for educational use. Prior written consent of the copyright holder must be obtained for any other use of material. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with SSERC and other copyright owner(s) as specified. No part of this site or sub-domains of this site may be distributed or copied for any commercial purpose

© Copyright 2024 Copyright SSERC Ltd. All Rights Reserved.