Research Experience Placements

Applications for NERC-funded Research Experience Placements (REPs) 2026

REPs funding supports paid summer placements for undergraduate students to carry out research projects within the scope of the environmental sciences. These placements are intended to encourage students to consider a career in this field, and undergraduates from any science discipline are eligible. The scheme is designed to address both thematic skills gaps (e.g. quantitative skills) as well as demographic and diversity-related challenges in the environmental sciences.

The duration of REPs will be a minimum of six weeks and a maximum of ten weeks over the summer holiday period (mid-July to September). Some projects have the ability to be carried out remotely, as noted in the project description.

REPs recipients are paid as employees, with the level of remuneration equal to the National minimum wage (for those 20 and under) or the National Living Wage (for those 21 and over) and will enter into a Workers Agreement with the host department of the University. There are no further funds available for relocation or living expenses and students must be resident in the UK during the placement. Successful students and supervisors will be required to complete a report on the outcome of the placement.

All REPs recipients will be have a NERC DTP PhD student mentor.

Students successfully completing a REP will be automatically entitled to a studentship interview if they subsequently apply to the new DLA.

Eligibility criteria:

Students must meet all of the eligibility requirements listed below to apply for a REP:

  • Be undertaking their first undergraduate degree studies (or integrated Masters). Note: students in their final year who have graduated and no longer have student status at the time the placement starts are not eligible. If the student meets the eligibility criteria (i.e., has student status) at the beginning of the placement, we would consider the eligibility criteria to be met even if the student graduates during the course of the placement.
  • Be eligible for subsequent NERC PhD funding, and have the right to work in the UK (for example an international student currently studying in the UK with a Tier 4 or equivalent visa that is valid for the duration of the REP).
  • Students from outside the UK who do not already have right to work in the UK, should not apply.

Applications:

In order to be considered for a placement, please apply to dtp-admin@esc.cam.ac.uk, sending:

  1. Single sheet giving: (a) full Name, (b) date of birth, (c) email, (d) home address, (e) nationality including confirmation of right to work in UK, (f) current academic course and expected graduation date, (g) project(s) (REPS projects 2026 | Cambridge NERC Doctoral Landscape Awards (Training Partnerships)  for which you wish to apply; if more than one is indicated please list these in priority order
  2. CV (no more than 2 pages).
  3. Brief covering letter giving motivation for application (no more than one page)
  4. One academic reference (no more than one page) emailed to dtp-admin@esc.cam.ac.uk by the closing date
  5. Complete the online EDI form (this form is a mandatory part of the application process, but contains ‘prefer not to say’ options for all questions asked). The form will be viewed by DLA management only and will not be forwarded to supervisors
  6. The closing date for applications is Friday 8th May 2026

Feedback from past REPs students

Read about the experiences of previous REPs students through the NERC C-CLEAR DTP and CREATES DLA

I've thoroughly enjoyed the experience and have learnt so much from Emily and her research team at the Department of Zoology. Before starting this internship, I thought that pursuing a career in academia would be quite daunting and truthfully, I lacked confidence in my abilities, but through meeting so many like-minded individuals who are passionate about palaeontology, it has shown to me that it is the passion and love for one's subject that will help them to succeed in research. I have felt so inspired and have grown to love the strange and enigmatic fossils of the Ediacaran! A highlight of the internship was going to see some of the Ediacaran specimens in-situ at Bradgate Park in Charnwood Forest and the magnificent casts at the New Walk Museum in Leicester (including that of the newly described Auroralumina attenboroughii)!

I have really enjoyed my time at Cambridge and am very grateful for the opportunity to have worked with a such a great team.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to have worked with the archives at SPRI. It has been enlightening to experience the inner workings of the environmental research process and learn from experts in the field. I am excited to practice the skills I have gained in my own research journey and feel deeply inspired to contribute to polar research in the future!