Undergraduate research grants
Our undergraduate research grants scheme aims to support challenging research projects carried out during term time as part of the assessed work of a degree programme. Projects must include research or an element of innovation. Up to ten grants of a maximum of £800 each are available and awarded to students and universities submitting the best project ideas.
Apply now for the 2013-14 scheme – closing date is Friday 17th May 2013.
How to apply
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The supervisor must complete an application form between March and May
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Applications should be made for a particular project idea to be carried out in the subsequent academic year
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If the application is successful, the supervisor then selects a suitable student(s) to undertake the project
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The timing of the project is intended to coincide with the university's usual arrangements for term time undergraduate projects that are assessed for a degree
Eligibility
For a research project to be eligible for an undergraduate research grant it must be:
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Focussed on a structural engineering topic
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Undertaken during term time in the last or penultimate year of undergraduate study and before graduation
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Part of the assessed work of an undergraduate degree programme (BSc, BEng or MEng) in civil or structural engineering
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Undertaken by an individual student or as a joint project with two students
Postgraduate studies (MSc and PhD) are not eligible.
Selection criteria
The following criteria will be used in assessing applications:
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Extent of innovation
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Relationship to a practical problem
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Feasibility for a student to conduct the project within a short time frame
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Likelihood of expected outcome to provide scope for further research
Only one application can be submitted by each member of academic staff per year.
Conditions
Grants up to a maximum value of £800 each will be awarded: £200 will be awarded to the student and up to £600 will be awarded to the university to cover project costs (e.g. equipment, software licences, consumables).
A breakdown of costs must be provided as part of the application.
The student must agree to submit a copy of their full project report: an A1 poster highlighting the main features of the project and an executive summary of 200 to 300 words (relating, where possible, the project outputs to practise or further research required) within two months of completing the project.
Posters will be judged with a £250 prize for the winner and £150 for the runner-up. The winning poster will be displayed at the Young Researchers' Conference.
On being awarded a grant, the supervisor must confirm when the project is to be carried out and, in due course, by whom the supervisor must confirm that the university will make suitable resources available for the successful execution of the project.
The grant will be paid in two instalments. The first, covering project costs, will be paid to the supervisor at the beginning of the project. The second instalment will be paid to the student upon delivery of the full project, as detailed above.
The grant is awarded to a named supervisor for a specific project as detailed on the application form.
Grants are not transferable to other supervisors or projects.
Please tell the Technical Department immediately of any changes in circumstances that would affect the undertaking of the proposed project.
2012/13 Funded projects
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2011/12 Funded projects
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