Our vacation bursary programme provides funding for undergraduate students to gain first-hand experience of research in a UK university to help them consider a research career. Students carry out a research project lasting around 10 weeks during the summer vacation.   Students should be in the middle years of a first degree within EPSRC's remit, and should be able to fulfil EPSRC doctoral training grant eligibility requirements by the end of their undergraduate degree. Projects have a clearly defined objective and are within EPSRC's remit, but are not be part of a normal degree course.   We do not invite individual applications for vacation bursaries. The awarding university is responsible for administering all aspects of the award including selection of a suitable undergraduate student.   2010 Vacation Bursary Programme   We have selected 36 universities to take part in the activity, based on their EPSRC research income:   University of Aberdeen University of Bath University of Birmingham University of Bristol Brunel University University of Cambridge  Cardiff University Cranfield University Durham University University of Dundee University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Glasgow Heriot-Watt University Imperial College London King's College London Lancaster University University of Leeds       University of Liverpool Loughborough University University of Manchester Newcastle University University of Nottingham University of Oxford Queen Mary University University of Reading University of St Andrews University of Salford University of Sheffield University of Southampton  University of St Andrews University of Strathclyde University of Surrey Swansea University University College London University of Warwick University of York   Projects will take place during the 2010 summer vacation. We award funds to support students (based on a suggested stipend of £220 per week plus research consumables of £300) to each university, who will then allocate awards to eligible undergraduate students.   Evaluation of 2007 Pilot Activity and Changes to the Programme   We evaluated the 2007 pilot activity and found that the programme was successful for all those involved. Evaluation of the 2007 vacation bursary programme

Students who previously took part said: “The vacation bursary scheme offers a unique insight into academic life. I would recommend to anyone thinking of entering academia as it offers you first hand experience that cannot be replicated in lectures or career talks.” “Without this experience I might not have decided to stay on in academia, and I certainly wouldn’t be approaching the application process with the same confidence.”