Summer research opportunities

Undergraduate students who want to find out more about physics research may wish to ,apply for a summer placement with one of the research groups within the Department.  The College participates in a scheme that co-ordinates and promotes such placements, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP). Such placements typically last 6-10 weeks. More information on how UROP operates across the College and about potential, central sources of funding and how to apply can be found on the College UROP webpages.

Students on Tier 4 visas should consider a UROP placement like other types of 'work' and can, therefore, work full-time during College vacations.  During term-time this is capped at 20 hours per week; it is the student's responsibility to ensure they do not exceed the term-time limit.  For formal advice, students can contact the International Student Support team.

An official listing of UROP opportunities within the Department can be found on the central College UG Research Opportunities webpage.

UROP opportunities for summer 2025 will be available for bidding through a newly developed UROP Projects app. Students can check here for available projects. Students can still also contact staff directly about a UROP project and will then need to select this project through the app.

The number of UROP placements in the Department goes far beyond those that occur in the groups represented in these official listings. This is because the most likely route to organising a placement is through an enthusiastic student pro-actively and informally contacting a member of staff.  Note that actual placements should still be registered through the official UROP channel even if the first contact is through a more informal route.

Funding

College Funding

The Imperial College London UROP Awards competition (for UROP projects to be undertaken in Summer 2025 by Imperial College undergraduates on degree programmes) will begin at the start of the Spring Term.  Expressions of interest for Imperial College London UROP Bursaries for summer 2025 will be open from January 2025 until 19 February 2025. If you are a full-time undergraduate degree student at Imperial College you are invited to apply for funding for the College’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP), and details can be found here. 

Since the Physics Department’s policy is to only register funded UROP projects, if you are thinking of running a project in the summer please support student applications to the College bursary scheme.  Students and supervisors are usually informed of the outcome of the College scheme in late March.

All Visiting (non-degree) students, and external students are ineligible to apply for this bursary; however, they are welcome to arrange a UROP placement at Imperial College London if they have financial support from a different scheme. More eligibility information can be found on the College UROP webpages.

Departmental Funding

Students/supervisors who were unsuccessful in their application for a College bursary will be considered for a Department bursary.  The Department bursaries will match the College weekly rate and provide six weeks of funding, to maximise the number offered. Only Imperial physics undergraduate students will be eligible for the Department UROP bursaries, and students can receive one bursary in an academic year. The Department usually communicates bursary allocations in late April.

Please note that visiting (non-degree) students, and external students are ineligible to apply for the Physics Department UROP bursaries; however, they are welcome to arrange a UROP project in the Physics Department if they have financial support from a different scheme. More eligibility information can be found on the College UROP webpages.

Some funding may also be available for specific projects via external funding bodies.

All registered UROP projects must be funded by the College.

A list of staff contacts for UROP projects in the different research groups can be found below.  The situation with regards to UROP projects offered by an individual staff member differs from year to year. The list below is just a starting point, other members of staff who do not appear on the list may still be interested in offering a placement. If you are interested in a UROP placement you are recommended to contact the relevant member of staff to express your interest.

Extra ECTS
You can request that your UROP project be assessed for extra ECTS, these ECTS are not for degree credit.  You will need to complete the application form for the allocation of additional ECTS credits to an extracurricular UROP project with your UROP supervisor. In addition, you will need an assessor for your project report and presentation. 

The extra ECTS application form must be completed and sent to Yasmin Andrew for registration before the start of your UROP project.  

Your UROP project must be a minimum duration of six weeks and should last for no longer than twelve weeks. 1.5 ECTS credits can be awarded for each full-time working week. For further information, please read the Physics Department requirements.

Please contact Yasmin Andrew, email: y.andrew@imperial.ac.uk or room Blackett 308c, if you would like to find out more about how UROP projects are run, funding sources or any other questions about the scheme.

Publications
Any journal publications that result from work carried out as part of a UROP completed in the Department of Physics must inlcude the following acknowledgement:

This material is based on work supported by Blackett Laboratory, Department of Physics, Imperial College London through the University Research Opportunities Programme (UROP).