Several councils make internships and placements an integral part of the studentships they fund. This includes Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) CASE studentships and BBSRC Professional Internships for PhD Students (PIPS). Our guides to studentships cover these.
Following are some of the optional schemes and initiatives that UKRI funds to offer training through collaboration with external organisations.
Internships
Academy of Medical Sciences policy internship
The Medical Research Council (MRC) has partnered with the Academy of Medical Sciences to offer a medical science policy internship. The scheme is open to all MRC-funded PhD students who are based in a university or MRC centre, unit or institute, and who are in their third or fourth year of study.
Policy Internships scheme
The UKRI Policy Internships scheme provides an opportunity for UKRI-funded doctoral students to undertake a three-month placement at one of a selected group of influential policy organisations.
Vacation internships
The Vacation Internship scheme is for students on an undergraduate degree relevant to the remit of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The students are given practical, first-hand experience of working on and carrying out research in a UK university.
Apprenticeships
As part of their apprenticeship scheme for undergraduate students, Science Technology and Facilities Council (STFC) offers engineering and computing apprenticeships at several advanced laboratories in the UK.
Placements
CERN placement opportunities
STFC manages the UK’s membership of CERN, the world’s largest particle physics laboratory. CERN offers a wide range of placements and other training opportunities for current PhD students, postgraduates and early career researchers.
Overseas Institutional Visits (OIVs)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded PhD students can access these short-term placements with international research organisations through their doctoral training network. Doctoral training partnerships with ESRC funding may have more information on their websites.
Science and Technology Facilities Council placements
Graduate programme
This comprehensive two-year training and development programme offers technical and career support and professional recognition and registration opportunities. It also gives graduates the chance to inspire future STEM talent through the Early Careers Engagement programme.
Long term attachments
Long term attachments allow STFC-funded students to conduct research at international facilities for a duration of 120 to 365 days, enhancing their academic experience and research capabilities. Your host research organisation makes an application to STFC for the funds.
Industrial and summer placement scheme
These one to three-month summer placements allow STFC-funded PhD students to work on projects related to their studies at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, the Daresbury Laboratory or the UK Astronomy Technology Centre.
Last updated: 24 March 2026