Eligibility

Eligibility Criteria  

The Cam REPPS programme strives to support those participants who have been disadvantaged during their education, those who are currently underrepresented and/or those who have not had the opportunity to participate in research.

To be considered for a place on the Cam REPPS scheme in 2026, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:  

• You are currently enrolled in a UK or Republic of Ireland college or university as an undergraduate student studying for an undergraduate degree in a Physical Sciences subject (Astronomy, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Geography, Materials Science and Metallurgy, Mathematics (applied or pure), Physics)  

• You will be settled in the UK on 1 July 2026 and have been ordinarily resident in the UK or Republic of Ireland (your residence should not have been mainly for full-time education) since 1 July 2023 or are a Republic of Ireland national  

• You are categorised as a 'Home' fee-paying undergraduate student within your current University 

• You are in the penultimate year of undergraduate study, at the time of your application. This can be the second year of a three year course or third year of a fourth year course.  

• You are on track to achieve a final undergraduate degree grade of a strong 2:1 or 1st in a relevant subject to your proposed project. If your transcript shows year-on-year grade progression towards the upper range of a 2:1 or above, we encourage you to apply 

• You have an interest in undertaking a research postgraduate degree (MPhil or PhD)  

• You have not already completed or have an offer to start a postgraduate research degree  

• You will be available to participate in all elements of the programme throughout the eight weeks during normal working hours (9 am to 5 pm on weekdays)   

We will prioritise applicants who have not previously studied at the University of Cambridge or Oxford.  

Applicants must also meet one or more of the following criteria, which is based on current under representation data within our School:

• You were in receipt of free school meals at secondary school  

• You are the first generation of your family to study at undergraduate level      

• You have been a young carer under the age of 18 or have/had caring responsibilities during undergraduate study (providing unpaid support for a family who has a physical or mental health condition, or misuses substances)  

• You entered university at undergraduate level from a care background or as a Foyer resident    

• You receive the maximum Maintenance Loan for undergraduate study    

• You are estranged from your parents/guardians - estrangement means that you have no support from, or contact, with either of your parents  

• You are either a single parent, or lone guardian of a young person who is aged under 18 and/or is still in full-time education  

• You have refugee status   

In addition to the above, we also strongly encourage applications from candidates who meet any of the following:  

Underrepresented ethnic groups in the physical sciences within the postgraduate student population:    

• Arab  

• Mixed or multiple ethnic groups - White or White British and Black Caribbean or Black Caribbean British  

• Mixed or multiple ethnic groups - White or White British and Black African or Black African British  

• Black: Caribbean or Black Caribbean British  

• Black: African or Black African British  

• Asian: Pakistani or Pakistani British    

• Asian: Bangladeshi or Bangladeshi British  

• Any other ethnic background not listed below   

Ethnic groups not currently underrepresented:  

• Asian: Chinese or Chinese British  

• White: Irish   

• White: British (including English, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish)  

• Mixed or multiple ethnic groups - White/White British and Asian/Asian British: Indian  

• Mixed or multiple ethnic groups - White/White British and Asian/Asian British: Chinese  

• Any other Mixed or Multiple ethnic background not listed    

• Any other Asian background  

• Asian: Indian or Indian British  

And/or

• are not studying at a Russell Group university   

• do not have significant research experience (full time, 4 weeks or more and not part of degree course)  

• are a mature undergraduate student, or would be a mature postgraduate student (i.e. aged 21 or over at start of undergraduate study and would be 25 or over at start of postgraduate study)