Research Support Internships

Research Support Internships enable undergraduate and postgraduate taught students to contribute to a defined research project under academic supervision.

Key features include:

• Up to 140 hours (typically 2–4 weeks).
• Lab-based, desk-based, remote, hybrid, or on-campus.
• Paid at the Student Campus Partnership (SCP) rate.
• Recruitment supported by the SEAS Internship Team.

Research Support Internships can:

• Provide additional support for research projects and activities.
• Help progress work that may otherwise be delayed.
• Increase student engagement with research.
• Support student skills development and employability.
• Help identify and nurture future researchers.

Funding is provided through Faculty Employability budgets, discipline funding, or APVC Education discretionary budget.

Project proposals can be submitted via DESEs or directly to the scheme manager (usually the SEAS Faculty Lead for your discipline) and should include:

• Project overview.
• Expected activities and outcomes.
• Working arrangements.
• Supervision arrangements.

The Internship Team manages the recruitment process and employment administration through the Student Campus Partnership (SCP) scheme.

Support includes:

• Advertising opportunities to students via My Career Zone, newsletters and social media.
• Managing applications.
• Coordinating employment contracts and onboarding requirements.

Internships are typically advertised for 2–3 weeks.

Academic supervisors are responsible for:

• Shortlisting candidates.
• Arranging and conducting interviews.
• Selecting the successful intern.

Your SEAS Faculty Lead and the Internship Team can provide support throughout the selection process.

March - April

The Internship team will support with the recruitment process and contracts via the SCP Scheme. Projects will be advertised on My Career Zone.

April - May

Academics will shortlist and arrange interviews, supported by Faculty Leads and Internship Team.

May - July

Internships will begin in May - July and will conclude by the financial year end.

Please note that exact dates may vary slightly each year depending on funding arrangements and recruitment timelines.

All successful interns are invited to attend a dedicated Study Zone training session to prepare them for their internship.

The training typically covers:

• Preparing for a research internship.
• Understanding the transition from studying to conducting research.
• Understanding the difference between primary and secondary research​
• Help to identify and develop employability skills during the internship.
• Working effectively with academics.
• Setting objectives and expectations for the internship experience.

Sessions are recorded and shared with interns, and additional sessions may be offered later in the recruitment cycle to accommodate students recruited after the initial training.

The Research Support Internship (RSI) scheme is designed to make hosting an intern as straightforward as possible.

The Internship Team provides support with recruitment and contractual arrangements, while your SEAS Faculty Lead can offer guidance on project design and student engagement.

Research Support Internships have supported a wide range of projects across the University, helping academics progress research activities while providing students with valuable experience.

Examples of previous projects include:

• Exploring the career expectations and employability environment of Politics and Humanities students in HaSS Cornwall. Read the project report:  Employability Report HASS 2025 Woodgate, M. and Kolpinskaya, E. (2025) ‘Understanding employability environment and career expectations of Politics and Humanities students in HASS Cornwall’.

• Research Intern: Effects of access to and accessibility of Black role models in HE for Black youth in Exeter (Business School).
• Experimental Optics Research Intern (Physics).
• Archive and Exhibitions Assistant (Drama).
• Adolescent Transitions to Plant Based Diets Intern (Psychology).