How to apply to Science Insights

Applying for the Science Insights summer work experience programme

Science Insights 2025

This summer's Science Insights work experience programme will run from 21-25 July 2025 and applications will open on Monday 24 February and close at 11.59pm on Monday 24 March. 

40 places are available, and these will only be assigned after the closing date and NOT on a “first come, first served” basis.

If you’d like to apply for a place, please complete our online application form. If you have any questions and/or require the form in a different format please contact us.

 

Information session

We hosted an online information session. For the recording of this session please see the video below. 

A recording of our live information session hosted on Wednesday the 26th of February 2025. An introduction to the programme, an overview of the week itself, and guidance on applying as well as a Q&A session.
 
Please note captions are auto generated. We apologise for any inaccuracies.

Application form

More information about applying for Science Insights

We welcome your application to Science Insights if you are:

  • In your 5th year at a high school in Scotland 
  • Interested in biological, biomedical and/or animal science research
  • Able to attend all five days of the Edinburgh-based programme, 21-25 July 2025 from 10am to 5pm daily

Please note that Science Insights is not designed as a work experience programme for school pupils planning to study Medicine at university. Instead, it is aimed at those who are curious about research in biological, biomedical and animal sciences, and/or those who may still be deciding which areas to explore. 

You can find out all about the University of Edinburgh's Medical degree course and support for school pupils thinking of applying on their website. 


Widening participation is at the heart of the University of Edinburgh’s agenda, so we work with the Widening Participation team to ensure places are assigned to students from a range of social, cultural and educational backgrounds.

We realise that not everyone has the same ability to access our programme and we are looking into ways to support pupils who may have difficulties accessing Science Insights. There are questions about access in the application form, and if you think you will have any difficulties taking part in the programme, please tell us. 

It will not count against you in your application and we will try to help all successful applicants to access the programme, as far as we can.

You can also get in touch with us before you apply if you have any questions about accessing the programme - email scienceinsights@ed.ac.uk or fill out our contact form. 


There are 40 places available on the Science Insights programme and we only read applications after the closing date. Places are not assigned on a "first come, first served" basis, so please take the time to think about what you will write and only submit your application when you are happy with it.

We always get more applications than there are places on Science Insights, and we can only judge your application on the information you include on your application form, so remember that:

We are looking for applications that tell us something about you as a person, and show that you are:

  • Enthusiastic about and interested in biological, biomedical and/or animal science research
  • Curious, keen to learn and ask questions

We also want to hear about:

  • What you think you will get out of attending Science Insights 
  • What qualities you have that mean we should choose you to take part 
  • What you do to pursue your interest in science outside of your school science lessons

We appreciate that you may be applying to multiple summer programmes. From experience, we know that you will get the most out of Science Insights if you fully commit to it.

If you are lucky enough to be offered a place on more than one programme, please think carefully about which one you would find most useful, and only accept a place on one. This also means that a place can be offered to someone else, who will definitely appreciate it!

You can withdraw your application to Science Insights at any time before the 24 March closing date by emailing scienceinsights@ed.ac.uk 


We understand that lots of young people will want, and may need to work during the summer holidays - the Science Insights team certainly did when they were at school!

If you are planning to work over the summer and are offered a place on Science Insights, please talk to your manager as soon as possible to arrange time off work during Science Insights week (21-25 July). We are happy to provide an official offer letter if this is required by your employer.

Science Insights days are long (10am to 5pm) and very busy, so we strongly recommend not trying to work at the same time! 


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