Science Insights

How to apply: Science Insights 2024

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 1 May 2024

Applying for Science Insights 2024 (Mon 22– Fri 26 July 2024)

Science Insights is ONLY for current S5 pupils at high schools in Scotland, who will be entering S6 in August 2024.

40 places are available and these will be assigned after the closing date (1 May 2024) and NOT on a “first come, first served” basis.

If you’d like to apply for a place, please complete the form below by 11:59pm on Wednesday 01 May 2024. If you have any questions and/or require the form in a different format please contact us.

 

The Science Insights 2024 information session took place on Wed 13 March 2024. In it the team described the programme, how to apply and the support that is avaiable.

Watch the Science Insights 2024 Information Session

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

 

Who can apply to Science Insights?

We welcome applications to Science Insights if you are:

  • In your fifth year (current S5, moving into S6 in August) at a high school in Scotland
  • Able to attend in-person sessions on all five days of Science Insights week: Monday 22 to Friday 26 July 2024, from 10:00am to 5:00pm each day (includes scheduled breaks!)
  • Able to attend our online welcome session on Wednesday 19 June 2024, from 4:30pm to 6:00pm

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 pupils from a range of social, cultural and educational backgrounds. We use the information provided on application forms to do this, so please ensure you answer all of the questions as fully as possible. 

We realise that not everyone has the same ability to access this type of opportunity, and we are looking into ways to support pupils who may have difficulties accessing Science Insights, for example help with transport costs if you are unable to use your entitlement to free bus or coach travel to get to Edinburgh each day (lunch and snacks are provided each day of Science Insights week), or additional support during the programme if you need it.

There is a place on this application form to tell us about any additional support you might need to enable you to take part in Science Insights, and you can also contact us in confidence before applying if you have any questions or concerns about taking part by emailing scienceinsights@ed.ac.uk or filling out the contact form on our website. 

Providing this information 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.

 

How do we decide who gets a place on Science Insights?

Places on Science Insights are limited and we can only judge your application based on the answers you give us on your application form.

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

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

The three questions on the application form are 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 online 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 1 May closing date by emailing scienceinsights@ed.ac.uk

 

SCIENCE INSIGHTS 2024 APPLICATION FORM

Your personal details

If different from your first name - we will use this in all communications about Science Insights.
We like to know everyone's preferred pronouns so that we can make Science Insights as inclusive as possible.
This information helps us to make sure that Science Insights is accessible and inclusive.
We will only use this number to contact you during the Science Insights programme, should you be selected. We will use your email address for all contact during the application process.
Please let us know which Scottish local authority your school is in.
So that we can check that you are an S5 pupil at a Scottish high school, please give us the name of a teacher at your school who we can contact to confirm your identity.
Please provide your teacher's school email address so that we can contact them about your participation in Science Insights.
Please provide a daytime contact phone number (e.g. mobile or work phone number) for your parent/carer. We will use this in case of an emergency during the Science Insights programme, should you be selected.
Please include your house/flat number, street address and town/city.

We use the answers to these three selection questions to decide who gets a place on the Science Insights programme, so please think carefully about your answers and remember to make them unique to you. 

Please tell us what you want to get out of Science Insights and how you think it will help you afterwards [50-170 words]
Science Insights is a popular programme - please think about your own personality, strengths and skills, and tell us how they will make you a great fit for Science Insights [50-170 words]
Tell us a bit about yourself and why you like science [50-170 words]
Please select all that apply, and use the "Other" option if your subject choice isn't included in the list.
Please select all that apply, and use the "Other" option if your subject choice isn't included in the list.

We want to make sure that Science Insights is accessible for everyone, so please use the next part of the application form to let us know whether you might have any difficulty accessing the programme, and/or whether you might need any type of additional support to take part in Science Insights. 

Please be reassured that providing this information will not count against you in your application and we will try to help all successful applicants to take part in Science Insights, as far as we can.

We are keen to make Science Insights as inclusive as possible, and that extends to high schools pupils who are d/Deaf. Given advance notice we can arrange for BSL-English interpretation during Science Insights, so please let us know if this would be helpful to you.

We work with the University of Edinburgh's Widening Participation team to ensure that Science Insights places are assigned to students from a range of social, cultural and educational backgrounds. Please complete this section to tell us a little more about yourself.

Note that if you select ‘prefer not to say’ we will not be able to take that factor into account when considering your application. 

Estranged students are usually without the financial or emotional support of their family due to a breakdown in the relationship. We consider you to be care experienced if you have been looked after by a local authority at any time in your life. For more information see https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/access-edinburgh/carers-care-experience/care-experienced
We define a Young Carer as a young person who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member. This means caring for someone, who due to illness, disability, mental health issues, or an addiction, cannot cope without your support.

 

Data protection statement and further information – PLEASE READ

  • The Science Insights team will retain the details you have submitted on their database, as well as any future correspondence, and will use the personal contact details you have provided to contact you with information about Science Insights before and after the programme.
  • Your data will be retained for a maximum of seven years and may be used for the purposes of monitoring and tracking by staff at the University of Edinburgh.
  • Your personal data will not be shared with anyone outside the University of Edinburgh, although your school will be aware that you have applied for/have attended Science Insights.
  • Photos/screenshots may be taken during the Science Insights week and may be used in future publicity by the University of Edinburgh. If you are selected to take part in Science Insights, your parent/guardian must complete and submit a photo permission form.
Please select all that apply
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