How to apply

Applying for Science Insights (Mon 17– Fri 21 July 2023)

Science Insights is ONLY for current S5 pupils at high schools in Scotland, who will be entering S6 in August 2023.

40 places are available and these will be assigned after the closing date (1 May 2023) and NOT on a “first come, first served” basis.

If you’d like to apply for a place, please complete the form below by 17.00 on Monday 1 May 2023. If you have any questions and/or require the form in a different format please contact us.

Please note that there will be an online information session on 16 March 2023 at 16.30.

Sign up to the online information session on 16 March

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.

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 17 to Friday 21 July 2023, from 10:00am to 5:00pm each day (includes scheduled breaks!)
Able to attend our online welcome session on Wednesday 21 June 2023, from 4:30pm to 5:30pm

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 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 (lunch and snacks are provided each day of Science Insights week). 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.

Bursaries

This year for the first time SSERC and Nuffield can provide funding, where appropriate, for students attending Science Insights Course. Details will be shared with successful applicants.

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 a bit about you, and show that you are:

Enthusiastic 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
Why we should choose you to take part
What you do to pursue your interest in science outside of school

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 by emailing scienceinsights@ed.ac.uk.

UoE Summer School exclusively for Deaf and Hard of Hearing S5/S6 pupils, Tues 13 - Thurs 15 June. Places are limited. Apply by 6pm Friday 26 May.

Summer School for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students

SCIENCE INSIGHTS 2023 APPLICATION FORM

Full Name *

Gender *

Female

Male

Other

Prefer not to say

Date of Birth *

Day

Month

Year

Your email address *

We will use this email address to contact you about Science Insights, so please make sure you have entered it correctly and that you check your emails regularly!

School *

Teacher name *

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.

Teacher email address *

Please provide your teacher's school email address so that we can contact them about your participation in Science Insights.

Mobile Phone Number *

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.

Parent/Carer Contact Number *

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.

Parent email address *

Home Address *

Please include your house/flat number, street address and town/city.

Home Postcode *

What do you hope to gain by taking part in Science Insights? *

Please tell us what you want to get out of Science Insights and how you think it will help you afterwards [50-170 words]

Why should we select you for Science Insights? *

Science Insights is a popular programme - please tell us why we should choose you [50-170 words]

What got you interested in science and what do you do outside school to follow that interest? *

Tell us a bit about yourself and why you like science [50-170 words]

Please list the Highers/National 4/5 courses you are studying in S5 (subjects & levels) *

Please select all that apply, and use the "Other" option if your subject choice isn't included in the list.

If you are considering further/higher education, what subject(s) are you thinking of studying? *

Please select all that apply, and use the "Other" option if your subject choice isn't included in the list.

Science Insights will run as a week-long series of in-person events each day from Mon 17 to Fri 21 July 2023 at locations on four of the University of Edinburgh's campuses. There will also be an online welcome event on Wed 21 June 2023 so that you can meet the Science Insights team and the other people on the programme.

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.

Please tell us, in confidence, if there are any financial or practical barriers to you taking part in Science Insights

Do you require BSL/English interpretation? *

Yes

No

Please tell us, in confidence, if you need any additional support to take part in Science Insights

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.

Are you a member of the Reach Edinburgh project at the University of Edinburgh? *

Yes

No

Don't Know

Prefer not to say

Are you a member of the Reach: Scotland project at another university (i.e. not University of Edinburgh)? *

Yes

No

Don't Know

Prefer not to say

Did either of your parents attend university? *

Yes

No

Don't Know

Prefer not to say

Are you/will you be eligible in S6 for EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance)? *

Yes

No

Don't Know

Prefer not to say

Are you/will you be eligible in S6 for free school meals? *

Yes

No

Don't Know

Prefer not to say

Are you/will you be eligible in S6 for LEAPS (Lothians Equal Access Programme for Schools)? *

Yes

No

Don't Know

Prefer not to say

Are you care experienced or estranged from your family? *

Yes

No

Prefer not to say

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

Are you a young carer? *

Yes

No

Prefer not to say

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.

Are you a refugee or asylum seeker? *

Yes

No

Prefer not to say

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 may be made 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 tick this box to confirm that you agree to the above *

I agree

How did you hear about Science Insights? *

Please select all that apply

We'd like to keep you up to date about other relevant events at the University of Edinburgh - may we add you to our mailing list? *

Yes please

No thanks

I consent to the University processing the information I provide. *