UCL Centre for Ageing Population Studies (CAPS) Primary Care Undergraduate Internships 2026

We are delighted to launch the CAPS Primary Care Undergraduate Internships, University College London (UCL) funded by the British Geriatrics Society & Vivensa Foundation.

This is an exciting, funded summer research opportunity for undergraduate medical students with an interest in a career in academic geriatrics and/or primary care to spend a 6-week placement at UCL. 

There are three summer internships available to work on a research project related to ageing & primary care. More information on the range of projects on offer can be found below. 

Internships are open to medical students with an interest in ageing research from any undergraduate medical school in the UK 

  • Undergraduate students ONLY are eligible to apply (including those in their final year)
  • Research placements will be hybrid (in-person/online) – all students will be expected to be able to attend on-site at the Department of Primary Care & Population Health, Royal Free Site, UCL, London NW2 2PF
  • We encourage applications from underrepresented groups and students who have had fewer opportunities for exposure to research
  • Students who have previously undertaken an undergraduate research internship are not eligible to apply
  • The rate paid to all interns will be the London living wage of £14.80/hour for up to six weeks (can be undertaken full-time or part-time). No other costs (e.g. accommodation) will be paid.
  • There will be a limited training budget for expenses (such as conference attendance, courses etc)
  • Placements can start from Monday 8 June 2026 and must be completed by 30 September 2026.
  • We particularly encourage applications from UCL Widening Participation criteria:
    • Applicants whose parents or carers did not attend university
    • Applicants from groups currently underrepresented in Higher Education, i.e. forced migrants, young carers, students estranged from their families, care experienced students and disabled students
    • Applicants from ethnic groups currently underrepresented at UCL, i.e. Black African and Black Caribbean students and students from Gypsy and Traveller communities

The deadline for applications is 9am on 29 April 2026

Click here to apply

No late applications will be accepted. Applications will be assessed by the CAPS team and we will aim to notify applicants of the outcome by Fri 8 May 2026. We are unable to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Projects on offer

Project 1: How is delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) recognised in the community and what is the impact on carers and people with dementia? Alice Burnand supported by Prof Kate Walters

Delirium and dementia are distinct conditions, though they may present with overlapping symptoms, making diagnosis challenging. Unrecognised and untreated delirium in people with dementia poses a significant risk and is known as delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD). It can exacerbate cognitive decline, increase mortality and hospitalisation rates, and lead to emotional distress for carers.

Aim

This study aims to understand how DSD is recognised by family carers and healthcare professionals in community settings, as well as the impact of DSD on family carers and people with dementia.

Methods

This project uses a mixed-methods approach, consisting of interrelated studies:

· Family Carer Survey: A quantitative survey to collect data from at least 50 family carers of people with dementia who have experienced delirium in the community.

· Qualitative Study: Semi-structured interviews with up to 20 family carers and focus groups with up to 20 healthcare professionals to explore their experiences and perspectives on DSD.

Internship

The undergraduate will support organisation and running of the focus group with healthcare professionals and contribute to qualitative thematic analysis of the transcript and writing of the manuscript.

Project 2: Co-design of a care planning information resource for South Asian people with dementia, Dr Pushpa Nair supported by Dr Megan Armstrong

This project will be moving into co-design phase next year, building on ethnographic work to understand experiences of South Asian people with dementia towards end of life. Four co-design workshops will be organised including carers, professionals, and people living with dementia. The aim of the workshops will be to co-design a care planning information resource for South Asian people with dementia.

There would be an opportunity for students to assist me with planning, running and analysing the session, as well as potentially getting involved with some aspect of the design of the resource.

Internship

The undergraduate will contribute to the planning, running and analysing of the co-design workshop and have the opportunity to contribute to future aspects of the design of the resource.

Project 3: Personalised care and support planning for people with dementia without informal carers, Gianna Kohl, supported by Dr Sarah Griffiths

A rapidly growing number of people with dementia live alone, with no informal carer (close relative or friend) to provide support with health and wellbeing, e.g., helping with appointments, social activities, and keeping safe. Little is known about their needs, but they are at greater risk of physical and mental health difficulties, including malnutrition and loneliness, than those with informal carers. They see doctors less, have more unplanned hospital admissions and move into care homes earlier.

Aim

Address challenges of personalised dementia care planning involving people without informal carers, by:

1. Understanding their needs and strengths; How primary care teams can best work with this group, to create personalised care plans; and How primary and social care teams can best work together to do personalised care planning.

2. Developing care planning resources to support professionals and people with dementia.

Methods

· Interviews with up to 30 people with dementia without informal carers and 35 primary and social care professionals.

· Observations of 15-20 care planning conversations between people with dementia without regular informal carers and professionals.

Internship

The undergraduate will contribute to interviews including transcription, developing coding and qualitative analysis.

Project 4: Scoping review of health and care adaptations for managing dementia in the context of multiple long-term conditions, Dr Tasmin Rookes supported by Dr Kumud Kantilal

Dementia commonly co-occurs with multiple long-term conditions, yet most health and social care systems are organised around single-disease models. This mismatch exacerbates care fragmentation, polypharmacy risk, reduced access to specialist services, caregiver burden, and poorer health outcomes.

Aim

To examine (a) the strategies used by health and care providers to support people living with dementia alongside multiple other long-term conditions; (b) barriers and facilitators to delivering or managing care in this context; and (c) the evidence for impacts of service adaptations.

Methods 

Systematic search of multiple databases e.g., Pubmed, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO and Web of Science, plus citation tracking to identify additional relevant studies. Inclusion criteria: English-language publications involving adults (18+) living with dementia and at least one other long-term condition, across any health or care setting, all study designs and publication types. Data will be charted and thematically analysed to identify patterns in care strategies, barriers and outcomes.

Internship

The undergraduate will support database searches; title, abstract and full text screening; data extraction; and analysis and synthesis of findings. The intern will have the opportunity to attend department seminars and contribute to the publication of the study protocol and/or findings where appropriate.

Project 5: Improving timely identification and support for Young-Onset Dementia in primary care (DETECT-YOD), Dr Phil Stone supported by Dr Cini Bhanu

This project will utilise routine primary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) to examine trends in young-onset dementia incidence and prevalence in the UK over the past twenty years by age, sex, socio-demographic status and ethnicity. A series of stakeholder workshops will explore social problems related to young-onset dementia that may be present and be missed in primary care. These social problems will be explored in CPRD to contribute to future interventions for improving detection.

Internship

The undergraduate intern will learn about routine primary care data, contributing to creating code-lists from the social problems that arise in the stakeholder workshops and data analysis, visualisation and interpretation. The intern will also contribute to ongoing Patient & Public Involvement (PPI) and dedicated Equality Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) meetings to steer the work streams according to patient priorities.