Recruit high-performing undergraduates to your 2024 research project 

The Laidlaw Programme aims to nurture our students into the leaders and scholars of the future. It gives current first year undergraduate students the chance to undertake training and six weeks of full-time research alongside UCL academics during summer 2024. 

These ambitious, high-performing students are fully funded by the scheme, and come to the researcher at no cost. 

Why supervise a scholar?

Supervisors and students both benefit from working together. Supervisors gain a junior researcher from amongst the brightest of UCL’s first-year undergraduates. Undergraduate students have a chance to gain leadership skills and research experience. 

The Programme awards up to £625 per supervisor to cover any project costs.

“A valuable experience... An opportunity for students to develop their research, analytical and communications skills.” Dr Alessandro Spano, Laidlaw Project Supervisor

The Laidlaw Scholars Network showcases past research by Scholars from across all participating universities. Hear from Elisya Muhamad Faizul on what it means to be a UCL Laidlaw Scholar on the Network's website.

Propose a project

Your project should:

• offer an interesting challenge to a first year undergraduate
• be sensitive to their current level of knowledge and skills
• be completed by the student within six weeks.

For full project guidance, see our information for supervisors. 

Find more information about the Laidlaw Research and Leadership Programme. 

Next steps

Complete the proposal form for summer projects 2024 by Monday 20 November.

Selected projects will be advertised to students from December 2023.

If you’re allocated a Laidlaw scholar, the student will work up the proposal with you into a full project outline by the start of the summer. They will then undertake the research over the summer.