Application Process
To complete the application form, you will need:
- A short research proposal for your topic of interest
- University transcript
- Personal statement
- Recent CV
- Details of your nominated referee
Your application must be completed and submitted by the application deadline of 23.59pm, Sunday 8 March 2026.
You must apply to this programme via the online application form. We will not consider applications which are submitted to us via any other means.
Guidance on finding a referee
When applying to a research experience programme, you will be asked to provide details of a referee in your application. When you submit your application, your referee will be sent an email asking them to provide a reference to support your application to the programme. Your application will not be considered completed until we have received your reference.
Why do I need a reference?
As part of your application to the programme, we ask for additional information from someone who is able to comment on your academic performance and potential. This information helps us to better understand your suitability for the programme, and it will be considered alongside the other information that you provide us with in the application form and interview.
The referee will be asked to answer questions or comment on the following areas:
- Your academic performance, academic potential and motivation
- Your potential for originality, creativity and independence of thought
- Your intellectual characteristics
- Your suitability for postgraduate study/research
- Your suitability for the programme
Who should I ask for a reference?
Your reference for our research experience programmes should be written by an academic from your undergraduate course, such as your personal tutor, dissertation supervisor, adviser of studies, module coordinator or lecturer. A referee should be someone you’re familiar with, who knows you and your work well. References should support your application, so choose a referee who can comment positively on your academic performance and your potential for further study.
An academic reference is preferred for all applications and is required if you have finished your undergraduate studies within the last two years. If you left higher education more than two years ago and are unable to nominate an academic referee from your previous studies, you can nominate a professional referee who can testify to your abilities in a professional context. A professional referee might be, for example, your current or previous line manager, a senior colleague, such as a director, who knows your work well, or a project manager for a project on which you’ve worked. They will normally be someone who has had responsibility for your appraisal and your delivery of work.
If you have any questions or do not have someone suitable who can provide a reference, please contact us at AH-Research-Experience@csah.cam.ac.uk and we will advise you further.
How should I ask?
We strongly recommend speaking to your potential referee in advance to make sure that they are happy to act as your referee. If you do not hear from them after asking, do not be afraid to contact them again if it has been over a week or so.
Referees must submit their references by the deadline. If your referee has not provided a reference by this time, your application will be withdrawn.
Once you have your referee’s permission to name them in your application, there are some essential pieces of information you should give them. These include:
- your full name
- details of the research experience programme you are interested in and which projects you are applying for (when applicable)
- your future academic plans
- anything you will submit as part of your application, for example your CV, personal statement, etc.
- how they should complete and submit the reference
- the application deadline.
To support your referee to write your reference, we recommend giving them plenty of notice and information about the research experience programme.
What information do I have to provide about my referee?
You will ask to be provided contact details for your referee in the application. When doing this, please make sure to:
- use your referee’s official university or employer email address
- check that your referee’s contact details are up-to-date and correct, as the inclusion of wrong details can delay the application process.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be selected according to the following criteria:
- Proposed project: You will propose a project in one of the supervisors’ areas of interest listed in Research topics and supervisors. It must be viable within a six-week timeframe and be well written.
- Academic Achievement and Potential: This will be evaluated through the candidates’ application form, university transcript, a reference, and an interview. Applicants would ideally be on track to achieve a final undergraduate degree grade of a strong 2:1 or first-class degree (e.g.: if your transcript shows year-on-year grade progression towards the upper range of a 2:1 or above).
- Contextual Information: We understand that factors such as socio-economic disadvantage can make it difficult for students to demonstrate their full potential. Therefore, we will use a range of contextual data that you provide in your application to help us better understand your achievements in the context of your particular circumstances.
Selection for the programme will take account of the following information, collected via your application form and personal statement:
- socio-economic information, including your financial circumstances
- any ongoing disruption that you have faced to your studies so far
- your undergraduate institution
Aspiring Researchers: AH will operate a waiting list in case any selected candidates are unable to take up their place. We will inform you if you are on the waiting list.
Shortlisted Candidates
If you are shortlisted, you will be invited to a short online interview currently planned to take place in early April 2026. During the interview, you will have the opportunity to further discuss your application and proposed project with possible supervisors.
More details regarding the interview will be provided to shortlisted candidates in due course.
Expectations
Successful candidates will be expected to:
- live in Cambridge for the duration of the programme;
- participate in a research project for 35 hours per week for 6 weeks on the dates provided (6 July – 14 August 2026);
- attend all training sessions organised for the programme;
- the programme might also include a number of additional events (such as career talks, presentations, and social events) which will take place outside normal working hours. You are strongly encouraged to attend them as part of your career- and cohort-development;
- commit to providing all requested feedback at the end of the programme so that we can improve it for future years.
Aspiring Researchers: AH aims to help you enhance your academic skills and to introduce you to the postgraduate experience ’at the University of Cambridge. At all times, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of research integrity.
Please note that the University of Cambridge, along with most other research-intensive UK universities, normally expects a minimum of a good 2:1 as an entry requirement for postgraduate studies, and many highly competitive programmes will normally expect a first-class degree. Participants of Aspiring Researchers: AH who decide to apply to the University of Cambridge will not receive any preferential treatment at the application stage.