Many students do a summer research internship at some point during their course and we very much encourage this. It is an opportunity to find out what research is really like in practice and to explore avenues that you may be interested in pursuing after your degree.

Internships provide important insights into how research is done and whether the internee has the necessary qualities, intellectual curiosity and ability, enthusiasm, initiative, independence and ability to work in a team, self motivation, energy and ability to design and carry out experiments to be a successful researcher.

Most undergraduates find their research project one of their most enjoyable parts of their course, and this leads many to choose a PhD career. The most successful PhD candidates tend to be those who have had prior research experience, although academically strong candidates with only undergraduate project experience are also very good candidates. Those who have done internships might be preferred for some PhD Studentships for various reasons, e.g. potentially better understanding of research, increased maturity, experience of a variety of research methods and experimental approaches, more opportunities to solve problems, increased confidence, etc.

There are a huge number of opportunities for internships available to Biochemistry students, in our Department, the wider University of Oxford, the UK and abroad, and a large pool of potential funders. Placements may be part of a formal programme which offers scientific and social activities in addition to the research component, or simply a period in a lab. Funding can provide accommodation and living expenses and may also include support for travel, and costs to cover some of the research expenses for the lab. Funding for placements is available from the department but also from other sources including charities, professional organisations, research councils, and industry. In addition, a wide range of research institutes in the UK and abroad offer formal summer student programmes with deadlines ranging from January through to March. For more details about all of these, see the information below and the Careers Service website.

Internships within the Department and our students' experiences

List of studentships within the University

List of studentships within the UK

List of studentships outside the UK