Funding: frequently asked questions

As a (registered) UROP research experience offers distinct educational value to the participant and is undertaken in an educational environment, any payment which the supervisor may wish to make to the participant can be made to the student in the form of a bursary.

The same may apply to a third party sponsor.

A bursary is a contribution towards a participant's living costs. A bursary - which provides support for a UROP research experience at Imperial - is not subject to tax or national insurance deductions.

Yes.

A UROP is considered to be an extra-curricular educational activity at Imperial, and it is not work nor employment.

For any UROP undertaken from 1 January 2026, a supervisor (and therefore the host dept) must provide or facilitate a bursary (financial support) for the student. Proposed supervisors who are unable to provide a bursary from funds they have access to ought to be willing to support a bursary application to a third party, including Imperial’s scheme, any dept-level scheme or an external scheme where they exist. Please note that family and personal resources are not valid sources of a bursary. The host dept must identify the bursary when completing the registration procedure (form). Further guidance will be published on 1 January 2026.

Imperial encourages supervisors to assist students but students must not leave it to the last moment.

For some supervisors there may be industrial contacts who may be interested in supporting the planned UROP.

All students have to take into account that competition for sources of third-party research experience funding is by nature competitive and that deadlines will apply. You need to plan ahead since third-party sources of funding may be inaccessible by the time you think of applying! Remember also that many application procedures for third party sources of funding require your supervisor to contribute in some way (e.g. a project description).

If you wish to discuss these matters with the UROP Manager please feel free to email urop@imperial.ac.uk

Yes, of course.

London can be an expensive place to live, especially the rent on accommodation. Please do not underestimate.

A UROP (student) participant who is not an Imperial student cannot normally access [Imperial] student support (hardship) funds.

Ensure you do your homework!!

You may find Imperial's Student Financial Support webpages helpful in thinking of the costs involved in being a student in London, albeit for a short period.

Bursaries made available by the host supervisor/department:

• A weekly amount will normally be offered (or possibly an hourly amount if you are an Imperial student undertaking a term-time placement) by the supervisor, or perhaps a lump sum (all payable in one or more instalments).
• It would be for the student to decide if that is sufficient. You may be able to negotiate it upwards but most supervisors will have limited budgets or they may have departmental rules (or university-rules) to follow. The scheme has a maximum bursary value of £425 per week.

Third-Party Sources (Bursary schemes): Each scheme will normally set a weekly rate (or a maximum value) and the method (schedule) of payment.

This FAQ in particular will be subject to further guidance in January 2026.

Eligible undergraduate students of Imperial who received a bursary via the Imperial UROP Bursary scheme (2025) received approximately £407 per week depending on the source of the funding. The value of these bursaries is monitored against the London Living Wage.

The host dept can also be the source of a bursary (locally managed schemes; use of other appropriate funds). Supervisors (and their department) should note that £450 per week (updated December 2024) is currently the maximum amount payable in the form of a bursary for the purposes of a UROP research experience at Imperial (regardless of the source of the bursary). But remember that there are no deductions for tax or national insurance contributions as it is a bursary (i.e. the activity is undertaken in an educational setting).

Some depts might assist with specific additional costs related to the student undertaking a UROP, such as travel.

As mentioned elsewhere on this site, the expectation is that the supervisor considers the availability of a bursary for the UROP (whether they are advertising the opportunity or a student has approached them) and that a discussion is had on the subject of a bursary (it's sourcing; it's confirmation) before any UROP is finalised. The outcome of that conversation should be recorded on the UROP Registration form.

Where the source of a bursary is an organisation external to Imperial the supervisor/student must of course adhere to the terms and conditions of that Award. The value of external bursaries (for undergraduate summer research) can vary, i.e. there is no set regime.

For a UROP undertaken part-time during term-time then if financial support is provided it might be calculated by the host dept on an hourly or pro-rata basis (normally to a maximum of 6 hours per week).

This FAQ in particular will be subject to updated guidance in January 2026.

From 1 Janaury 2026, no UROP can proceed (i.e. be registered) without a bursary being in place prior to the UROP commencing.

This FAQ in particular will be updated in January 2026.

Ensure you have exhausted the conversation, and (if the planned UROP is in your own department) bring the situation to the attention of your Senior Tutor so that perhaps they might help you ensure that no stone has been left unturned. The UROP Manager is also willing to discuss the situation with you.

Imperial undergraduates can consider pursuing a UROP research experience during term time (pro-rata bursary payments might help a supervisor find the funds). Imperial undergraduates need to be aware that not all academic/research staff will agree to term-time UROPs, but to suggest it may show your enthusiasm and commitment.

Other students will obviously need to consider finding a research experience elsewhere. Not all UK universities have UROP schemes, but most academic depts will have some process in place for managing research internships. London is expensive and perhaps there are cheaper (living cost) options at some of the UK's other great research intensive universities.

Of course, if a student has left planning a UROP until after bursary competitions and other bursary avenues have closed then the simple answer is to reboot your search and look to next summer (assuming you are not graduating). Please don't be be put off trying to achieve your UROP goal, certainly if you are in the early years of your degree and have time to develop that network (and increase your chances of a supervisor funding a UROP from their own resources or of having a successful third-party funding application).

Another option for students is to think again about how (as an alternative approach) a curriculum work placement fits into your degree, and investigate whether paid employment opportunities are available in private research development companies or indeed public research institutes. Many of the goals of a UROP can be achieved by other routes.