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. Personal and/or family funding is not considered an acceptable source of a bursary. The host dept must identify the bursary when completing the registration procedure (form).

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, as Imperial undergraduates and undergraduates who either study elsewhere in London or are from London will be fully aware, 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 undergraduate 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.

Imperial has a policy regarding the payment of bursaries for UROPs.

Bursaries made available by the host supervisor/department:

• A weekly amount will normally be offered by the supervisor/host-dept. A host dept is expected to meet minimum requirements, and that normally means a bursary matches (pro-rata where necessary) the value of the majority of the awards managed by Imperial's central UROP bursary scheme.
• It would be for the student to decide if that is sufficient. You may be able to negotiate it upwards (the scheme currently has a maximum bursary limit of £450 per week) but most supervisors and depts will have limited budgets.
• If you are an Imperial undergraduate undertaking a part-time term-time only UROP then the bursary that should be offered will reflect the very part-time nature of the activity (maximum 6 hours per week).

Third-Party sources (e.g. bursary schemes; industrial funding; discretionary sources): Each scheme/source will be governed by its own rules but the outcome of any approved "application/approach" would be for a weekly rate (or a maximum value) to be offered alongside the method (schedule) of payment. Where the value is less than the norm the dept at Imperial should be willing to consider topping that up to Imperial UROP's minimum norm.

Eligible undergraduate students of Imperial who receive a bursary via the Imperial UROP Bursary scheme (2026) will receive a value of bursary as advertised. 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 a.) that the value of a bursary should match the weekly value of the majority of awards managed by the Imperial UROP Bursary scheme; and b.) that £450 per week (reviewed December 2025) 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). Please 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 (i.e. registered). 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. Where the value of the external award is less than the norm described above then the expectation would be for the host department to top it up to the minimum norm.

For a UROP undertaken solely part-time during term-time (Imperial undergraduates only) a bursary should also be made available and would be calculated by the host dept on a pro-rata basis (to a maximum of 6 hours per week).

From 1 January 2026, a UROP cannot proceed (i.e. be registered) without a bursary of the requisite value being in place prior to the UROP commencing.

As mentioned in an earlier FAQ, it would be up to the student to decide whether the value of the bursary was sufficient for the student to agree to proceed with the UROP.

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 staff (eligible to supervise a UROP) 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 experiences. 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.