FAQ

University hosts must organise:

• the outreach and recruitment of research supervisors that will deliver their proposed research placement programme
• the call for student applications, review, and selection of students
• issuing of awards to students, drafting appropriate placement agreements with them, and providing training.

• Placements take place in the summer of 2026, concluding with a celebration event in September 2026.

For this round only invited universities already participating in the programme are eligible to apply. In future rounds we expect any UK university to be eligible. 

Proposals must be primarily focused on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, though they can include applicability to other disciplines. We encourage universities to be creative and deliver a programme that works and builds on the strength and capacity of their staff and students, as well as delivering maximum value to the undergraduate participants. 

The programme is primarily aimed at students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. However, depending on the demographics of the university’s student body, universities may broaden the eligibility criteria to include other underrepresented groups, such as (but not limited to) women, and individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

The programme aims to widen participation in AI research by addressing barriers encountered by these groups in progressing to advanced degrees and careers in AI.

The programme will fund research placement opportunities for eligible undergraduate students in the summer of 2026, to be hosted at selected universities.

Across universities, we will standardise some costs including:

• The student stipend: £441 per student per week.
• Student travel: £225 per student to cover the entire placement.
• The costs of events and activities: £250 per student to cover the entire placement.

In addition, we will provide universities with the accommodation costs (per student) and administration cost to plan and deliver the programme. 

• Universities open a call for student applications: January 2026
• Research placements take place: June 2026 - September 2026
• Celebration event: September 2026

If you have questions about the scheme that are not covered in this FAQ section or the guidance notes, please email the Research team.

If you are successful, your funding will be awarded under the RD&I Terms and Conditions found on the Academy’s website.
This agreement has been developed to ensure funding aligns with our Academy values, is used for the purposes for which it was awarded and is managed in compliance with our own funders’ agreements, UK legislation and funding best practice.