St Andrews Research Internship Scheme (Formerly known as the Undergraduate Research Assistant Scheme)
The St Andrews Research Internship Scheme (StARIS) is aimed at giving undergraduate students the opportunity to enhance their learning experience by working on academic research projects with University faculty members.
Each School is allocated funding to spend on research assistants and are encouraged to employ at least 3 interns. Funding is awarded in blocks of 5 hours with each School allocated up to 30 blocks per academic year.
Schools are responsible for selection, administration, supervision, training and any ethical or safety clearances of their own assistants. Please note that each School may operate different deadlines to those specified within the application dates section of this page. Contact the Supervisor or DoR of the School you are interested in working with for further information.
The work undertaken by research assistants must fulfil the following requirements:
- develop the student's Graduate Attributes and Enterprise Capabilities.
- be academic in nature
- be research-based, i.e. related to either a research or a teaching project that is currently on-going or in advanced planning stages
Student eligibility, applications and payment
Internships are open to all University of St Andrews registered undergraduate students. Students in their last year of study must complete projects prior to graduation.
Each School will run its own internal recruitment and selection process and the application opening/closing dates may differ from those listed below. Students interested in the scheme should contact the Director of Research in the School or the staff member they are interested in working with.
Projects are allocated in 5 hour blocks and students are paid for each block of work completed (£11.08/hour). A student can hold more than one block, although no student should be asked to work hours that are incompatible with their studies.
Please note that, from the 2022-2023 academic year, student interns under the scheme will be engaged through Flexible Worker contracts by individual schools. Selected students will be subject to standard Right-to-Work checks and any restrictions under Tier-4 visas (if applicable).
Please also note that student interns must have a UK bank account to receive payment under this scheme and each School is responsible for making payment to their students on completion of the project.
How to apply and application dates (for Schools/Staff only)
Staff applications for running a project in Semester One of 2023-2024 are now closed. Please submit an application form for each project using this link: https://forms.office.com/e/HmTPpUD7Hg
Important note for students interested in the scheme: the above form is for staff use only. Information regarding projects running in your School will be circulated internally within your School.
Application dates for staff:
| Year/Semester | Application opening date | Application closing date | Reports due by |
| 23/24 - S1 | Monday, 28 August 2023 | Friday, 29 September 2023 | Friday, 19 January 2024 |
| 23/24 - S2 | Thursday, 4 January 2024 | Friday, 2 February 2024 | Wednesday, 22 May 2024 |
| 23/24 - Summer | Monday, 12 February 2024 | Monday, 27 May 2024 | Monday, 2 September 2024 |
| 24/25 - S1 | August 2024 | September 2024 | December 2024 |
Internships can span more than one semester within an academic year (i.e., semester 2 and the summer).
Completion of project
On completion of the project, could supervisors please fill out this Form and students this Form to provide a brief report about your project.
The St Andrews Research Internship Scheme will be recognised on students' Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR).