Postgraduate Research Experience in the Humanities and Social Sciences in Cambridge 2026

Main Duties

Who can apply?

Applications are open to those ordinarily resident in the UK and currently in the penultimate year of an undergraduate degree at a UK or Irish university.

Undergraduate students from backgrounds currently under-represented in Higher Education, who have not had the opportunity for significant research experience will benefit most from the programme. Applicants will be selected based on their academic achievement and potential in the context of their education to date.

Which degree subjects are needed to take part in these projects?

Depending on the research project, we will consider applicants from a wide range of degrees. For example, in previous years, interns have been studying Politics, International Relations, Law, Criminology, Psychology, Education, Sociology, History, Archaeology, Linguistics, English Literature, Media and Culture, and Actuarial Sciences.

This year, as well as projects which do not specify any particular degree background, we have projects for students/graduates from Education and Geography.

You may find it helpful to see that a wide range of departments participate in the CAM Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), which is hosting the SHARE programme.

What research will I be working on?

We are famous for our research excellence and innovation, and home to some of the most talented researchers in the world. We’ll ask about your research interests on the application form, and you can put yourself forward for any of our projects.

See what sort of research you could be working on this summer.

2026 research projects

What will the internship offer the student and what will they learn while they are with you? E.g. skills they could learn/develop and experience they could gain.

Experience research in Cambridge this summer

Apply now for our postgraduate research experience programme and take part in a university research project in the humanities and social sciences in Cambridge.

When?

Our research experience placement runs for 4 weeks from 6 July – 31 July 2026

What does it involve?

You’ll work on a research project supervised by academics and researchers in our extensive facilities.
During the placement you will:

• Engage with inspiring social science and humanities research staff and students at leading regional universities

• Enhance your research skills

• Receive advice on opportunities for further postgraduate study and research careers

• Receive information on how to make a competitive application for postgraduate study in the humanities and social sciences

• Receive a payment of £1779 for the four-week programme, equivalent to the National Living Wage (£12.71 per hour before tax from April 2026)

• Have access to free accommodation provided by Gonville & Caius College