Applications are now open for the HDR UK–Wellcome Biomedical Vacation Scholarship

  • January 13th 2026

Applications are now open for the HDR UK–Wellcome Biomedical Vacation Scholarship (BVS) — a paid summer research placement designed to give undergraduate students their first hands-on experience in health data research. Hosted by leading organisations across the UK, the programme offers a unique opportunity to work on realworld biomedical and healthcare challenges while developing valuable technical and analytical skills.

What the Programme Offers
During summer 2026, successful applicants will take part in an immersive research experience that includes:

  • A paid placement, to include a salary at the real Living Wage and a travel/accommodation bursary
  • Mentorship and guidance from experienced academics, clinicians and data scientists
  • Access to HDR UK training and development resources, supporting both technical growth and personal development
  • A diverse range of project opportunities across the UK, varying in duration with options for in-person or hybrid placements depending on host.

Who We’re Looking For
The BVS scheme is open to undergraduates in the middle years of eligible degree programmes, especially those involving quantitative, computational, biomedical or healthcare disciplines.

As part of our commitment to widening participation and supporting a more diverse future research workforce, the programme prioritises applications from students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and those studying at non-Russell Group universities, while remaining open to applicants from all backgrounds.

Why Apply?
Past scholars have shared that the programme has:

  • Strengthened their confidence and career direction
  • Expanded their technical skills in research, coding and data analysis
  • Given them a clearer understanding of real-world research environments
  • Inspired further study, including master’s degrees and PhDs.

Key Dates
Application deadline: 23:45 on 19 February 2026

We encourage students to apply early and take time to explore the wide range of projects available.

How to Apply
Students can review all project options and submit their application via the application link provided on our website.

If you have any questions, our team is here to help — please get in touch at learn@hdruk.ac.uk.

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