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Department of Computer Science and Technology

Information for staff

 

Information for staff

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP)

Information for students interested in a UROP internship can be found here.

UROPs are an opportunity for Cambridge undergraduate students to spend a period of time over the summer assisting with research activities taking place across the spectrum of University Departments.

The scheme is open to any Cambridge University student provided that they have at least one full academic year of their undergraduate course to complete. UROP students are paid the National Living Wage of 8.21GBP per hour plus the appropriate holiday pay. Payments will be made to students subject to appropriate deductions for PAYE (Income tax and National Insurance contributions). The normal duration of a UROP placement is 8-10 weeks and students are expected to work 37.5 hours per week.

The UROP scheme is managed by the Department of Engineering and full details can be found on their website along with the details of the current projects being offered. If you have any queries about UROP scheme in general, please contact Vicky Houghton from the Department of Engineering. If you have any queries about the operation of the UROP scheme within the Computer Laboratory, please contact Mr Ben Karniely.

Notes for Computer Laboratory staff

Administrative responsibility for UROP in the Computer Laboratory lies with Mr Ben Karniely. Please find below a set of notes on procedures to follow:

  1. Advertise your project
    Email Vicky Houghton at the Department of Engineering details of your project which is to be advertised on the main UROP webpage. Details of the information required can be found on the main UROP webpage. Please copy [Javascript required] into the email.

  2. Obtain funding for your project
    Most UROPs are funded by the supervisors own research grants or external collaborators to cover the student's allowances and associated costs, any research costs and consumables. NB. The use of EPSRC research grants for UROP is not usually permitted.
    EPSRC annually provide Vacation Internships (formerly called Vacation Bursaries) from the DTP to fund science and engineering projects, shared among various Departments. It is possible to request for the project to be funded via EPSRC. Please note that EPSRC funding is limited to European Union nationals only. Some NON EU nationals might be eligible by virtue of being "ordinarily resident" in the UK other than for purposes of study (see Eligibility criteria on the EPSRC website).

  3. Recruit a student
    Once you have selected a student, you will need to negotiate the schedule of work including start and end dates with the student.
    Email [Javascript required] with the following details:

    Name of the student, CRSId, College, current undergraduate degree and year of study, duration and agreed start date of the project, the room they will be working in and whether they require a computer.

  4. Run the project
    Running a UROP carries the usual responsibility associated with supervising any undergraduate project work in the lab. The student will be required to complete weekly timesheets. Arrangements for UROP monitoring and payment are as follows:
    • UROP students will receive payments directly into their bank accounts.
    • Students are told on appointment that they must work to an acceptable technical standard and devote an agreed amount of time to the project. Supervisors should warn students if their performance gives cause for concern, and they may terminate the UROP if performance remains unsatisfactory.
    • UROPs will be terminated immediately should any student cease to be registered for the following academic year (e.g. by failing in the Tripos).

  5. Final report
    Supervisors will normally expect students to write up a report at the end of their UROP project. This is for the benefit of both staff (for their records) and student (as an essential part of their research training).