Learn from UCL researchers
Live sessions with academics who do medical research for a living. They take you from a first idea to a finished project, step by step. No research experience needed.
opening doors to research
Our Flagship Online Research Internship
Ten weeks, live online with researchers from University College London. You'll design and complete your own medical research project from home, with guidance at every step.
Our paths have crossed with:
Build your own medical research project in 10 weeks, guided online by researchers from University College London (UCL).
You'll learn how medical research really works, dig into topics like genomics and personalised medicine, and finish with a project of your own. You can then submit it to an international student research journal.
You don't need any research experience. We start from the basics, and by week 10 you'll have a project you can talk about with confidence in your personal statement and interviews.
Book your place
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Format
- Live online, Zoom
- Schedule*
- Sundays, 1 hr/week
- Recordings
- Always provided
- Ages
- 14+ (Years 10–13)
- Cohort size
- Limited
- Live sessions (*subject to change)
- 10–11am UK · 2–3pm UAE · 6–7pm Hong Kong & Singapore
- Next cohort
- Starts Sunday 22 November 2026
Bursaries and access places are available. If cost is a barrier, get in touch before you apply.
What you'll do over the 10 weeks
Every new cancer drug and every genetic test started as somebody's research question. Most students applying to medicine have never seen how that work is done. This is your chance to try it yourself, with people who do it every day.
Run your own project
Search research databases, read papers properly and judge the evidence. Then use those skills on a question you choose yourself.
See modern medicine up close
Find out how genetics is changing diagnosis and treatment, and take a virtual tour of one of the largest genomics labs in the world.
Present what you found
Turn your project into an academic poster and learn to explain it to scientists and to patients. Both are skills medical schools look for.
Get your work seen
Your poster goes up in our Research Metaverse gallery, and you can submit it to an international student research journal.
Leave with proof
A certificate of completion and a letter of support from UCL academics, ready for your personal statement and interviews.
Examples of student projects
Academic posters and patient leaflets made by past students. Click any of them to read it in full.
Academic posters
Patient leaflets
How this helps your application
Admissions tutors can tell when a student has really done something. You will have a project, a poster and a letter of support to show for it.
Reserve your placeWhere it makes a difference
- Personal statement: Write about a project you actually did: your question, your method, what you found and what it taught you about medicine.
- Interviews: Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial interviewers like to probe research. You will have a real example to talk through.
- Applying from abroad: Hong Kong, Singapore, the UAE or anywhere else: it is all online, and it counts for UK and international applications.
- Application session: Week 10 is about turning the whole experience into strong application material.
Programme curriculum: starts 22 November
One live session every Sunday at 10am UK time (2pm UAE, 6pm Hong Kong and Singapore), plus your own research in between. It fits around school.
Week 1: Introduction to Modern Medicine & Medical Research
Discover how scientific research drives advances in healthcare, from new treatments to personalised medicine, and explore what medical researchers actually do.
Week 2: Genomics & Personalised Medicine
Discover how DNA and genetic mutations influence health and disease, and how advances in genomics are transforming modern medicine. Explore how scientists use genetic information to diagnose diseases, predict health risks and develop personalised treatments tailored to individual patients.
Week 3: Scientific Literature, Critical Appraisal & Evidence-Based Medicine
Learn how to access scientific databases, find and critically appraise research papers, and assess the quality and reliability of scientific evidence. Discover how doctors and researchers use evidence-based medicine to make informed clinical decisions and guide patient care.
Week 4: Developing Your Own Research Question
Explore different areas of medicine and biosciences to choose a topic that interests you. Learn how to turn your ideas into a focused research question and develop a clear plan for your independent project.
Week 5: Virtual Tour of a World-Leading Genomics Laboratory
Take a virtual tour of one of the world's largest genomics laboratories. Discover how scientists sequence and analyse millions of DNA samples, identify genetic mutations and use this information to advance medical research.
Week 6: Science Communication & Academic Poster Design
Learn how researchers communicate scientific findings and develop your own academic research poster with step-by-step guidance. Build the skills to present complex scientific information clearly and confidently.
Week 7: Medical Research in Practice: Insights from an Oxford Researcher
Explore how research is conducted in real clinical and academic settings through a session with an Oxford doctor and researcher. Discover how research questions arise, how studies are developed and how findings can influence patient care.
Week 8: From Research to Patient Care: Insights from an Imperial College Researcher
Join a doctor and researcher from Imperial College London to explore how scientific discoveries translate into clinical practice. Learn about the challenges of conducting research and the role doctors can play in advancing medicine.
Week 9: Genetics, Artificial Intelligence & the Future of Medicine
Explore how artificial intelligence and advances in genetics are transforming healthcare. Discover how emerging technologies are helping researchers understand disease, improve diagnosis and develop more personalised treatments.
Week 10: Presenting Your Research & Preparing Your University Application
Present your completed research project in our virtual Metaverse Research Gallery and celebrate your achievements. Learn how to reflect on your research experience, identify the skills you've developed and bring everything together into a compelling personal statement and university application.
The order of sessions may change slightly to fit around our guest speakers.
Who this programme is for
Students aged 14 and over, anywhere in the world, with an interest in medicine, biosciences or healthcare research.
Applying to Medicine
Going beyond grades and standard work experience. A finished research project shows curiosity and independent thinking, which is exactly what top medical schools want to see.
Applying to Biosciences
Heading for Biomedical Sciences, Genetics or Biotechnology? You get hands-on research skills before you even start your degree.
Still deciding
Interested in science or healthcare but not sure which way to go? See what doctors and researchers actually do before you choose.
What past students said
I really liked learning about the future of medicine, and I finally understood how to read medical papers, which I always found daunting. I learned about a completely new area of medicine too.
I really enjoyed the virtual tour of the lab. I learned a lot from the different doctors, especially about genomics, and it was great to hear about their research and careers.
The personal feedback was a highlight. The mentors were approachable and their advice helped me sharpen my work and ideas.
My favourite session was learning to critically appraise a research paper. It will help in university interviews, and I'm already using it in my other projects.
Frequently asked questions
The things students and parents ask us most about the Research Internship.
Who can join?
Students aged 14 and over (Years 10 to 13) who are interested in medicine, biosciences or healthcare. You do not need any research experience.
When and where is it?
Online, on Sundays from 10 to 11am UK time (2pm in the UAE, 6pm in Hong Kong and Singapore), for 10 weeks from 22 November 2026.
What if I miss a session?
Every session is recorded, so you can catch up. We do expect you to come live when you can, because that is where the feedback happens.
What will I actually make?
Your own research project on a question you choose, written up as an academic poster. Past topics include skin cancer genetics, glioblastoma and ALS.
Do I work alone or in a group?
Both. You work on your own project with regular feedback from doctors and researchers, and discuss ideas in small groups.
What do I get at the end?
A certificate, a letter of support from UCL academics, a place in our Research Metaverse gallery and the option to submit to a student research journal.
Is financial help available?
Yes. We offer bursaries and access places. Get in touch through our contact form before you apply.
Book your place now
Ten weeks online with UCL researchers. No research experience needed.
- Starting date
- Sunday 22 November 2026
- Format
- Live online with recordings provided
- Live teaching
- Sundays, 10–11am UK · 2–3pm UAE · 6–7pm Hong Kong & Singapore
- Duration
- 10 weeks
Bursaries and access places are available. If cost is a barrier, get in touch before you apply.