Q1: I'm an international student interested in applying for the international undergraduate summer school from the United States. Are travel costs included in the stipend provided or will students have to provide their own transportation to and from the program?
A: There are no travel costs included in the Stipend, however for students travelling from non EU countries we can help with up to 50% (£500 maximum) of the travel costs to and from the UK (i.e. at the beginning and end of the programme). Whilst on the programme the accommodation is within walking distance of JIC.
Q2: I am an international student and if selected will need a visa. Will someone be able to help me with this?
A: Yes we have a system in place that will help you through your visa application once you have been accepted on to the programme.
Q3: The international undergraduate summer school displays only a given set of research projects to choose from. Is it possible for the student to work with a group leader in any given department of the John Innes Centre, Earlham Institute or the Sainsbury Lab, whose name and research project is not available in the application form? Can this be done on request if the student is selected?
A: The only projects on offer are those listed. All Project Leaders were asked for projects for the programme and those that put them forwarded are the ones listed.
Q4: I would like to know if you could send me some more info about the program. Mainly on how to apply, payments, dates of work, etc. and basically WHAT the program is all about and HOW can I be part of it.
A: All the information your require is on the website http://opportunities.jic.ac.uk/summerprogramme/
Q5: I would like to know ideally when one should/can apply to your summer internship programme, and what the selection criteria and procedure for selection is for this programme.
A: Please go to the website http://opportunities.jic.ac.uk/summerprogramme/ all the information you require can be found here. Students will be selected on the basis of their personal statement, their CV, and the supporting statements and scoring provided by their referee.
Q6: I am highly interested in applying however my summer holiday is from May-July, which is not the same as the required for the programme. Is it possible for me to do this training programme during May-July instead?
A: I’m afraid there is no flexibility in the dates; all the students will have to be here at the same time as there are group sessions in addition to individual projects.
Q7: Is it possible to participate although I would have to leave two weeks before the end of the programme?
A: In order to qualify for this programme you need to be able to attend the whole programme.
Q1: I meet all of the eligibility requirements to apply but I am unsure about the one which says: should be registered on a degree course. What does that mean?
A: This means you need to be registered as an undergraduate at a university studying for a degree.
Q2: I just want to know if "international students" refer to students of all over the world, or is it restricted to Europeans?
A: The programme is open to undergraduates world-wide and is not restricted to Europeans
Q3: I was wondering if this is suitable for students in between their first and second years, or second and third?
A: Students between their second and third year are eligible, or third and fourth year if doing a 4 year degree. You are not eligible if you are currently in your first or last year of your studies.
Q4: I am currently in the first year of my undergraduate degree studying biological sciences. I was wondering if I would be eligible to apply for the undergraduate summer school?
A: Unfortunately not, as you do not meet the eligibility criteria since you are still in your first year.
Q5: I am in my first year of the international master’s programme in Vienna. According to the conditions of award on your webpage “Students at universities and educational institutions within the UK and abroad are eligible to apply but for instance, applications of first-year students, will not be considered.” Am I eligible?
A: Since you are in your first year on a Masters course you are eligible for the programme. Please submit your application on line.
Q6: I have done my masters in Biotechnology and was top in my class & very much interested in Biotechnology research field, but due to personal constraints I'm doing job since two and half years, right now I want to start my career in research field. I'm very much interested in this programme; am I eligible?
A: I’m afraid you are not eligible as you are not an undergraduate student.
Q7: I am currently studying a nutrition and biochemistry course (very little about plant biotechnology involved) and wondered if the lab skills involved in the training programme would be relevant to human biochemistry, and metabolism?
A: Yes the lab skills would be relevant; we cover a broad range of techniques that can be applied across all areas of science.
Q8: In Italy Biological courses are divided in a 3 years course, which ends with a graduation, and 2 years specialization, at the end of which students can work as Biologists. I am in the 3rd year, so want to clarify if I am eligible or not?
A: Please go ahead and complete the application form. We realise the University process is slightly different in non UK countries and do consider this when reviewing applications.
Q9: I'm a medical student from Spain and I'm greatly motivated to apply for your summer program. I've read the conditions and I think it's a great opportunity, but I have a question. As a student of medicine, do you think I'm suitable for this programme?
A: I am afraid medical students, and medical students studying for intercalated science degrees, are not eligible for this programme.
Q1: Is it necessary to find a supervisor before applying?
A: There is no need to find a supervisor at JIC/EI/TSL before applying, however you will need to choose three projects from the list. The project you are allocated will determine your supervisor
Q2: Does the referee have to be one of my professors from my university or may it be my supervisor?
A. Your referee needs to be someone from the University who knows you and who can comment on your academic ability. It could be one of your professors, however it may be that your university supervisor/tutor is more appropriate as this person presumably will know you better.
Q3: I don’t understand what you mean by ‘submit the e-mail address of a tutor/referee’. In Danish universities it is not very common to have an academic tutor. Therefore I need to ask a professor to do me this favour, before I do this how much work would my tutor need to do for my application and why can’t I just provide you with a reference letter? That would be a lot easier.
A: We require the email address of someone who could act as your referee; usually this would be a tutor, who knows you and your academic capabilities. The tutor needs to write a short reference, it shouldn't be much work. We ask for the tutor to submit the report themselves rather than through the applicant, this is normal procedure
Q4: In the application, under the section where one fills their CV, it also asks for exam results or standard and higher level results? Am I able to email my official transcript which includes the courses and marks received for them?
A: We cannot accept any additional documents apart from the online application. Please list your qualifications there. Put all the information you would normally put for a job application. We have many international workers here and can extrapolate overseas examination results to those of the UK system.
Q5: Would it be possible to send my GSCE and university exam results (bachelor's diploma) as JPEG? I cannot find a box for uploading these documents and was therefore wondering if I may send them to you via email?
A: You are right there is no upload button. It is not necessary for you to send us these documents. Please just list your qualifications on the online application form. Unfortunately we cannot accept additional paperwork.
Q6: You ask for exam results to be submitted as part of the CV. Don't you need official diplomas? I mean, I could just make up results if I wanted to?
A: We do not require official diplomas, and yes this is open to fraudulent claims of results. We would however hope that someone at the level of a university student would not lie about their qualifications - presumable the university will have already checked those in order for them to be accepted on the undergraduate course.
Q7: I am from Indonesia and have high passion about plant and microbial sciences. I am very interested with International Undergraduate Summer School at U.K, but I have a question about application process, what do you mean by GCSE, GNVQ, ‘A’ Level or Standard and Higher level results or equivalent?
A: Please fill in the online application form with the qualifications you would normally put on your application to University or for a job. We have experience in overseas students so will know what they equate to in the British system.
Q8: I'm currently completing an application for the International Undergraduate Summer School and have a question regarding the 'CV' section of the application form. Do you require a full CV including things like extracurricular activities, skills etc. or do I simply need to include exam results (as the form seems to suggest)?
A: Please include as much or as little information as you want. I would recommend that you fill it out as you would any other job application.
Q9: I would like to apply to your International Undergraduate Summer School. I want to ask if I should provide just a translated list of school subjects and marks and a list of my university academic transcript with final marks and paste them into my CV?
A: Yes just put everything you would normally put on the CV. We will know what you qualifications relate to in terms of the UK system.
Q10: I am a Chemistry International Student and I am very interested in the summer program, here you have my CV so please you can consider me.
A: The only way you can be considered is by using the online application process. Information sent to the email contact address will not be considered or added to your application.
Q1: How can my referee submit his report?
A: Your referee will be emailed and provided with a link to upload a supporting statement and to rate you against a number of criteria. They will be told that applications will only be considered once a reference has been submitted.
Q2: How do I know if my referee has submitted their report?
A: You will be emailed notification of when the reference has been submitted and your referee will have received confirmation that his/her reference has been successfully submitted.
Q3: Please could you let me know if you have received all of the required documents, particularly references.
A: You will receive email notification once your referee has submitted his report.
Q4: I have submitted my application but given you the wrong email address for my referee. Is it possible for you to correct this?
A: I am afraid this is not possible. The application process is automated so you will need to resubmit your application. The same is true if you have typed in your own email incorrectly.
Q1: Am I able to apply now the application deadline has passed?
A: I’m afraid there is no opportunity to apply once the application process has closed.
Q2: I tried to upload a reference today and found that I was too late. This is in no way her fault. Is there anything I can do about this?
A: I am afraid that once the deadline has passed your reference cannot be uploaded and the student’s application will not be considered.
Q1: I was very disappointed to hear that I was unsuccessful. Please could you provide me with feedback on my application?
A: Unfortunately we cannot provide individual feedback; each year we have over 500 applicants for 15 places.
Q2: What other opportunities are there in research at your Institutes if I am unsuccessful or not eligible for this programme?
A: You could consider JIC, TSL, EI as a place to do a PhD should you decide to embark on a career in Research after you have graduated. Information on all our PhD programmes can be obtained at http://www.jic.ac.uk/students/PhDprogs.htm
Updated 27th June 2016