Summer Scholarships

Applications are invited for research bursaries intended for undergraduate students wishing to pursue a summer research project in the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, starting June 02, 2026, and ending June 29, 2026, at the latest. Each bursary has a value of €1,300, and the corresponding working load is four days per week for four weeks.

These internship bursaries are available to undergraduate students of any nationality and university, provided they are residents in the EU. Preference will be given to students in the penultimate year of their undergraduate studies. 

The interns will work under the supervision of an experienced researcher within the School. They must deliver a presentation on their work to the school during the course of the four weeks and submit a report at the end of the summer. 

Application Procedure 

To apply for a bursary, students should find a supervisor within the school who is willing to supervise them for a 4-week summer project. The project should start on June 02, 2026.

Students should email a single pdf file to Dr Neil O’Leary neil.oleary@universityofgalway.ie with: 

1. The name of the proposed project supervisor. 
2. A lay or plain English summary of the research project (80 words maximum). 
3. A more detailed description of the research project (250 words maximum).
4. A table containing percentage grades for all university modules completed to date. Provisional results for Semester 1 of the current academic year should be included. 
5. Up to 5 references in a bibliography and one figure or image.

Students should also ensure that the proposed supervisor sends a short letter of recommendation to neil.oleary@universityofgalway.ie. There is no official application form. 

Application Deadline 

Thursday April 16, 2026, at 5 pm. 

Evaluation 

Applications will be evaluated and ranked by the School's Research and Graduate Studies Committee.  Offers will be made to candidates by April 30th.

We will grade each application in the following three categories. The numbers in parenthesis are the weight assigned to that category:

1. Description of the research project (10): among other considerations, marks will be awarded for a well-structured proposal with goals that are clearly specified and achievable within the given timeframe.
2. Supervisor recommendation (5)
3. Academic track record of the student (5)
   
   

Other internships 

Mathematics education internship

Description:

• An internship intended for a student currently in their fourth year to provide an opportunity to reflect on their experience of undergraduate Mathematics at the University of Galway and learn about Mathematics curriculum development and improvement.
• Pedagogical research into degree programmes and pathways offered by the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, including overlap, coherence and completeness. Comparison with 'core' mathematical curricula in other institutions. Enhance this with an indication of suitable subsequent postgraduate offerings.
• Carry out interviews with members of staff, regarding emerging areas of mathematics that should be included in School programmes and other opportunities for innovation in the curriculum, including opportunities to embed sustainability as a core university value in our curriculum.
• Convene focus groups online with fellow students .

Outcome:

• Produce a report describing current mathematical pathways and programmes along with recommendations on potential improvements to the School undergraduate programmes.

Contact:

• Please contact Dr Kevin Jennings jennings@universityofgalway.ie if you are interested in this opportunity. Deadline: Thursday April 16, 2026, at 5 pm.