Summer Research in Maths (SRIM): How it Works
The steps below are intended to streamline the process of students applying for support from the bursary fund. With the exception of the Register your Project step they are not mandated for projects funded by other sources, but supervisors of such projects are welcome to make use of them (e.g. listing projects, using the common response date) if desired.
A summary of the dates and deadlines involved can be found here.
1. Appearing on the List of Pre-approved Supervisors
University Teaching Officers (UTOs) and College Teaching Officers (CTOs)
UTOs and CTOs are by default “Pre-Approved” as supervisors for undergraduate summer research projects and will appear on the list of potential supervisors unless you opt out via this webform. You will have the option to opt out until further notice or opt out just for summer 2026.
Appearing on the list of potential supervisors does not oblige you to supervise a project, or even to have a project in mind, but you should be willing to reply to students who contact you about the possibility.
The list of potential supervisors is organised by research area (as best we can determine).
As well as appearing on the list of potential supervisors we also welcome and encourage you to submit project proposals for listing on the website (see 2 below).
All other statuses
All other statuses (postdoctoral researchers, independent researchers, JRFs, Emeritus professors etc.) must submit a project proposal (via this webform) in order to participate (please see 2 below).
The project proposal is subject to approval by the programme directors and Heads of Department.
Before submitting the project proposal form:
- Postdoctoral researchers and independent researchers should discuss their planned project with their PI or host / Faculty mentor and secure their approval before submitting the project proposal form.
- Postdoctoral researchers and independent researchers who are new to supervising undergraduate research projects will need to secure a backstop supervisor who is a current UTO in the subject area (e.g. your PI or Faculty mentor / host).
- Emeritus professors will need to secure a backstop supervisor who is a current UTO in the subject area. This is to ensure that the research area is still active.
PhD student involvement
PhD students are more than welcome to be involved in undergraduate summer research projects, but not in the capacity of primary supervisor.
We encourage every project supervisor to engage a PhD student as a “project partner”: an additional point of contact with whom the summer student can discuss the project and who can also help to integrate the summer student into the appropriate research group / pavilion.
2. Proposing a Project
Projects descriptions can either be quite specific and well defined or a general outline depending on your needs / preferences.
To propose a specific project or a general outline for a possible project, please use the project proposal webform.
The deadline for proposing group projects - or projects to be listed with the Philippa Fawcett or Cambridge Mathematics Open Internship programme (see below) - is 12 January 2026. Individual SRIM projects will still be accepted and listed after this date.
Group Projects in 2026
Mathematics is an extremely collaborative subject and we believe that group projects where 2-3 students work together collaboratively on one problem more accurately reflects the experience they might have during a PhD in mathematics. Furthermore, feedback has shown that working together in a group is more enjoyable for summer students. Following the success in 2024 and 2025 of the Group Projects Pilot, for summer 2026 we are delighted to invite group project proposals from interested Faculty. Up to six will be selected (three from DAMTP and three from DPMMS) for pre-allocated funding: the students selected will not need to make a bursary application.
Choose which programme(s) to advertise your project with
When submitting the project proposal form - if submitting a specific project (as opposed to a general outline) - you will be asked which programme(s) you would like to advertise it with:
- Summer Research in Maths (SRIM): students on the Cambridge Mathematical Tripos only
- Widening participation internships:
- Philippa Fawcett Internship programme – intended for women, trans women, and non-binary students in mathematics currently studying anywhere in the world
- Cambridge Mathematics Open Internships – intended for students who have experienced some form of educational disadvantage and / or students from groups currently underrepresented in post-graduate study in mathematics. Applicants must be currently studying at a UK university other than Cambridge
If you are proposing a group project, you can select one or both options above (we encourage you to select both!)
If you are proposing an individual project for just one student you can select one or the other. Only a set number of projects will be chosen for advertising as part of the widening participation internship programmes (we will aim for a range of subject areas across DAMTP and DPMMS) and those projects will have funding allocated. For individual projects listed with SRIM, a bursary application will be required as in previous years (unless you have your own source of funding). Note: if you select the widening participation internships and your project is not chosen, it will automatically be listed with SRIM.
If you are proposing a project not necessarily intended for a group, but you would be in principle willing to supervise up to two students in the summer, you can select one or both options above.
3. Speak with interested students
Summer Research in Maths (SRIM)
After potential supervisors and projects are listed, students interested in doing a summer project will contact supervisors directly to discuss possibilities / apply for advertised projects.
Following discussion with potential supervisors, students should then submit the Expression of Interest form by Friday 27 February 2026 nominating a first and second choice supervisor, so please do try to respond to students with this deadline in mind.
Widening Participation Internships
There is no longer an Expression of Interest stage for the widening participation applications, but if you have listed a project with these programmes, you may be contacted by applicants who have questions about your project ahead of their application deadline (Tuesday 17 February 2026)
4. Decide who (if anyone) you would like to supervise
Summer Research in Maths (SRIM)
For reasons of fairness, we ask that supervisors refrain from committing to a specific student until after Friday 27 February 2026 so that all students have an equal chance to put themselves forward. It’s fine to say no a student before this, e.g. if their background is insufficient for the project you have in mind.
After the 27 February 2026 has passed and with it the deadline for students to submit the Expression of Interest form, you will be contacted by the Internships Coordinator with a list of students (and internship applicants if applicable) that have nominated you. You will be asked to confirm which student (if any) you would like to work with by Friday 13 March 2026. Ideally, you’ll provide a list of students with an order of preference.
Using your selections and order of preference as well as the preferences stated by the students on their Expression of Interest form, students will be allocated to projects by the Internships Coordinator. The six group projects selected for pre-allocated funding will be given priority.
Widening Participation Internships
After Friday 27 February 2026 you will receive all the applications that would like to be considered for your project. You will be asked to confirm which student you would like to offer a place on the programme by Friday 13 March 2026.
5. If necessary, apply for funding (SRIM only)
It is university policy that students undertaking summer projects / internships must be taken on as temporary workers and paid the National Living Wage (plus holiday pay). National Living Wage is predicted to increase to between £12.55 and £12.86 per hour in April 2026. Employer National Insurance contributions are taken for workers aged 21 and over
The estimated cost for an 8-week project in summer 2026 is therefore between £3958 and £4536 depending on the exact increase in National Living Wage and the age of the specific student recruited (employer National Insurance Contributions will be applied for students aged 21 and over).
We have a small fund dedicated to supporting summer research projects, however, we ask all academics in the CMS wishing to host a project to make an effort to find funds from grants and other sources to help cover the cost of the project. We also ask that students apply to their colleges for support (where available) and subsidised accommodation.
If support from the bursary fund is required, students must submit the bursary application form by Monday 23 March 2026. The application will require a description of the project as well as a supporting statement from you.
For more information on how to support a student in a bursary application including what we will consider when making decisions, please see the bursary webpages
6. Register the Project
Once you and a student have agreed on doing a project and have set the dates that the project will take place, the project will need to be registered. The student should submit the Project Registration Form. This ensures that your student will:
- have continued access to support facilities from the University (IT, library etc.);
- can be set up with access to any maths computing resources that are necessary for their project (access request will need to be made);
- receive information about events and social activities;
- be invited to give a talk about their project at the Summer Research Festival in October.
It is important that the faculty have a complete list of all student summer projects taking place in the CMS, so please make sure the project is registered even if your project is not funded by the bursary fund.
7. Supervise your Project!
Summer Research in Maths (SRIM)
Projects take place for up to 8 weeks between June and September. The project dates can be agreed between student and supervisor based on individual needs and availability, however, we suggest Monday 6 July to Friday 26 August 2026 as events will be scheduled around these dates.
Widening Participation Internships
Projects that happen as part of either of the widening participation internships must run between Monday 5 July to Friday 28 August 2026.
8. Submit Feedback
In September, we will write to you to ask for your feedback on your experience with the programme. Your feedback is very important to us and plays an important role in the future development of the programme.
9. Presentation Day
Summer Research in Maths (SRIM)
SRIM students will be invited to give a presentation at the Summer Research Festival (Monday 12 October 2026).
The Summer Research Festival is the annual showcase of the projects that have taken place in the Faculty of Mathematics over the summer.
Students are invited to give short 20-minute talks to share what they’ve been working on and what they have learned. All students who have worked on a project are invited to sign up and those in receipt of CMS bursary funding are expected to present.
Please encourage your student to give a talk and help them to prepare it!
Widening Participation Internships
Widening participation interns will be invited to give a presentation at the CMP Presentation Day (Wednesday 26 August 2026) rather than the Summer Research Festival. This is because this presentation day happens within the timeframe of their internship.
10. After your project
We love to hear about the ongoing impacts or benefits of successful SRIM projects! Perhaps the project will lead to a publication or to that student starting a PhD in the area in the future. Do get in touch to let us know via SRIM@maths.cam.ac.uk.