How to Apply & Eligibility

Applications for the 2025 Laidlaw Leadership and Scholarship Programme will open on 1^st December 2025.  A link to the applications will appear live here in due course: Laidlaw Leadership and Scholarship Application Form

Please e-mail Laidlaw.scholarships@durham.ac.uk if you have difficulty in accessing the application from the 1^st December 2025.  Please note the Laidlaw team will not be available from 10 December  2025 - 5 January 2026.

The Laidlaw Team have scheduled information sessions for applicants to ask current scholars questions about their experiences on the Laidlaw Programme.

Details of the sessions and venues are listed below:

Important Dates for 2025-2026 Applicants:

• Applications close at 23:59 on 3rd February 2026. 
• Please note, staff are not available between 10 December 2025 -5 January 2026 to answer queries.
• Students shortlisted for either assessment day or  interviews will be notified no later than 19^th February 2026.
• Assessments will be held the on the  20/21 February  2026.
• Interviews will be scheduled between the 23-25 February 2026.
• Successful applicants are expected to attend an induction event on 29 April 2026. (Date and time TBC)
• Successful applicants will be invited to a welcome event on 8 June 2026.
• Successful applicants will have leadership development sessions on 10-11 June and 15-17, possibly 18th June 2026. All leadership development sessions are compulsory.
• Research Projects will take place between 22 June 2026 and finish by 11 August 2026. Research Project dates will be finalised between the successful applicant and their research project supervisor(s).

*Please note that the dates outlined are subject to change.

Eligibility: 

All undergraduate students in year one of a three-year degree programme, or year one or two of a four-year degree programme at the time of application, are eligible to apply. There are no restrictions on discipline/department, college, nationality or fee status (the programme is not open to visiting students). We particularly welcome applications from those under-represented, including people of minority ethnic origin, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ people, and people who attended state schools and/or are first-generation university students.

Application routes

There are two application routes for the Laidlaw Programme:

You will be able to choose to apply with either:

a) a self-defined project - allowing you to explore a topic you are interested in where you can develop your knowledge and academic expertise in this area. You will need to find a suitable academic to support you.

OR

b) an academic proposed project - projects proposed by leading academics at Durham University. You will develop your research proposal with the information provided by the academic in the respective project description. You can access the projects pdf here: Laidlaw Undergraduate Leadership and Research Scholarship Programme Academic-led Project Proposals 2026. 

Stage 1: Application Form

The application process comprises an application form and, for shortlisted individuals, an interview. In some individual cases, for those applying against a specific project listed by university academics or foundation partners, there may be an additional selection stage required.

For the application form, you will need to:

• Identify a research project in which you are interested and create a research proposal.  
• Follow all instructions on the application form and ensure you answer all required questions being mindful of the word count.

If you are applying with a self-defined project, you will need to find a member of academic staff who will be willing to support your application and supervise you throughout the 6-week summer project. You will be asked several questions about your project proposal on the application form. You do not need to identify an academic supervisor if you are applying to the academic proposed projects. 

• Design your research project. If self-defined, we advise that you seek advice and discuss your ideas with your chosen supervisor in the first instance; your project can be original or related to research that is ongoing in the University. If part of a larger research programme, your project must be designed to make a specific contribution. 

  If you are applying against a listed project from the academic-led projects, you must take the project description of the project given and provide more detail on what you intend to do with that project proposal, in line with the questions set out in the application workbook. You will also need to meet with the academic research supervisor for the project before completing your application.
• Write a research proposal. Your proposal will be assessed by an internal reviewer for the quality of project content, potential outputs, and viability for the 6-week timeframe given. Those applying with a self-defined project are advised to seek support in formulating and presenting their ideas from their chosen supervisor. To support you through this process, two writing workshops will be held in collaboration with the Academic Skills Resource Centre. Please note the dates above. 
• Check whether your proposal would require ethical approval. You should factor in additional time for this (it can take months to obtain approval). You must have approval before your start date, as a project without ethical approval (where required) cannot go ahead.
• Get an Academic Support Statement or Reference. Those applying with a self-defined project will need to obtain from their supervisor an "academic support statement" to confirm that they are happy to supervise you and support your application to the programme. Those who are applying against a pre-defined project, either from a university academic or a foundation partner, will need to get an academic reference. This should be a Durham academic who knows or has taught you personally (but should not be the supervisor of the Laidlaw project you are applying for). The pro-forma for these statements or references is available in the application workbook. It will be your responsibility to acquire these and upload them to your application. 

Guidance on completing the application form 

Project essential skills- For those applying against a pre-defined academic-led project

In their project description, each supervisor has given up to three essential skills which you should aim to demonstrate in the first question of your project proposal section, where you are asked to provide a description and outline why you are interested in this project. Try to give specific, clear and concrete examples.  

All applicants will need to meet with the research supervisor before submitting the application. 

Self-proposed projects

If you are proposing your own project, you must find a member of the academic staff to be your supervisor before applying. You will be asked several questions about your project proposal on the application form. You should consider these questions together with your project supervisor. Please give as much detail as you can.  

The panel will be looking for a convincing, logical and well-considered project which fits well into six weeks. However, the panel will not expect you to have worked out every detail at this stage. 

Check whether your proposal would require ethical approval-you should factor in additional time for this (it can take months to obtain approval). You must have approval before your start date, as a project without ethical approval (where required) cannot go ahead. 

How applications are judged

Once you have submitted your application, it will be considered as follows:

• Eligibility for the programme.
• The final selection is made by a Panel which considers the application form,  assessment/interview, academic reference, and supporting statement feedback from project supervisors.

Places on the Laidlaw Research and Leadership Programme are awarded based on:

• leadership potential
• Interest in making a difference
• motivation, and
• academic merit. 

You should aim to demonstrate these elements in your application form. Through the assessment process, we may limit the number of applicants from the same department. 

We will contact all applicants via email with the outcome of their application. Due to the number of applications received, feedback will be given to those who progressed to the interview stage of the application process, this will be general feedback.