Laidlaw Leadership & Research Programme – FAQs

 

Programme Timeline (Simple Overview)

#	Event name	Date
	Year 1 for Cohort of 2026:
1	Applications open	Early December
2	Application deadline for Cohort of 2026	February 3 by 23:5G
3	Application Assessment Days	February 20-21
4	Interview with shortlisted applicants	February 23-25
5	Induction session	April 2G
6	Welcome day for Cohort of 2026	June 8
7	Leadership development activities	June 10-11 and June 15-18
8	6 weeks Supervised Research	Late June and August
	Year 2 for Cohort of 2026:
G	International Conference for all Scholars at Imperial College London	October 16-18, 2026
10	LIA training and preparation seminar for summer trip	Late October, 2026
11	Leadership development training and Oxford Character Project	March 2027
12	Leadership in Action (LiA) (international internship)	Late June and August, 2027
13	Annual Laidlaw Scholars Conference	Autumn 2027
Exact dates will be confirmed to selected scholars and subject to change.

 

1. Is the programme funded?

Yes. The programme is funded and provides generous financial support in both years. Scholars receive a stipend of £3,000 in Year 1 to support living costs during the summer research period. In Year 2, scholars receive further financial support of up to £3,000 to support costs associated with the Leadership in Action (LiA) component, including living expenses during the international experience.

Across the programme, this represents up to £6,000 in total financial support, intended to help cover essential costs such as accommodation, food, and related expenses while participating in programme activities.

Please note that specific arrangements and eligible expenses are subject to approval and guidance provided by the programme team.

2. How time-intensive is the programme?

• During term time: manageable alongside your degree
• During summer research: full-time commitment for 6 weeks
• Leadership in Action (LiA): planned flexibly during your second year

The programme is designed to be demanding but realistic for undergraduate students.

3. What support will I receive during the program?

• Academic supervision during the research project
• Leadership training and skills workshops
• Ongoing support from the Laidlaw team
• Access to current scholars and alumni

You are not expected to do everything independently.

4. Who can apply?

• Students from all academic disciplines who are either:
  • in Year 1 of undergraduate study, or
  • in Year 2 of a four-year undergraduate degree
• Students in Year 2 of three-year undergraduate programmes are not eligible
• No previous research or leadership experience is required
• Motivation, curiosity, and commitment are more important than a “perfect” CV

5. What if my plans change?

• Research topics can be refined after selection
• LiA plans can evolve over time
• Support is available if challenges arise

Flexibility is part of the programme.

6. What does an “international experience” mean for international students?

If you are an international student who normally lives outside the UK but studies at Durham, completing your Leadership in Action (LiA) project in Durham will still be considered an international experience.

7. Do both my research project and my LiA need to be international?

No. Only the Leadership in Action (LiA) project must involve an international experience, which takes place during your second year.

Your research project does not need to be international.

8. Do I need to fully design my LiA project at the application stage?

No. At this stage, you only need to answer the two LiA-related questions in the application form. You are not expected to have a fully developed LiA project yet.

9. Do I need to submit a full research proposal?

No separate document is required.

You are required to complete the research-related questions in the application form (research topic, area of research, project summary, and potential impact). These questions together replace a traditional research proposal, so you should answer them thoughtfully and in a structured way.

10. What is the difference between the two research questions in the application?

a. Choice of research topic

This question focuses on the academic rationale:

• Why is this topic important?
• What problem, gap, or question does it address?
• What knowledge or outputs do you hope your research will produce?

b. Area of research

This question focuses on you personally:

• Why are you interested in this area?
• What motivates you?
• How does this connect to your values, experiences, or future academic or career plans?

In short: academic reasoning vs personal motivation.

11. The character count in the application form has changed — is this correct?

Yes.

The current character count is correct. An earlier version had a lower limit, which has now been updated to allow more detailed responses.

12. Do I need a reference or supervisor support?

• Pre-defined projects: require an academic reference

This should be provided by a Durham academic who is familiar with your academic work, such as a lecturer, tutor.

You will need to complete the form and send it to your academic tutor. Your referee should then sign it either electronically or return a signed scanned copy to you.

• Self-defined projects: require a statement of academic support from the supervisor who will support you during the 6-week research period

Require a statement of academic support from the academic supervisor who has agreed to support you during the 6-week summer research period.

13. Do I need to know exactly what my LiA project will be when applying?

No.

You do not need a finalised LiA project. However, when applying, you should:

• research examples of past LiA projects or centrally organised options
• clearly explain why you want to take part in the LiA component Your plans may change later, and this is completely

14. Do I always need to do a literature review?

Yes.

A literature review is a core part of any research project. The reading you do while preparing your application can be reused later, but you will also need to continue engaging with academic literature during the research period and in your final paper.

15. When does the international experience take place?

The international experience takes place during the Leadership in Action (LiA) component in the second year of the programme.

LiA typically involves an international project or placement, which is usually undertaken during the summer, following planning and approvals earlier in the year.

16. What is the difference between the summer research project and the Leadership in Action (LiA) project?

The summer research project takes place in the first year of the programme and focuses on academic research under the supervision of a Durham academic.

The Leadership in Action (LiA) project takes place in the second year and focuses on applying leadership skills in practice through an international project or placement, often working with partner organisations or communities.

17. Is the Leadership in Action (LiA) project compulsory?

Yes.

The Leadership in Action (LiA) project is a compulsory component of the Laidlaw Leadership C Research Programme and is required to complete the programme.

18. Why can’t I open some files on the application page (e.g. the presentation or referee form)?

Some documents on the application page are only accessible to users logged in with a Durham University account. If you are trying to open these files without being signed in (or from a personal email account), you may not have permission to view them. Please make sure you are logged in with your Durham University ID.