Programme Overview

Two part-funded places are available for this programme for undergraduate students only. Successful students will attend the Summer School from 06 July - 07 August 2026). The application form is in the purple section at the bottom of this page. The deadline for applications is Thursday 29 January 2026 at 23:59.

Call Details

POSTECH Summer Program is an opportunity for STEM students to gain first hand research experience through the 4 week summer programme in summer 2026. Individual research and other activities will allow students to explore the academic field of their interest. This opportunity is open to STEM students from departments including Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, Mathematics and Physics.

Why participate?

Students who successfully apply for the scheme will have the chance to experience:

• Intensive Research (min. 20 hours per week) with a POSTECH Advisor
• Social & Culture Program (once a week)
• Korean Language Course (optional, approx. 150 USD)

What are the costs?

The students nominated by Durham to participate will be considered exchange students and will not have to pay the Summer Program admission and program fee to POSTECH (usual cost is KRW 1,600,000).  Research and enrichment activity fees are covered by POSTECH. However, all participants will have to meet costs associated with:

• Visas c. $40 USD
• Accommodation c. KRW 700,000 for the 6 week period

What funding is available?

Two part-funded placements are available.

• 1 place is ring fenced for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who meet the University's definition of Widening Participation (see 'Widening Participation' below). This student will receive a Turing living grant of £21 per day plus the travel funding offered by POSTECH. 
• 1 place is available to students from any background. This student will only receive the travel funding from POSTECH.

The POSTECH travel funding is for a return airfare to Korea. Students will not be able to claim Turing travel funding (under double funding rules).

Eligibility

Interested students need to meet the following eligibility criteria. At the point of expressing interest in this initiative students must:

• Complete the Widening Participation check (link in the application form);
• Have already have completed at least one year of their degree. Typically students will currently be in second year (though some students on four-year integrated Masters programmes may apply in third year);
• Have one full year of study remaining at the time of the prospective internship (summer 2026);
• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Have a minimum weighted average of 60% or higher for their most recent academic year, equivalent to a low 2:1;
• Be able to spend 4 weeks from 06 July to 07 August 2026 in Korea.

Fair Access

Fair Access: This initiative is open to any Durham student who meets the eligibility criteria above.  Expressions of interest are particularly welcomed from students from backgrounds where participation in study or work abroad is traditionally low. This includes students who: have received or are eligible for the Durham Grant Scheme; have participated in the Supported Progression Scheme or Sutton Trust Summer school at Durham University; are from a minority ethnic group; have a home address in an area of low progression to higher education (i.e. your postcode is listed '1' or '2' in the Polar checking tool.

Widening Participation

For the purposes of funding, the University's definition of Widening Participation includes:

How to apply

Please note that completing the 'register to apply' form is only the first step of a longer two-step application process. Students must:

1. Apply to Durham, who will select up to two students to nominate to POSTECH
2. Nominated students will then have to complete an application with POSTECH

If you do not complete step 1 and directly apply to POSTECH you will not be considered an exchange student (and you will be charged the associated Summer School fees).

1. Application to Durham

The application form (in the purple section at the bottom of this page) will ask for:

• Personal details;
• Upload of a Transcript of Marks indicating that you meet the 60% average requirement;
• Declaration of whether you meet the University's Widening Participation criteria.

The deadline for applications to Durham is 23:59 on Thursday 29 January 2026. 

Selection by Durham

All applications will be vetted by Durham to ensure that they meet the eligibility criteria. Each eligible application will be given a unique number with successful applications selected using a random number generator. Students will be notified whether they have been successful after 30 January 2026. 

2. Application to POSTECH

Once you have been nominated by Durham you will receive information from the Global Opportunities team on how to apply. The deadline to complete the application to POSTECH is 15 February 2026.

Further Information

POSTECH application process (please do not apply until you have been nominated).