Information for students
The Undergraduate Scholars Programme is an extra-curricular, non-credit-bearing programme of research for intellectually adventurous undergraduate students in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.
Programme summary
The Undergraduate Scholars Programme (or UG Scholars, for short) is not credit-bearing and open to students at all levels. Instead of earning a credit, you learn enhanced independent research skills and gain experience in interdisciplinary research design and presentation, as well as a host of other critical transversal skills, including teamwork, collaboration and digital literacy. Successful completion of the programme is recorded on your Higher Education Academic Record, which means that it appears on your final degree transcript.
The programme takes place during Semester 2 and involves 15 contact hours, including consultations with staff, training in research skills, the final presentation of research findings and a showcase celebration of all projects. You will write a short project design and risk assessment for your research, and receive training in general and project-specific research skills, with which you will receive academic and professional service support. An academic will lead your interdisciplinary research project, and the research will be undertaken in groups comprised of undergraduates from different years and degree programmes.
The UG Scholars programme is distinctive in the opportunity it presents to explore mixed level group work, interdisciplinarity, development of research questions, methods and modes of presentation - all within the remit of an overarching research theme or project devised by SALC academic staff. These features ensure that it differs significantly from other independent research work you will do in the course of your degree.
Projects and outputs
The projects we offer change every year. So far students have researched a diverse array of subjects, from transcribing, editing and researching an archive of Georgian letters to investigating LGBTQ+ histories. You can read more about past projects here.
The research outputs will be presented by the group to the project leader/s the week after exams finish in a “reporting session” in which you will deliver a presentation or similar practical assignment detailing the findings of your research. This practical output will receive detailed feedback from the project leader.
A celebratory Undergraduate Scholars Showcase will conclude the programme, taking place a week after the final reporting sessions. This will be attended by all on the UG Scholars programme and will be open to all student and staff colleagues to attend. Here you will have the opportunity to deliver your practical assignment and findings of your research to a wider audience, and you will also be presented with a certificate of your final grade.
How to apply
Applications will reopen in October 2026.
You can read detailed descriptions of the projects available here.
Once you have chosen a project, please complete the application form, which includes a space for your academic advisor to provide a written reference.
The completed application form should then be emailed to salc.iag@manchester.ac.uk by Monday, 9 November (date TBC). You will be informed of the outcome of your application week at the beginning of December 2026, with a view to starting the programme in February 2027.