Proposing a Placement Opportunity

Research in Practice Placement Scheme (RiPPS)

All NWSSDTP students whose funding commenced after September 2024 are expected to complete a three-month (13 week) placement during their PhD. This is an integral part of their NWSSDTP Studentship. Students can propose their own opportunities, but the NWSSDTP will also develop and publicise placements to students every three months to which they can apply.

Proposals for placement projects – from non-HEI partners, academic colleagues or Professional Services staff – are very welcome!

These placement projects could be a non-academic internship with a non-HEI (i.e. a non-university) partner (proposed by that partner or an academic with links to the partner) or an academic placement – either a research assistantship or a professional services project – within a university (proposed by an academic or Professional Services member of staff).

The key priority is that the project is a self-contained programme of work, utilising and developing a student’s research skills, which can be completed within three months.

For research assistantships, students should ideally undertake these outside of their own university. They cannot undertake a placement within their own supervisory team, research centre or home department.

Timeline

Placement opportunities will be publicised to students every three months, and they will have one month to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI):

  • Opportunities launched 1 February, for 1 March EOI deadline
  • Opportunities launched 1 May, for 1 June EOI deadline
  • Opportunities launched 1 August, for 1 September EOI deadline
  • Opportunities launched 1 November, for 1 December EOI deadline

Where possible, your project will be listed as part of the next tranche of opportunities after the submission of your project proposal. Where this is not possible, you will be notified of the indicative timeline.

Recruitment

Placement Providers will be involved in the confirmation / selection of a student to undertake your proposed project, alongside the NWSSDTP Placement Coordinator.

The following guidance is also available:

Contact Us

Any queries about placements should be directed to the NWSSDTP Placement Coordinator, Amy Connolly at ripps@liverpool.ac.uk