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 the NWSSDTP Studentship.

Placements will generally take the form of either:

a) A non-academic internship with a non-HEI (i.e. a non-university) partner; OR

b) An academic placement – either a research assistantship or a professional services project – within a university.

NWSSDTP studentships already include three months’ worth of funding (stipend and payment of tuition fees) intended to support the student throughout the placement period. Any student who does not complete a three-month placement by the end of the third year of their PhD will have their studentships shortened by three months accordingly.

• Research in Practice Placement Scheme (RiPPS) Guidance [pdf] ¦ Research in Practice Placement Scheme (RiPPS) Guidance [Word]

NWSSDTP students may choose to:

a) develop their own placement opportunity, with the support of their supervisor.

• RiPPS Student-Led Placement Proposal Form

b) apply to one of a suite of opportunities the NWSSDTP organises and publicises

• List of Current RiPPS Placement Opportunities
• RiPPS Placement Expression of Interest Form

c) apply for an internship from one of the following approved external schemes:

• UKRI Policy Internships Scheme
• Open Innovation Team
• British Library PhD Placement Scheme

Before the placement

The NWSSDTP is working with the company How2Glu to deliver a Placement Training Programme, to equip our students to maximise the benefits of the placement opportunity. More information can be found here.

After the placement

After completing a placement, students are expected to submit an End of Placement report – with contributions from supervisors and placement providers – no more than one month after the placement concludes. Your RiPPS placement will not be considered complete until this report is submitted.

• RiPPS End of Placement Report

Reimbursement of expenses for approved Research in Practice placements can be requested at the end of each month of the placement or in one lump-sum at the end of the placement, using the following claim form:

• RiPPS Expenses Form

For non-university partners or academics interested in offering a placement for NWSSDTP students…

…please visit our Placement Provider webpage here!

Contact Us

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