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.

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.

Guidance

Full details of the scheme, including processes and deadlines can be found in the guidance:

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

Types of placement

Placements will generally take the form of either:

a) A non-academic placement with a non-HEI (i.e. a non-university) organisation; OR

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

Options for finding a placement

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 an opportunity 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

Training

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

Guidance for Potential Placement Providers

For organisations or academics interested in offering a placement for a NWSSDTP postgraduate research student, 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