Summer Program

GENERAL INFORMATION
The Harvard-Cambridge Scholarship Committee offers 8 to 12 summer scholarships to undergraduates for supervised research or study at Cambridge University. Scholarship awards provide for the expenses associated with the summer experience and include travel to and from the U.K and room and board at either Trinity College or Emmanuel College. The research or study must begin in late June and last at least eight weeks.

The specific research of study proposed by the applicant must be conducted under the supervision of an advisor who is an instructor, fellow or researcher associated with Cambridge University or one of its colleges, or a research facility associated with the University. Applicants are responsible for identifying, contacting and securing the agreement in writing of the advisor to supervise the proposed research or study. (Trinity College customarily sends us a list of faculty members associated with it that have projects for which they are seeking research assistance and this list is made available in January to interested applicants through the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships.) 

Pembroke and King's Colleges have a summer school program that offers various academic programs and the Committee has in the past awarded one or more summer scholarships to undergraduates who have been accepted into that program and are seeking financial support to participate in it. However, as with its other scholarships recipients, and by agreement with the administrator of the Pembroke-King's program, room and board is provided at Trinity College or Emmanuel College. The Committee also awards one summer scholarship on the recommendation of the A.R.T., for an internship in the theater arts at the Gate Theatre in London.

Recipients of the summer scholarships are required to prepare a brief report on their experience in the fall upon their return. These reports are maintained in the Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Students interested in applying for a summer scholarship are encouraged to review some of these reports which provide detailed information on the benefits of the experience and identify individuals and research facilities at Cambridge that have sponsored students in the program in the recent past.

SELECTION CRITERIA 
There is no requirement for a particular grade point average or set of achievements. The Selection Committee favors applicants who have a carefully thought-out and interesting project, whose proposed supervisor shows genuine interest in supervising the project; and whose proposed project builds on, expands, or has the potential to alter the applicant's interests. Many students returning from the program have reported that the summer experience changed the focus of their study or gave them a renewed sense of purpose in what they were doing, which the Committee views as the primary objective of the program. The Committee favors independent research projects or study programs over the Pembroke-King's program.  

ELIGIBILITY
Harvard College sophomores, juniors, and seniors are eligible. The Committee favors rising juniors and seniors.

Please note: the Summer Program will not run in AY22.