Education · Summer School
Three-Week Intensive Summer School
The Veyra Summer School is a concentrated three-week residential program held each July on the Calder Mesa Campus. It is designed for advanced undergraduate and early-stage graduate students who want structured exposure to multidisciplinary research methods and the Institute's facilities.
About the summer school
Since its launch in 2014, the Veyra Summer School has brought more than 400 students to the Calder Mesa Campus for three weeks of intensive, hands-on research exposure. The program is not a lecture series. It is structured around daily research activities — instrument sessions, data analysis workshops, and a short group project — interspersed with evening seminars given by Veyra faculty.
The cohort is capped at 36 participants per year, drawn from institutions worldwide. Approximately half the places are reserved for final-year undergraduates; the remainder are open to students in the first year of a masters or doctoral program. The program is convened by the Graduate School and administered jointly with the relevant research divisions.
Participants leave with a certificate of completion, a short co-authored technical report, and — for those whose performance is outstanding — the possibility of a direct invitation to apply for a Veyra graduate programme or fellowship. In past cohorts, roughly one in six summer school participants has gone on to enroll as a Veyra graduate student within two years of attending.
Aims
- Provide structured, supervised access to research-grade instruments and workflows not typically available at undergraduate institutions.
- Develop practical skills in data acquisition, analysis, and interpretation across at least two of Veyra's five divisions.
- Foster collaborative working across disciplinary and national boundaries through the group project format.
- Give participants a realistic picture of the day-to-day research environment at a multidisciplinary institute, to inform their own career decisions.
Week-by-week outline
The program alternates between structured instruction, facility-based sessions, and group research work. The timetable below is indicative; actual scheduling is confirmed in the participant handbook issued four weeks before the start date.
| Week | Theme | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 7–11 Jul | Foundations & Facilities | Induction, campus tour, safety briefings. Introduction to Veyra's five divisions by division leads. | Instrument familiarisation sessions: Advanced Microscopy Centre and Spectroscopy Core. Small-group rotations (6 participants per group). | Faculty seminar series: "From observation to question" — four 45-min talks across the week. |
| Week 2 14–18 Jul | Methods & Data | Methodological workshops: experimental design, statistical inference, and reproducibility. Sessions led by faculty from CDS and CNS. | Computational methods: data processing pipelines, visualisation, and version control. Hands-on sessions in the Meridian HPC suite. | Group project scoping: participants form groups of six and define their mini-project question with faculty mentors. |
| Week 3 21–25 Jul | Research Sprint | Group project execution: morning instrument sessions in the chosen core facility, supported by a dedicated technical supervisor. | Data analysis and report writing. Groups iterate on findings with their faculty mentor; writing clinic available for non-native English speakers. | Presentations: each group delivers a 15-min talk to the full cohort and three faculty judges. Closing dinner and certificate ceremony on Friday. |
Eligibility
Who may apply
- Final-year undergraduate students at an accredited university, enrolled in a science, engineering, mathematics, or computing program. Equivalent professional qualifications are considered.
- First-year students on a masters or doctoral program, provided their doctoral admission has been confirmed at the time of application.
- All nationalities are welcome. The program is delivered in English; applicants should demonstrate sufficient written and spoken proficiency to follow technical instruction and write a short report.
- There is no age restriction. Non-traditional students — career changers with relevant technical backgrounds — are encouraged to apply.
What we look for in applications
- A clear and specific motivation for attending — why Veyra, why this year, and how the program connects to your research interests.
- Academic transcripts demonstrating strong performance in quantitative or experimental subjects.
- A brief personal statement (maximum 600 words) describing your background, the scientific questions you find compelling, and what you intend to do after the program.
- One academic reference submitted directly by your referee to summerschool@veyra.example before the deadline.
Fees and bursaries
Program fee
2,400 cr
Covers the full three weeks: instruction, all facility sessions, on-campus accommodation in Calder Hall (shared twin rooms), campus meals (breakfast and lunch), and the closing dinner. Travel to and from Arenfield is not included.
Bursaries
Up to 12 full waivers
The Institute awards full fee waivers to participants who demonstrate financial need and strong academic credentials. Bursary applications are assessed at the same time as program applications — tick the bursary box on the form and submit a one-paragraph need statement. No separate application is required.
What is not included
Travel costs
Return travel to Arenfield, visa fees (where applicable), and personal spending money are not covered by the program fee or bursaries. The Graduate School office provides a letter of invitation for visa purposes on request.
Download the syllabus
The detailed syllabus includes the full timetable, reading list, equipment access schedule, and assessment criteria for the group project.