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School of the Humanities and Social Sciences

 

Please join our mailing list to be kept up-to-date about the 2026 scheme and related activities we may offer. 


As part of the application process, you will be required to provide information about your education, submit supporting documents, state your research subject interests, provide a personal statement, and provide details of a referee. 

The application process and timeline 

  1. Choose the project/s you would like to apply for 

  1. Gather your supporting documents 

  1. Complete the online application form by 23:45 on Friday 28 February 2025 

  2. Referees must submit their reference by midday on Friday 7 March 2025. 

  1. If shortlisted, attend a 15-minute online conversation with research project supervisors  

  1. Receive an offer to the programme

  1. Programme starts: 7 July 2025 

Completing the application form – supporting documents 

Naming your supporting documents 

The application form will ask you to upload several documents, as PDFs, PNG, or JPG file formats, in support of your application. When preparing your documents, please save each document with the following naming convention: 

SURNAME, first name, type of document (e.g., CV/Undergraduate Transcript/Personal Statement/Project Supporting Statement) 

Please browse the sections below for further details regarding supporting documents. 

Transcript

You will need to upload a copy of your university transcript(s) containing the grades/marks you have received so far for your undergraduate degree. 

Downloads or screenshots from student self-service online systems are permitted, but must clearly show: 

  • your name; 

  • the name of the awarding institution; 

  • details of your course; and 

  • a breakdown of grades. 

When preparing your document, please save it with the following filename: SURNAME, First name, Transcript. 

CV

The application form will ask you to upload your CV in PDF format (or as a PNG/JPG). 

Your CV should include: 

  • The schools you have attended 

  • Your GCSE and A-level results 

  • Your undergraduate results so far 

  • Any prizes or awards for your academic work at school or at university 

  • Any work experience (of any kind) that you have had 

  • Any extra curriculum activity or experience you feel is relevant to your application 

When preparing your document, please save it with the following filename: SURNAME, First name, CV. 

Personal statement

Your reasons for applying and why you are a suitable candidate for the scheme. 

You are required to upload a personal statement of no more than 2000 characters/450 words in this statement. Your personal statement should explain why you are applying and why your background, personal circumstances and academic potential qualify you. Think about the aims of the programme, which is designed to find and support students from underrepresented backgrounds into postgraduate research.  

We encourage you to mention how any extenuating circumstances or personal circumstances have had a significant impact on your education, or if you do not have the means to access research experience or it may not be as readily available where you are currently studying.

When preparing your document, please save it with the following filename: SURNAME, First name, Personal Statement. 

Project supporting statement

Supporting statement (academic motivation and interests) for the research projects you wish to apply for. 

You are required to upload a document containing statements for each research project you wish to be considered for. We suggest that you aim for no more than 2000 characters/450 words per project. In your document, please ensure you clearly indicate which project each statement refers to.

This statement should explain your reasons for applying for that research project and how you would benefit from this placement. Think about what interests you about that project, what motivates you to study your subject now, how you have engaged more closely with your field over time, and what you would both offer to and like to get out of the project and programme.

Please note that expressing interest in a particular project does not affect your overall chances of being offered a placement; and if you are offered a placement, it may be with a project that was not your personal preference. All projects provide broad social science research experience; we aim to achieve the closest possible match when offering placements. 

When preparing your document, please save it with the following filename: SURNAME, first name, Project Supporting Statement. 

Reference

You will need to provide contact details for a referee. This should be a member of university academic staff (for example a tutor, advisor, or professor) who knows you and can comment on your academic ability, the quality of your work, your potential for further study, and your suitability for the SHARE programme. 

You will need to contact your referee and make sure they are happy to write a reference for you, before you submit your application.  

When you submit your application, your referee will automatically be sent an email telling them how to submit their reference.  

Please submit your application as early as possible to give your referee plenty of time and keep in contact with them to make sure that they have received the email notification. Where possible, please enter your referee’s institutional/professional email address. 

Referees will be asked to send their reference to us by email to share@admin.cam.ac.uk by the deadline shown in the email they received when you registered them as a referee. If they would like more information about the programme that you have applied for, you can provide them with a link to this webpage