Student Hub

Welcome to Student Summer Research Awards (SSRA)

Each year, 100+ undergraduate students undertake supervised eight-week laboratory, clinical, patient-centred or educational research projects as part of the SSRA initiative.

We are delighted to welcome you to the SSRA Programme. This eight-week elective module provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to undertake a supervised research project, with the potential of gaining five ECTS credits towards their degree programme. Projects take place during the third (summer) trimester in a variety of locations within UCD and at our affiliated hospitals.

SSRA is open to students from our undergraduate programmes. Students compete for the SSRA through poster and oral presentations. Presentations are adjudicated by a committee comprising  researchers, clinicians and patient advocates.

Published Research

Have you completed an SSRA project in the past and published your work? We are very interested in tracking and collating publications, either full research papers, review articles or conference proceedings, that past SSRA students have contributed to whilst undertaking an SSRA project. You can submit this information HERE

Dissemination Funding

The SSRA programme can offer limited funding for completed SSRA projects. This funding is for external dissemination of research arising from recently completed SSRA projects. Students who wish to present previous SSRA research as a poster or oral presentation at national or international conferences may avail of this funding opportunity. Applications can be made HERE. Please notify the SSRA Office ( ssra@ucd.ie ) once an application is successfully submitted.

 

Available Research Projects

You can access SSRA Projects between November 2025 and May 2026 via a link, which will be available here from mid-November 2025.

Each year, senior researchers from across the School and affiliated clinical sites submit potential student projects to the SSRA Committee for consideration. A list of available research projects is compiled on a rolling basis and will be available at a link here from mid-November yech year. This process connects high-level research to undergraduate students. Our Medicine, Radiography, BHLS and Physiology graduates are encouraged to see themselves not just as future healthcare practitioners but also as researchers and investigative scientists.

Students can review the projects and then contact potential supervisors via email with an expression of interest in working on the project. A short email introducing yourself and why you are interested in the specific project is required. You should also include the SSRA Student Project Application Form as an attachment, which can be downloaded from the below SSRA Forms section.

 

Seeking out an independent project:

Students can also seek out their own SSRA Project through any academic contacts (both local and international) that they may have. Your chosen Supervisor must submit the project details including the project title, methods and anticipated results via an Online Submission Form which will be accessible here from mid-November of each year.
***If you are seeking your own project, your Supervisor MUST submit the project details before the end of February each year.

Students can review projects from an Available Projects Folder. This folder is made available each year from November via a link here. Students can then contact potential supervisors via email with an expression of interest in working on the project. A short email introducing yourself and why you are interested in the specific project is required. You should also include the SSRA Student Project Application Form as an attachment, which can be downloaded from the below SSRA Forms section.

  • Wait for the Supervisor(s) to respond to your email (this can take a few weeks in some instances)
  • If the Supervisor chooses you, you must email the project number and confirmation email from the Supervisor to ssra@ucd.ie
  • Students can apply for as many projects as they like, though students can only participate in ONE PROJECT PER YEAR

Seeking out an independent project:

Students can also seek out their own SSRA Project through any academic contacts (both local and international) that they may have. Your chosen Supervisor must submit the project details including the project title, methods and anticipated results via an Online Submission Form which will be accessible here from mid-November of each year.
***If you are seeking your own project, your Supervisor MUST submit the project details before the end of February each year.

In many cases, the SSRA scheme will provide you with your first experience of either laboratory or clinical based research. This is an invaluable opportunity to gain critical exposure to the research process, including formulating research questions, designing studies, collecting and analysing data, and interpreting findings.
Undertaking an SSRA Project can provide you with experiences which strengthen your understanding of evidence-based medicine, enhancing your skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific writing. The experience of an SSRA Project also fosters curiosity, encourages ethical research practices, and may inspire a long-term interest in clinical or academic research, contributing to your development as a well-rounded practitioner.
SSRA projects need to have prior approval from their relevant ethics body. SSRA students may not be insured unless UCD can verify that the proper ethics protocols have been followed. UCD School of Medicine students can find the relevant Ethics compliance forms at this address: https://www.ucd.ie/medicine/research/researchethics/howtoapply/ 
For ethics relating to animals, please contact Associate Professor John Baugh john.baugh@ucd.ie
for further information on the UCD Veterinary Research Ethics Committee (REC): https://www.ucd.ie/researchethics/about/animalresearchethicscommitte/
For the most part, we expect that SSRA projects will be exempt from full UCD ethical review. However some projects will require full ethical review by the UCD School of Medicine REC, please allow enough time for this to take place in advance of the project start date.

Funding Body

Project(S)

Further Information

AoPGBI Summer Studentship Awards

Summer Studentship 

Summer Studentship 

Applications for 2025 Scholarships are now closed.

Applications open of SSRA 2026 projects - Deadline for SSRA 2026 Applications: 31 March 2026

Wellcome Trust

Various projects

Various projects

Health Research 
Board

Summer Student 
Scholarships 

Applications for 2025 Scholarships are now closed.

Information for SSRA 2026 Students will be made available from November 2025. 

Pathological Society 
of Great Britain and 
Ireland

Undergraduate Elective Bursary UBO225

Applications for 2025 Scholarships are now closed.

Information for SSRA 2026 Students will be made available from November 2025.

Irish Cancer Society

Irish Cancer Society Summer Studentships

Applications for 2025 Scholarships are now closed.

Information for SSRA 2026 Students will be made available from November 2025.

 

 

An annual award of the “Clare O’Connor Summer Student Scholarship in Respiratory Research” to the value of €2,000, will be made to a UCD medical student for excellence in Respiratory Research (laboratory based) within the UCD Belfield Campus and/or its affiliated University Hospitals.

The Clare O’Connor Summer Student Scholarship in Respiratory Research awards have been created thanks to generous donations by a number of individuals via Prof Muiris X FitzGerald, former Dean of Medicine and founder of the St. Vincent's University Hospital (SVUH) Cystic Fibrosis Unit.

Dr Clare O’Connor was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Medicine, UCD and led a major research team at Woodview House from 1981 to 2003. In 2008 she was appointed Graduate School Director in the UCD Conway Institute until her retirement in 2014. Her distinguished research and teaching career centered on applied immunological, biochemical and genetic research on respiratory diseases in conjunction with Professor MX FitzGerald, Professor Seamus Donnelly and other respiratory investigators at SVUH. Dr O’Connor secured major research grants in Ireland and from the EU Concerted Action Programmes and led the Euro Lung Consortium, which involved UCD and the Universities of Edinburgh, Nottingham, Siena and Leiden.

Medical students are highly encouraged to independently seek out projects related to respiratory medicine. If your project falls within that remit, please complete the Clare O'Connor Application Form (SSRA student hub) and submit it to ssra@ucd.ie for review by September 1st 2025.

Who is eligible: UEM and GEM Students

How to Apply: Candidates must email the following to ssra@ucd.ie

  1. A statement on why your SSRA Project should be chosen for this scholarship (300 words maximum). A valid SSRA Project number must be included.
  2. Complete the Clare O'Connor Application Form (Available to download from the SSRA Forms section below).
  3. A short CV (1 x A4 page maximum).

Application Deadline: September 1st 2025
 
The selection of the successful student/project for this award is based on an interview process where shortlisted students each present their research projects (5mins) and a 3 minute question and answer session with a panel of UCD academics and clinicians.

This area will contain general information as the programme progresses in 2025.

For further information on the programme, please email ssra@ucd.ie

 

Upcoming Events:

  • Mid-SSRA Review

Wednesday, 9th July 2025  - 1.00pm – 2.00pm via Brightspace Virtual Classroom (VC).

  • Abstract (All students) and Research Report (Credit Students Only) due

Wednesday, 6th August 2025 - 12.00pm (Noon) Brightspace Assignment 1 & 2 

Monday, 18th August 2025 - email to ssra@ucd.ie 

SSRA Forms

 

Form

Due Date

Description
SSRA Induction Book (2025) - This booklet is for student information
SSRA Key Dates (2025) - Key Dates for student information
SSRA Module Registration Form (2025) 23rd May 2025 This form should be submitted as a PDF email to ssra@ucd.ie
Abstract Submission Form (2025) 6th August 2025 This form is to be submitted as a portion of your abstract submission
Abstract Guide and Guidelines (2025) - This guide MUST be followed to correctly format your Abstract.
Initial Meeting Form (2025) - This form should be completed by you and your supervisor at the START of your project. It should be included within your research report (credit students)
SSRA Ethics Confirmation Form (2025) 6th August 2025 To be submitted electronically as one PDF with your research report (credit students)
SSRA Research Report Cover Page 6th August 2025

To be included with your Research Report submission, as one PDF
SSRA Research Report Checklist 2025 6th August 2025 To be submitted electronically as one PDF with your research report (credit students)
SSRA Supervisor Review Form For Research Report (2025) 1st September 2025 For Supervisors Only. Following the completion of your students SSRA project, can you please complete and sign the following assessment form and forward in PDF format to ssra@ucd.ie
Student Testimonial Form (2025) Due on return from your SSRA international Project This form is to be completed and sent as PDF to ssra.international@ucd.ie, must cc ssra@ucd.ie in email. FOR DEAN'S SCHOLARSHIP PROJECTS ONLY
SSRA Module Descriptor MDSA 30280 (2025) - This form is for student information
SSRA Module Requirements for 5 Credit and Audit (2025) - This form is for student information
SSRA Research Report Guidelines Grading Rubric - This document highlights all necessary requirements for the research report
Clare O'Connor Scholarship Application Form (2025) 1st September 2025 Application for Clare O’Connor Summer Student Scholarship in Respiratory Research 
SSRA Student Project Application Form (2025) - This form should be completed and sent to potential Supervisors when applying for projects 

 

SSRA Supervisor Review Form For Research Report (2025)