Inspiring our students

INSPIRE aims to light the fire of scientific enquiry in those students who might be tempted by an academic career.

The University of Bristol is a research intensive university, ranked by the Research Excellence Framework 2021 among the UK's top research universities. We are committed to enabling our students to become involved in research.

Bristol INSPIRE is part of a national programme to increase medical, vet and dental student engagement in academic research. We are administered by the Academy of Medical Sciences and funded by the Wellcome Trust. Our local programme is partnered with GW4 universities Cardiff, Plymouth and Exeter.

Visit the Bristol INSPIRE Website

Research opportunities

The University of Bristol offers a broad range of activities, opportunities and incentives for students to engage with our research teams.  These research opportunities have been developed through consultation with current students, and with matched funding from the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Faculty of Life Sciences and the Elizabeth Blackwell Institute.

We also work in close partnership to deliver co-ordinated activities with the INSPIRE schemes in the Universities of Cardiff, Exeter and Plymouth.

Academic activity

INSPIRE aims to encourage medical, dental and veterinary students to take part in research. We’ve had many success stories over the years, including students presenting at conferences, publishing and going onto enter academic clinical careers.

INSPIRE achieves its goals through:

  • Travel grants - for any medical, dental and vet students to attend conferences/meetings and present their research 
  • Taster days - students can find supervisors for the summer vacationships - for any Year 2 medical, dental and vet students
  • Summer Studentships - funding for students to join a research team and conduct a 4 week research project - for any year 2-4 Bristol medical or dental students and any AGEP-1, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 vet students
  • Inspire student journal - an opportunity to edit and peer review student research papers. Students also have the opportunity to be involved in the student-led Student Health Sciences Research Journal.

The most up to date information on INSPIRE opportunities can be found on our blog.  

Clinical Academic Pathway

This could be your first step into Clinical Academic Training.

More reasons to study medicine at Bristol