Research Placements 2024

Guidance of submitting RP report for CREST Gold Award

Did you know you can use your Nuffield Research Placement or a Nuffield Experience placement to
gain a CREST Award?
What’s CREST and why should I apply?
CREST is a nationally recognised scheme for student-led project work in the STEM subjects
(science, technology, engineering, and maths).
With a CREST Award you can evidence the transferrable skills you developed on your placement
(problem solving, creative thinking, effective communication, time management and many more) as
well as in-depth scientific or technical knowledge. A CREST Award will give you the opportunity to
reflect on your work and give real world context to your research. Being able to demonstrate you pose
these skills will make your UCAS application or CV stand out.
Multiple CREST awards at the same level can strengthen a personal statement or application.
Please ensure you clearly state the different CREST Award project titles and list the different
skills/knowledge you gained from each.
What do I have to do to apply?
The first step is to look at the CREST Student Profile Form that you will need to fill out as part of
your application. You’ll see that a lot of the elements in this are the same as questions asked within
the NRP Project Plan template so use this to help fill out your CREST Student Profile Form. Try to
keep the Student Profile Form in mind as you complete your placement and document everything
you do (i.e., keep a timetable of your activities) as this will help with completing the form.
We’ve also highlighted below certain elements of your Nuffield Research Placement experience that
you might want to draw on when completing this form.
Remember! Mention your interest in submitting your work for a CREST Award to your placement
provider early on so that they can support you and provide their signature on your form at the end.
CREST website
You can find out more details regarding CREST Awards by visiting www.crestawards.org and look
at the criteria for each CREST Award level here.
When entering your project’s information, you’ll see the question “Are you working with any of these
accredited schemes or resources?”, make sure you select “Research Placement” from the drop-
down list.
Please note: Submission to CREST for all bursary placement students this cycle is 100%
funded!
For RP simply enter in the voucher code “DSRP2025” when you go to submit, and you won’t
be charged.
The EP workbooks will be submitted in bulk by the central team. Please notify your regional
coordinator if you wish to submit a claim so that they can collate all entries within their
regional files.
Voucher code expiry date: Jan 2025
NRP CREST guidance Page 1 of 3 June 2022
CREST criteria on Student Profile Form Related Nuffield Research Placement experience
1 – Planning your project
1.1 You have set a clear aim for the project and have Early on in your project, work through the NRP Project Plan template with support from your
broken it down into smaller objectives. placement provider to discuss certain elements such as the aims, the wider purpose, the tasks
1.2 You have explained a wider purpose for the project. you will need to complete and what success looks like at the halfway point and the end.
1.3 You have identified a range of approaches to the You will need to show ownership of your project so think about where you can make the
project. project your own and document the decisions you make.
1.4 You have described your plan for the project and why Try to keep a timetable of what you do that you can refer back to when completing your
you chose that approach. CREST Student Profile Form.
1.5 You have planned and organised your time well
You should be in regular contact with your placement provider as the placement goes on and,
2 – Throughout your project
where possible, take the opportunities available to you to speak to other members of staff.
2.1 You have made good use of the materials and people
One of the first placement activities is often background reading and you may find that these
available.
sources along with others you’ve read during your placement form part of your final report’s
2.2 You have researched the background to the project
Introduction. Make sure you’ve read our report guidance that talks about referencing relevant
and acknowledged your sources appropriately
sources and ask your supervisor for help if you’re not sure.
Towards the end of your placement, you’ll start writing your Results and Discussion. This is
where you draw conclusions from your work and start to see how it fits into the bigger picture
i.e., the wider context.
3 – Finalising your project You should also include details on the strengths and weaknesses of the work you’ve
3.1 You have made logical conclusions and explained undertaken and consider where you would make a different decision or do things differently if
the implications for the wider world. you were to do it again. Alternatively, if you agree with all the decisions made, explain your
3.2 You have explained how your actions and decisions rationale for running the project this way.
affected the project’s outcome. To reflect on the work you’ve done, you could try answering these questions:
3.3 You have explained what you have learnt and • What were the opportunities and challenges you encountered?
reflected on what you could improve • Was your project successful/not successful?
• Have you identified any particular areas of further skills development?
• What impact might your results have on other people/the wider world?
• What would you do to improve your work / develop the project in future?

NRP CREST guidance Page 2 of 3 June 2022

4 – Project-wide criteria
4.1 You have shown understanding of the science Your report and poster should help to demonstrate your understanding of the subject area and
behind your project, appropriate to the Award level. help provide a clear written account of your project.
4.2 You have made decisions to direct the project, Try to ensure your supervisor has had a chance to review both of these pieces of work as
taking account of ethical and safety issues. they’ll be able to give you feedback about whether you’re on the right track.
4.3 You have shown creative thinking.
There will always be elements you do have control over, so make sure you highlight these
4.4 You have identified and overcome problems
within the CREST form along with where you’ve overcome any challenges and instances
successfully.
where you had to think creatively to get the work completed.
4.5 You have explained your project clearly, in writing
or conversation

NRP CREST guidance Page 3 of 3 June 2022