Weizmann UK Education Programmes

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Since its establishment the Weizmann Institute has had a profound commitment to education. It nurtures successive generations of young scientists by providing the highest quality graduate education as well as educating school children and the public about science. Weizmann UK aims to bring these educational opportunities to UK sixth-form students.

Safe Cracking Physics Competition - for Year 12


Each year Weizmann UK encourages Year 12 students (ages 16-17) to put their physics knowledge to the test by entering its annual Physics Safe Cracking Competition.

The competition sees teams of five students design and build a safe which has locking mechanisms based on the principles of physics.

Teams spend 4-5 months designing their uncrackable safes ready for the UK competition day where they participate in rounds of cracking and are judged by physics experts from the UK and Weizmann Institute of Science.

The winning team will receive travel grants to enable them to participate in the International Tournament at the Weizmann Institute of Science where they compete against teams from across the world and spend 4 days exploring the amazing campus.

Watch the video from the 2019 International Safe Cracking Competition

The Weizmann UK Safe Cracking Tournament is CREST accredited and students who take part can use their work to gain a Gold CREST Award which is recognised by both UCAS and the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme. The CREST scheme is run by the British Science Association and accredits science, technology, engineering and maths activities for young people.

The competition is a fun, unique way for students to see how the physics principles they learn about in the classroom have real world applications.

Download the Physics Tournament Handbook for 2022/2023 with details of competition milestones, rules of the competition and past case studies. Please note that it is not yet confirmed if the International competition will take place in Israel.

Registration for the 2022/2023 UK competition is now closed. The competition will be paused for 2023/2024 but hope to be back the following year.

For more info: scienceeducation@weizmann.org.uk

Dr Bessie Lawrence International Summer Science Institute – for Year 13

The Dr Bessie Lawrence International Summer Science Institute (ISSI) is a unique opportunity for students aged 18 - 20 to spend a month working as part of a research team alongside leading scientists at the Weizmann Institute of Science.

As well as getting the chance to conduct real scientific experiments, students produce reports and present their findings to their peers before spending a week in a field school where they experience the diverse ecosystems, wildlife, and archaeology of the region.

Given the ongoing war in Israel and the associated security implications, it has been decided, after careful consideration, that the ISSI 2024 will run as a hybrid programme comprising two components:

• A four-week digital scientific curriculum will be held from 30th June to 25th July 2024. This will allow for remote participation in lectures, panels, and collaborative activities.

• Following this, and pending a review of security conditions closer to the date, there will be an optional in-person social and scientific programme from 28th July to 8th August 2024 hosted on and around the Weizmann Institute campus.

With thanks to generous philanthropists, each year Weizmann UK has ten scholarship funded places for UK students to participate in the ISSI programme. For the 2024 programme, applicants successful at the interview stage will be required to make a minimum contribution of £350 towards the $3,500 cost of the digital scientific programme. The balance of the programme cost will be offered in the form of a scholarship from Weizmann UK and through contributions from our generous donors. Participation in the in-person programme will not be eligible for scholarship and as such the cost of this element of the programme (to be determined) will be fully payable by the student. Students wishing to travel to the Weizmann Institute must complete consent and medical forms.

Despite being online, the academic programme is demanding and students will be expected to dedicate their time and focus if they are selected to participate. The students will need to assure their online presence at the various activities, including the daily group meetings with the mentors.

Read our guest blogs on what it is like to be on the programme from 2023 participants Mia Stamatova, Emanuel Bor, Clodagh Nangle, Benjamin Watson and Maria Remsha, as well as those from participants in the virtual programmes that took place during the Pandemic era.

See the photo gallery from ISSI 2023 here!

To see examples of projects completed by past participants click here.

Applications for ISSI 2024 are now closed.

To find out if you are eligible and for more details please email scienceeducation@weizmann.org.uk or call 0207 424 6860.

The Kupcinet-Getz International Summer Science School - for Undergraduate students

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Each summer, the Weizmann Institute of Science’s annual Kupcinet-Getz International Science School accepts a select number of outstanding undergraduate students to participate in research projects in mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry or life sciences.

The programme is designed for undergraduates from all over the world, who are majoring in sciences, to experience working in a lab first-hand by becoming part of a research group at the Weizmann Institute.

This programme will help students shape their scientific course and reinforce their commitment to research as a career.

The programme is 8 weeks long and typically runs from June-August for undergraduate university-level students only. Participants must have completed at least one year of study – a set of grade transcripts will be required for the application process. Final year students may apply for the summer immediately after graduation.

Applications usually open in December for the following summer. For further information and to apply for the programme please visit the Weizmann Institute’s own website.

Please note: Weizmann UK does not process applications for this programme.


Feinberg Graduate School - for Post Graduate students

Feinberg Graduates

If you plan to continue your studies as a post-graduate student and want to do so at one of the world’s leading scientific research institutes you should consider studying at the Weizmann Institute of Science’s Feinberg Graduate School.

Established in 1958, the Feinberg Graduate School continues to attract a student population of over 700 MSc and PhD candidates from Israel and over 25 other countries and is conducted in English.

To find out more about what makes the Feinberg Graduate School an excellent choice for further study, and to find out how to apply, please click here.

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