Paid AI placements widen research access for disadvantaged students

Paid AI placements are opening research careers to students from disadvantaged backgrounds

A national programme gave 132 students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds paid AI research placements, including ten at Cardiff Met.

Cardiff Met staff linked to the AI research placement programme Image: Cardiff Metropolitan UniversityOriginal source

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A paid programme is giving students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds a route into artificial-intelligence research without asking them to somehow fund an unpaid summer first.

The Research Ready programme placed 132 students across 12 UK universities in 2025, including ten at Cardiff Metropolitan University. An evaluation found more than 85 per cent gained practical experience of research and careers.

Cardiff Met’s programme combines AI research with entrepreneurship and start-up development. Its 2026 placements include an eight-week stipend, accommodation support and travel funding.

Talent is distributed much more evenly than the ability to work for free. Paying students to enter the pipeline is a fairly direct way of doing something about that.