NSRC

The national stage for research before university.

Present completed work, defend it before academics and enter the conference proceedings.

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The UK’s sharpest young minds. One national stage.

Presented, defended, published.

Late November 2026. One day on the national stage.

  1. Entries openEarly September
  2. Submission deadlineLate October
  3. Qualified papers announcedMid November
  4. Conference dayLate November

Why NSRC. One conference, four returns.

Sign up Read the details
Fig. 1
01 Submitabstract, paper, declarations02 Examineviva voce, in person03 Feedbackwritten, kept by the pupil04 Publishannual proceedings
01

Viva & publication

Every accepted project is questioned by subject specialists and included in the annual NSRC publication.

  • 1.1 Formal viva voce
  • 1.2 Specialist academic feedback
  • 1.3 Annual NSRC publication
Fig. 2
EngineeringMathematicsHistoryEconomics
02

Community

Present your work to a wider audience and meet young researchers working across every discipline.

  • 2.1 Present to students, teachers and academics
  • 2.2 Every discipline in one room
  • 2.3 Meet young researchers from across the UK
Fig. 3
ampmArrivalKeynoteViva examinationsLunchFinalistsKeynoteAwardsSessions across the day7Entrants examinedallFinalists presenting8
03

Talks & guidance

Hear from working researchers through keynote speeches, academic panels and practical guidance.

  • 3.1 Keynote speeches
  • 3.2 Academic panels and discussion
  • 3.3 Guidance on research, peer review and publication
Fig. 4
Proceedings recordpermanentTitleResearcherSchoolDiscipline
04

For the winners

Winning NSRC can open the door to funding, academic mentorship and opportunities to take the research further.

  • 4.1 Funding to continue the research
  • 4.2 Mentorship and publication support
  • 4.3 Written commendations from recognised experts
Travel grants

On offer for every school that needs one.

Access

We fund the journey.

Judging weighs the work, never the postcode. If a train ticket is what stands between a young researcher and the room, we would rather buy the ticket than lose the mind — what they bring is worth more than what it costs to get them there.

Bursaries cover pupil travel and are applied for in minutes from the teacher portal, with amounts agreed before the day.

How bursaries work →