The Talented Students Program (TSP) introduces high performing students entering selected Science degrees to cutting-edge, world-class research in UNSW Science.
We want to give you research experiences as early as possible in a safe and engaging manner to develop and nurture the passion for research that UNSW scientists all share. With the wide-ranging and brilliant research conducted within UNSW Science, we inspire you to tackle challenges that will shape the world.
Our previous TSP students have written research papers, attended conferences, integrated into research groups, developed peer groups and much more. All these opportunities exist from Year 1 of your science or science-related degree.
Eligibility
Depending on your entrance mark or performance in the early stages of your degree, the Dean of Science will invite you into the Talented Students Program. You can accept this offer online and provide some basic information that enables us to gauge your interests.
Program outline
The TSP is an avenue to engage your scientific research from the onset of your degree program. It doesn't have associated course credit. For first-year students, there are events planned throughout Term 1 facilitated by higher year TSP students.
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Term 1
- Early Term 1: Welcome Event
- Throughout Term 1: TSP gatherings and research information sessions.
Terms 2 & 3
- Research placements
Term 3
- Week 8: The UNSW Talented Students Program Conference – this is an opportunity for you to present your work, typically as posters, to your fellow TSP students and to the scientists who have mentored you.
These events are designed for you to meet TSP students in all years, engage with UNSW Science staff in various schools, and begin to choose schools and research projects you may be interested in for the second term of your first year and beyond.
In Term 2 of your first year, you'll choose a research project or research group in one of the schools of UNSW Science or UNSW Medicine.
What you do in the research project or group depends entirely on you and your conversations with the researcher. It can be as simple as attending research group meetings every week or as complex as performing laboratory experiments that no one in the world has ever done before. In each term of your degree, you can participate in a different research group, expanding your horizons and experiences.
TSP research areas
The research booklet has a list of TSP contacts for each school and the type of projects available. To organise a project in that area or field, please get in touch with the designated TSP contact or with the TSP Director, Dr Neeraj Sharma.
From Term 2 onwards in your degree program, you'll be offered the opportunity to undertake research projects every term. We encourage you to explore the variety on offer at UNSW across the different UNSW Science schools. These experiences will allow you to make an informed decision about the research direction you wish to pursue honours or further studies.
Over the course of your degree program, it's expected that you'll undertake at least three TSP projects. An official record of participation in the TSP program will be included on your secondary transcript when you graduate.
TSP Student Ambassadors
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Hi, I’m Zara! I began at UNSW in 2024 studying both Psychology and Neuroscience (previously both Psychology and Mathematics), and I have been a part of the Talented Students Program doing placements for about a year now.
I have been fortunate enough to have two placements over this time. For the bulk of 2024, I have assisted in a systematic review into the control trials of digital mental health interventions with Dr Coleshill at Black Dog Institute (affiliated with UNSW School of Psychology). Over the summer between 2024 and 2025, I am assisting PhD students on their projects in the Richardson lab, exploring developmental differences in learning in stressed and non-stressed rats and what medications can aid the retention of learning in these animals.
As a first-year student, I loved that the TSP provided me with the opportunity to learn about how the research we hear about in lectures and read about for assignments is conducted. Although I am not certain about what career I want to pursue in the future, building connections with academics at UNSW in my field has given me a wealth of knowledge and experience that will eventually guide my future career. Additionally, the different placements I have been in and discussions with other TSP students have helped me work out what parts of research I enjoy.
The TSP is an amazing opportunity to take part in all the interesting research UNSW has to offer, so I would implore those interested to try it out. I am forever appreciative of what this program has taught me and the friends I have made along the way!
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I’m Isabella and I started at UNSW in 2023, and am studying Chemical Engineering and Chemistry. I’ve also been part of the Talented Students Program for two years now, completing TSP placements in the McKemmish group in the School of Chemistry.
As a first year, I had very little idea of what I wanted to study, but knew that I wanted to gain exposure to research, and try to figure out what I might want to pursue in the future. Through the TSP I was able to be placed within a research group, where I was able to discover a love for chemistry whilst also developing valuable research skills. I’ve also realised that I’d love to consider pursuing research in the future, looking at ways that I can utilise engineering design thinking alongside chemistry skills within a sustainability context.
Throughout my TSP experience so far, a definite highlight was the TSP Conference, where I was able to present a poster and show what I had been working on over the past couple of years. It was also amazing to be able to meet other like-minded students, and to be able to see what everyone else had been working on!
Contact us:
Get in touch if you have any questions about the Talented Students Program.