Program Information

Leave term grants enable students to fully immerse themselves in research during a leave term.

• This research commitment would be equivalent to a full load of classes during a residence term.
• Students who will have other significant time commitments during their leave term are not eligible to apply.
• Grants are to cover cost of living during the leave term and/or travel if the project involves field research away from campus.
• Funding is not awarded to compensate students for the time they spend on the research.

Students must be intellectually engaged and play a key role in the project. 

• Students who will be serving as research assistants on faculty projects may apply for part-time research assistantship programs such as Presidential Scholars or URAD.
• Priority will be given to students who have been engaged in research with their faculty research mentor prior to the leave term.

Students must be working directly with a Dartmouth College faculty mentor.

• This includes faculty at the College, Geisel School of Medicine, Tuck School of Business, and Thayer School of Engineering.
• Review the guidelines for faculty eligibility to mentor undergraduate research and contact Undergraduate Research if you have questions.
• Students doing research with faculty at other (non-Dartmouth) institutions are not eligible for research grants.

Students may engage in the research on campus or elsewhere but there must be a rationale for the location of the research.

• On-campus: the purpose is often to work with your faculty mentor in person but may also involve access to facilities and resources (labs, equipment, archives, etc.)
• Off-campus research: the purpose can vary but is often related to access to archives, interview subjects, field sites, etc.

Group projects are welcomed. Students planning to apply as a group are encouraged to meet with UGR prior to submitting an application. 

• The research must be directly mentored by a Dartmouth faculty member. 
• Applicants should check the eligibility requirements to ensure that all members of the group are eligible to apply.

Stipends are paid prior to the term of research.

• $100 is withheld from the initial payment and will be released once the end of term student confirmation form (including the final report) and the faculty confirmation form are received.
• More information about payments are are on the SURFD stipend webpage.

Leave term grants are for full-time unpaid faculty-mentored research.

• Students are expected to engage in the research a minimum of 35 hours/week throughout the 10-week leave term.
• Students who will be receiving hourly wages or other payment from their faculty mentor for work associated with the research are not eligible for leave term grants.  

Leave term research may take place on or off campus.

• Students are responsible for arranging their own leave term housing
• Students who would like to live on campus during the leave term must apply for housing through the Office of Residential Life. Note that leave term housing on campus may not be available in some terms, especially fall and spring.
• Leave term grants are NOT awarded for remote research. Students must either be working directly with faculty mentors on campus or engaged in field research off campus.
• Students are not eligible for leave term grants for research conducted in or near their hometowns as leave term grants are intended for room and board.

Students apply for funding in the term before the one in which they intend to engage in the research.

• Funding will not be awarded retroactively or for applications submitted in the same term as the research.
• If you apply for funding from multiple sources, you may not accept more funding than the total cost of your project (as entered on the leave term grant application form).
• Applications will only be accepted for research in the following term, not for research in subsequent terms.

Leave term grants are intended primarily for sophomores and juniors.

• Students are eligible once they have completed 3 terms of enrollment and are no longer eligible once they have completed 10 terms of enrollment.
  • For most students, the first term of eligibility is the summer after the first year (application submitted in the spring).
  • Students are not eligible to participate once they have completed 10 terms of enrollment. Students who are currently enrolled in their 10th term are not eligible to apply.
• Terms of enrollment include R terms, transfer terms, exchange terms and participation in Dartmouth's off-campus programs.
• Students must be enrolled for at least one term following the term of the leave term grant. 

Students are eligible for a maximum of 2 leave term grants.

• Students who have previously received funding through any SURFD program must be in good standing in that program in order to be considered for a grant (e.g. submitted all required forms and documentation).
• Students who will be in other SURFD programs during the term of proposed research are not eligible for these grants (e.g. Senior Fellows, Stamps Scholars, Presidential Scholars).
• If you have questions about your eligibility, you must contact Undergraduate Research prior to the application deadline.

Also review the general SURFD eligibility guidelines before applying for a leave term research grant.

Selection criteria

• Do you meet the eligibility criteria for the program?
• Did you submit your application by the deadline?
• Do all sections of your application adhere to the guidelines? 
• Did you clearly convey your preparation to engage in this project?
• Does the research align with your academic trajectory? 
• Are you playing a key role in the project (that is, not a research assistant)?
• Did your faculty research mentor submit a strong recommendation in support of your application?

Priorities for funding

• Students who are continuing a faculty-mentored research project (started via a part-time assistantship, class project, etc.).
• Students who have not previously received a Leave Term Grant from UGR.
• Priorities by term:
  • Fall, winter and spring: sophomores and juniors
  • Summer term: rising seniors who are conducting preliminary research in preparation for a senior honors thesis.

Additional notes:

• This is a competitive program and not all students who submit feasible proposals will be funded. It is strongly recommended that students have alternative plans for the term in the event that they are not awarded funding from UGR.
• Students are strongly encouraged to apply for funding from multiple sources. In addition to college offices that fund undergraduate research, many academic departments and programs have funding available for majors to conduct honors thesis and/or leave term research. Students should contact their major department or program to inquire about funding options.