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How to Apply

PLAN AHEAD! The application form may take longer to complete than you expect. Late applications are NOT accepted, and students who do not adhere to the application guidelines will not be considered for funding. If you have questions or issues related to your application, contact UGR at least 48 hours before the application deadline.

Application Timeline

  • Eligible students are notified in winter of sophomore year.
    • If you are off campus in the winter, do not wait until spring to begin contacting faculty as some faculty may select their Scholars early in the process.
  • APPLICATION OPENS ON THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING TERM
    • See below for instructions on how to access the system.
    • Applications are not reviewed until after the application deadline in the spring.
    • Student application forms must be submitted by the application deadline.
  • Research assistantships may begin as early as "sophomore summer," and both terms must be completed by the end of spring term of junior year.
  • Both terms of the assistantship must be conducted while students are on campus. It is expected that students be enrolled in classes and that their faculty mentors be on campus throughout the term. In some cases, this policy may be waived if there is a compelling reason to do so. Information and a link to the petition form are available in the "waiver information" section of the current scholars page.
  • Students will receive notification of acceptance to the program 3-4 weeks after the application deadline.
  • Failure to follow instructions may result in a delay in your application decision or rejection of your application. Be sure to read ALL of the information carefully.

Finding a Faculty Mentor

  • The program does not match students with faculty, students are responsible for finding their own faculty research mentors.
  • Mentors for this program must have the following type of appointment: tenure-line faculty, research track faculty or lecturers/senior lecturers. Faculty appointments can change from term to term. Even though your mentor may have been in the faculty dropdown list in a previous term, they may not be there in the current term.
    • Check to make sure that your faculty mentor is in the dropdown list of approved mentors. If you have questions, contact Undergraduate Research.
  • Your faculty research mentor should be in your major department or program or a related area.
  • Students contact potential mentors directly to arrange interviews during winter and/or spring term. UGR does not coordinate or facilitate the interviews. 
    • Interviews are conducted by the faculty at their discretion. Faculty may not necessarily interview all interested students.
    • If you will be off campus during the winter term, you are strongly encouraged to contact faculty about assistantships during winter term rather than waiting until you return to campus in the spring. Students who are off-campus in the winter may be able to arrange interviews via phone or Zoom. Some faculty wait until spring term to select a Scholar so that all interested students have the opportunity to interview for the assistantship, but some opt to select Scholars during the winter term.
  • You may interview with as many potential faculty mentors as you wish, but you may submit an application for only one two-term assistantship with one faculty mentor.
  • You may not switch faculty mentors. When you apply and are accepted to this program, you are entering into a contract with the faculty mentor to work together on a specific project. Both you and the faculty mentor have made a commitment to each other to do this research.
    • Exceptions are made only in unusual circumstances (e.g. the faculty mentor leaves the College). 

Application process

PLAN AHEAD! Completion of the form may take longer than you anticipate. Late applications are NOT accepted, and applications that do not adhere to the guidelines will not be considered for funding.

  • Information about how to access the system and instructions on how to use it are on this webpage: Student Research Funding App.

    • Read the instructions carefully!!

    • You will be able to track the status of your application, and it is your responsibility to ensure that your submission went through and that your faculty mentor submits the endorsement.

  • Faculty appointments can change from term to term. Even though your mentor may have been in the faculty dropdown list in a previous term, they may not be there in the current term.

    • Check to make sure that your faculty mentor is in the dropdown list of approved mentors. If you have questions, contact Undergraduate Research.

  • The application is available from the first day of each academic term until the application deadline for that term.

    • If you are unable to access the application system or have questions about how to use it, contact UGR at least 48 hours before the deadline.

    • Application forms must be submitted no later than 11:59pm on the deadline.

    • DO NOT wait until the last minute to access the application form. You may find that you are not prepared to answer all of the questions on the form, and no extensions will be granted.

CAREFULLY READ application do's and don'ts before beginning the form.

  • Reviewing these guidelines is VERY IMPORTANT.
  • If your application does not conform to the guidelines, it will be rejected.
  • Be sure that all information entered is accurate and free of errors as this information will comprise your formal program record