How to Apply

NEW APPLICATION SYSTEM for spring 2025: See below

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 UGAR before the application deadline.

Application Information

Program:

  • Review the URAD eligibility criteria BEFORE beginning the application process.
  • Students may submit only one URAD application per term and may not receive funding from more than one UGAR program per term.
  • Funding is not awarded retroactively or for research in the same term as the application deadline. 
  • The program does not match students with faculty. See UGAR's tips and resources on how to find a faculty research mentor.
  • These are competitive programs and not all students who submit applications will be selected. Applications are judged on a variety of factors including: demonstrated interest in the academic discipline, grades in relevant courses, description of the project and student's role, and the relationship of the research to the student's academic and career goals.

Timeline:

  • Students must submit an application for each term of funding (awards are only made for one term at a time).
  • Applications are due one week before the last day of class in each term for research beginning in the following term.
  • Student application forms and faculty mentor application forms must both be submitted by 11:59pm on 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.

Stipends are paid at the end of the term of research.

Application process

START EARLY! 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.

**Starting in spring of 2025, applications will be submitted via a new system.

  • 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.
  • 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 UGAR at least 24 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

Application components

The application requires responses to a series of questions. Review the Application Do's and Don'ts before beginning the application and plan ahead to ensure that you have sufficient time to complete the application by the deadline.

Questions that require more advance planning

Project information submitted in the main application window

  • Title (maximum 85 characters, including spaces)j
  • Abstract (one paragraph, 125-250 words)

Responses submitted in the Qualtrics form (one paragraph, 100-250 words each)

  • What is your role in the project (what you will be doing)?
  • What academic benefit do you expect to gain from engaging in this project and how does that relate to your overall academic goals?
  • How does this project relate to your career goals:
  • Relevant experience outside of the classroom?
     

Selection criteria

The following factors are considered in the selection process:

  1. Did you submit your application by the deadline?
  2. Do you meet the eligibility criteria for the program?
  3. Did your faculty research mentor endorse your application?
  4. Do all sections of your application adhere to the guidelines? (content, word count, formatting, etc.)
  5. Does your abstract describe the project in a way that is understandable to a general audience and conveys your understanding of the project?
  6. Does your role in the project provide a clear academic benefit to you? 
  7. Does the project align with your academic trajectory? (e.g. major, minor, academic goals)

Email notifications

All communications from UGAR will be sent from the "undergraduate research" blitz account. To ensure that you receive these emails, be sure that spam filtering is set up correctly in your email. The college provides detailed instructions on how to ensure that emails from specific email addresses are not inadvertently delivered to your spam/junk folder.