Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP)

Research: UROP provides funding for students to complete 120 hours of research under the mentorship of a faculty member. Students can work with any faculty at the University of Minnesota and do not have to work with someone in their major or even their college. Depending on the academic discipline and faculty mentor, students can join an already established research project or create their own research project. Students set their own timeline for completing their projects, although most complete their UROP in a semester or over the summer.

Mentorship: Students work closely with faculty mentors throughout their undergraduate research experience. Students gain valuable connections and skills and faculty are provided with talented undergraduates for research assistance.

Presentations: At the conclusion of the program, each student who received a UROP award must publicly present their research. From the annual Undergraduate Research Symposium to publishing work in MURAJ, UROP students have countless opportunities to share their work.

Steps to Apply

1. Write a project proposal (what is this?)
2. Fill out the online application
3. Have your faculty mentor submit the Faculty Recommendation Form

Application Instructions

You can find a video to walk you through the UROP application on our InfoReady Application Process page; additionally, you can review the application questions on this sample application or review a sample application with completed responses at any time.

Application Review Process

Application deadlines are firm and extensions are not allowed under any circumstances. The applications go through a two-step review process. First, the applications are reviewed by a panel of college-specific faculty and ranked. Then, the Office of Undergraduate Research reviews and makes final decisions of who is awarded funding. The entire process takes 8 weeks and decisions are conveyed through email.

The ending date of your project and the date that your ending requirements are due is listed on your award letter.  In order to receive your final stipend, you must complete both parts below.  This MUST be done by the last day of the month prior to your graduation if you are graduating at the end of your project.

Part 1: Student Evaluation

In order to complete your UROP project and receive your second stipend, you must submit the UROP Completion Form. In this form, you will submit your:

• final report (see guidelines and instructions),
• verification of your public presentation,
• evaluation of your UROP experience.
• Fill out your completion form.
  • Note: All sections must be completed at once. You cannot save the form and go back at a later time.

Part 2: Faculty Verification Form

It is your responsibility to notify your faculty mentor to submit the verification of completion form by your ending date as stated on your award letter. Your final stipend cannot be processed until both final requirements are met. 

There are two parts of UROP Award Funding:

1. UROP Scholarship Stipend
$1,800 for 120 hours of research, paid through financial aid*. The first $900 will be awarded at the beginning of your project and the final $900 will be awarded once all four ending requirements are met.

*Because the stipends are paid through financial aid, you must be able to accommodate the payments in your academic year financial aid package. If you have total cost of attendance already covered, a UROP scholarship might reduce a loan or other scholarships. check with one-stop if concerned.

2. Expense Money
Up to $300; a detailed list must be given on the UROP application to account for the cost of supplies requested.

Note: All UROP expenses are handled through your faculty mentor's department. The accounting team receives a copy of your approved expenses. Your award letter lists the contact person in the department, and any disbursement questions should be directed to them

What counts as research?

Research projects may be undertaken in any academic discipline in any college. We consider research to be any scientific, scholarly, or creative activity that leads to the production of new knowledge, original theory, creative works, unique analysis, and/or interpretation.

Planning to apply?

To be considered for a UROP award, it is expected that...

• you have identified a faculty member who has agreed to be your faculty mentor on your project.
• you have written a project proposal based on either a project based on your own idea or a project centered around your faculty mentor's existing project.
• your project amounts to 120 hours of work (typically done over the course of one semester).
• you have reviewed the UROP application requirements and complete the UROP application in its entirety by the deadline.
• you are only submitting one UROP application per application round.
• you are submitting an independent, unique application if you are a part of a research group.

Awarded a UROP?

Congratulations, it is expected that…

• you will NOT receive course credit or other payment for the project
• you are not exceeding two UROP awards during your entire undergraduate career (this does not count other OUR programs such as URS, GCUROP, etc.).
• you understand and agree to complete the four UROP Program ending requirements.

Projects NOT Funded Through UROP:

• Paid Training: OUR does not fund individual training, coursework, or conference attendance as preparation for a UROP project.
• Research for College Credit: If you are interested in doing research for credit, consider Directed Research/Study.
• Hiring of employees: OUR will fund the compensation of human subjects, but no other payments to research assistants/interns/employees/etc.
• Projects without a specific research question, methodology, and analytical component, including, but not limited to, basic lab work, data entry, creation of websites, and literature reviews. 

Reasons Funding is NOT Awarded:

On average, 75% of UROP applications are approved, but here are some common reasons for non-approval:

• Unclear research question and/or area of focus
• Methodology is too ambitious for timeline or lacks details
• Proposal doesn't follow requirements and is poorly edited
• Unclear what role the student will contribute to the broader faculty-driven project
• Project is not considered research and would be better suited for directed research or work-study (see more here)
• Student is not eligible

Expenses not funded

• Local mileage (under 50 miles one way)
• Symposium poster printing (UMD students can apply for funding via the Student Poster Printing Funding Request (Form)
• Materials available through University library
• Computer hardware
• Non-itemized expenses

University of Minnesota Duluth
Wes Lewis, Manager for Academic Success Center
209  Kathryn A. Martin Library 
(218) 726-8242
[email protected] 

Labovitz School of Business & Economics
Monica Haynes
330F Labovitz School of Business & Economics 
(218) 726-7895
[email protected] 

College of Education & Human Service Professions
Jessica Hanson, Interim Associate Dean
125 Bohannon 
(218) 726-8783
[email protected]

College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Jeanine Weekes Schroer, Associate Dean
306 Kirby Plaza 
(218) 726-7714
[email protected]

Swenson College of Science & Engineering
Rachel Ellestad, Associate Dean
140 Engineering
[email protected]

Student Poster Printing Funding Request (Form)
Request funding to print a poster for an approved presentation.

Student Presentation Funding Request (Form)
Request funding to attend a conference. This form should not be used for students accepted to NCUR (National Conference on Undergraduate Research). Students who have previously attended NCUR are not eligible for additional presentation funding.

Extension Request (Form)
Request a one-time extension of up to one additional semester. Grants may not be extended beyond the final day of exams in the student’s graduation semester

Writing Center
Need help developing a proposal or preparing presentation materials? The Writing Center offers one-on-one support. Schedule an appointment online or stop by the front desk on the second floor of the Kathryn A. Martin Library.

Faculty mentors play a critical role in supporting undergraduate research and creative work at the University of Minnesota. Learn more about why mentoring undergraduates is valuable, required forms  mentoring tips and guidelines.