Research Program•USA · Cambridge

MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP)

Funding

Fully Funded

Program dates

Jun 8, 2026 – Aug 8, 2026

The MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) is a competitive nine-week summer research program run by MIT’s Office of Graduate Education. Founded in 1986, it brings undergraduates to Cambridge, Massachusetts to work on research with MIT faculty across some thirty departments, spanning all five MIT schools plus the Schwarzman College of Computing. Participants prepare for graduate study through mentored research, weekly professional-development seminars, scholarly-writing support, and an end-of-program poster symposium. Biology and Brain & Cognitive Sciences applicants apply through a separate MSRP Biology/BCS track.

Benefits & funding

  • Fully funded: no program cost to participants.
  • Weekly stipend (MIT does not publish the exact amount).
  • Round-trip travel to MIT.
  • University housing for the full nine weeks.
  • Meal/food subsidy, with several meals included each week.
  • Faculty-mentored research placement, weekly seminars, graduate-school application preparation, and a poster presentation.

Eligibility

  • Open to undergraduates enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program at a U.S. institution (other than MIT), including U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, and international students with the appropriate visa and work authorization.
  • Exchange students, and students completing a degree outside the U.S., are not eligible; U.S. citizens studying outside the U.S. may not apply.
  • Sophomores, juniors, or non-graduating seniors who will have completed at least two years of college coursework by the program start, and who will not graduate before December 2026.
  • A GPA of 3.5 or higher is typical among admitted participants; strong applicants below that are still considered.
  • Genuine interest in research and in pursuing graduate study at MIT (excluding Sloan professional programs such as the MBA).

Application process

  1. 1
    Applications open in late September through MIT’s online application system; the 2026 cycle opened on September 26, 2025.
  2. 2
    Submit the application with required materials by the January deadline (2026 cycle: January 20, 2026, 11:59 PM EST).
  3. 3
    Optionally attend the MSRP Application Workshop announced in the fall.
  4. 4
    Admission decisions are sent by March 31.

Program timeline

  1. 2026-cycle applications open

    Sep 26, 2025

  2. Application deadline (11:59 PM EST)

    Jan 20, 2026

  3. Admission decisions sent

    Mar 31, 2026

  4. Program starts

    Jun 8, 2026

  5. Program ends

    Aug 8, 2026