Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship — Fellowship

The Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship supports sophomores, juniors, and seniors undertaking in-depth research or creative work in any academic discipline. Applicants develop a project with a faculty mentor, and the University of Arkansas Office of Nationally Competitive Awards reviews campus submissions before forwarding them to the Arkansas Division of Higher Education.

The award supports a project organized through the applicant’s UArk campus and does not describe a separate relocation or residential component. Funding may cover one spring term or a multi-term period that includes spring and may extend through summer and fall.

Benefits & funding

The student stipend is $1,250 for a spring-only project or $2,500 for a multi-semester project.
Up to $750 is available for student travel connected to the research or its presentation.
The application includes $750 in mentor or project support; the UArk funding table shows a possible $250 institutional bonus that can bring this support to $1,000.
Funding begins no earlier than January and ends by graduation for seniors.

Eligibility

Applicants must be sophomores, juniors, or seniors and use the UArk campus application route.
Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or resident alien; this mixed citizenship and immigration-status rule cannot be represented exactly by the nationality field.
At least 30 hours of on-campus college credit must be completed by the time funding begins.
A cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 is required when applying.
Recipients must remain full time during every funded term: 12 credit hours in fall or spring and 6 in summer.
A faculty mentor, a developed proposal, and faculty support are required; an active Honors College Research Grant cannot overlap with SURF.

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Education required
Bachelor Enrolled

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Application process

1
Register with the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards using the project title, timeline, compliance information, and mentor details.
2
Use the packet sent after registration to prepare the cover page, stipend agreement, student and mentor forms, academic résumé, official transcript, class list, project summary, five-page proposal, budget materials, and three faculty recommendation letters.
3
Submit PDFs through InfoReady using a personal UARK email account and request recommendation letters through the system.
4
Fully submit the application, including letters, before the scheduled early review or SURF Collection appointment.
5
Complete the required campus review so the university can forward an approved application to the state.

Program timeline

SURF registration launched.
Aug 1, 2026
The InfoReady application opened.
Sep 1, 2026
Collection appointments became available to registered applicants.
Oct 1, 2026
Final SURF Collection window; all materials and letters must be submitted before the scheduled appointment.
Oct 14, 2026 to Oct 16, 2026
The Arkansas Division of Higher Education plans to notify applicants of decisions.
December 2026
January 2027
Award setup begins, and funding cannot begin earlier than January.