Overview
The Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program (URAP) is a competitive funding and professional development opportunity through the Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry (UR&CI) that assists students in any major or research area with financial needs while being involved in an undergraduate research project. URAP supports approximately 70 undergraduate students each year across two terms: Summer (May–August) and Fall/Spring (September–April). The program is open to all Ohio State undergraduates who are eligible for student employment. The Fall/Spring term prioritizes students in majors where faculty-mentored research opportunities are less available during the summer.
Research Component
Students must secure a faculty mentor and develop their own research proposal; URAP does not match students with mentors. If you need help getting started, please visit our How to Get Started in Research page.
Professional Development
In addition to faculty-mentored research, URAP students complete a structured professional development curriculum facilitated by UR&CI staff. Requirements include:
- A 12-week asynchronous course (research ethics, information literacy, research communication, career development)
- Regular cohort meetings
- Attendance at four professional development workshops
- At least one individual meeting with the course facilitator
- Presentation of research at a UR&CI-sponsored event (e.g., Denman Forum, Spring Undergraduate Research Festival, 3 Minute Thesis) or a regional campus research forum
Funding & Eligibility
URAP funding is provided as student employee wages. Students may not receive other funding (including grants or paid research employment) for the same project during their URAP term.
All participants must be eligible for student employment at Ohio State. Students may not hold a student employee and staff position simultaneously (e.g., PCA at the Medical Center). Students enrolled in classes during their URAP term may work up to 28 hours per week while classes are in session. Please consult the University’s Student Employment Policy if you have questions about your eligibility.
Application Details
The application for the Summer 2026 Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program has closed. The Fall 2026/Spring 2027 URAP application will become available in early July, and close in mid-August 2026. Please see below for more information about the required application materials.
Application Materials
Please assemble your application materials in the following order:
- Personal Statement that answers the following questions (maximum of one single-spaced page):
- What motivates your interest in this field of study?
- What are your current academic and/or career goals?
- How does participating in this summer research program support those goals?
- What skills or knowledge do you hope to gain?
- Project description and overview of student project responsibilities that answers the following questions (maximum of two single-spaced pages):
- The central question, problem, or creative objective of the project and its significance
- How the project connects to your faculty mentor’s broader research or creative work (if applicable)
- Your specific responsibilities and role in the project
- The methods, approaches, or tools you will use
- A brief timeline identifying major goals, tasks, and anticipated outcomes across the program
- IRB or IACUC application status (if applicable)
- Description of prior, current or pending research funding support (if applicable)
- Please list any research funding you have personally received in the past, are currently receiving, or have applied for. Only funding awarded directly to you as the applicant should be included (do not list funding received by your faculty mentor or other students). Applicants are expected to provide complete and accurate information regarding funding support.
- Advising report (found on Buckeyelink, used to verify enrollment and graduation)
- Name of your faculty research mentor and letter of recommendation
- Note: Please have your faculty mentor email your letter of recommendation to OSAS-URAP@osu.edu by the application deadline. Applications will be considered incomplete until this letter is received.
Currently, URAP students are capped at a maximum of 456 hours during the URAP appointment, and all positions will terminate at the end of the program term, regardless of how many hours have been logged. In addition to their faculty mentored research, students will participate in all aspects of the URAP curriculum, including submitting progress reports as directed by UR&CI throughout the term. Students will also present their research in a UR&CI-hosted or regional campus forum.
Reach out to OSAS-URAP@osu.edu with any questions.