The scholarships, which typically range from $500 to approximately $8,000, will be distributed during ,Autumn, Spring and/or Summer semesters of 2026-2027. The funds automatically go toward the payment of the student recipient’s university tuition and fees, (please note the information about financial aid restrictions, which is included on the application materials).

To be eligible, students must: 

• Be enrolled in a major program within the college of Arts and Sciences
• Be earning a degree in the college of Arts and Sciences (Arts majors working on a creative or research project should apply for the Arts Undergraduate Research Scholarship rather than the general URS available through this application)
• Be enrolled full-time during semesters of funding
• Have attained junior standing by time of funding
• Be a potential candidate for graduation with research distinction; or with honors research distinction; or present evidence of work on a significant research project
• Not be graduating in the Autumn 2026 semester
• Have an Ohio State faculty advisor with whom they work to devise and refine a proposal, and who will be responsible for overseeing the project once it is underway
• Not be planning travel to an elevated-risk destination or have an approved International Travel Review Committee (ITRC) petition to travel to an elevated-risk designation at the time of application

The application should include:

• A project proposal (please note the detailed information on the application materials) which includes:
  • the motivation and context for the proposed research, including a discussion of related scholarship in the discipline and any work that you have undertaken so far
  • a clear statement of your research question and the general significance of the project
  • a concise summary of the methodology to be used in the research
  • the expected outcomes
  • plans for forthcoming presentations and/or publications (if applicable)
  • a bibliography
• A discussion of responsible research practice approvals (if using human or animal subjects)
• Project advisor recommendation which must articulate in some detail the form and nature of the student's involvement in the research project
• Please note that all proposals will be evaluated on writing and grammar. Please check grammar and spelling and avoid jargon.

Because most applicants are of comparable promise and ability, the quality and significance of the research project are decisive factors. Consequently, you should pay close attention to the following project proposal guidelines:

• Select a research topic which you and your faculty project advisor believe can be completed within the period in which the scholarship is tendered. In the case of the URS, this typically means that you should be able to complete the project during the semesters in which you are funded. Elaborate proposals with questionable timetables will not be viewed favorably.
• Prepare a project proposal of not more than 5 typewritten double-spaced pages, a maximum of 1,250 words. Neither the bibliography nor figures will count against the page/word limit, but please be judicious about the overall length of your proposal. Your proposal also should include information concerning your background in the project field and a statement concerning any arrangements that have been made to obtain or use special equipment or other resources required for the project.

Be sure to consult your project advisor for the appropriate way to organize your proposal within your field of study.

Your proposal will be in competition with proposals from many other fields throughout the arts and sciences and will be judged by a small faculty panel which may not include a specialist in your field. Therefore, you should write the proposal for a non-specialist audience and attempt to state your proposal and its significance in relatively non-technical terms. It is recommended that you define all acronyms and limit the use of (or be sure to explain) discipline-specific terminology or jargon. Because the project is to be carried out in close cooperation with your project advisor, the proposal should be written in consultation with the faculty member who will serve as the project advisor and write the official Project Advisor Recommendation. Please note that spelling and grammar are considered.

The scholarships, which typically range from $500 to a maximum of $2000, will be distributed during Spring semester of 2026. The funds automatically go toward the payment of the student recipient’s university tuition and fees, (please note the information about financial aid restrictions, which is included on the application materials). Students and faculty are encouraged to apply for a grant to support an undergraduate student who can benefit from participation in research abroad. Funds will generally be provided for one student per research project. The general focus of these grants is to encourage students to engage in research in international venues with their faculty mentors. Special attention will be paid to the appropriateness and value of the educational experience for the student participant.

The Research Scholarships Subcommittee of the ASC Honors Committee will be responsible for reviewing proposals and making the awards in April 2026. The award will be administered by the Arts and Sciences Honors Program office in collaboration with the Office of International Affairs. The application may be completed by a student and/or faculty member in the College of Arts and Sciences. 

To be eligible, students must:

• Intend to travel outside of the United States for a purpose related to their research project
• Be currently enrolled in a major program in Arts and Sciences (please note: Arts majors planning to travel internationally to engage in research or creative projects may apply for the International Research Grant)
• Be earning a degree in Arts and Sciences
• Have an Ohio State faculty advisor with whom they work to devise and refine a proposal, and who will be responsible for overseeing the project once it is underway
• Not be planning travel to an elevated-risk destination or have an approved International Travel Review Committee (ITRC) petition to travel to an elevated-risk designation at the time of application.  

The information provided should include:

• A description of the research project and the international experience (can include conference presentation)
• A discussion of responsible research practice approvals (if using human or animal subjects)
• Timeline for the project and travel abroad
• Project advisor recommendation which must articulate in some detail the form and nature of the student's involvement in the research project
• A budget listing expenses students expect to incur for research-related travel
• Please note that all proposals will be evaluated on writing and grammar. Please check grammar and spelling and avoid jargon

Because most applicants are of comparable promise and ability, the quality and significance of the research project are decisive factors. Consequently, you should pay close attention to the following project proposal guidelines:

• Select a research topic which you and your faculty project advisor believe can be completed within the period in which the scholarship is tendered. Elaborate proposals with questionable timetables will not be viewed favorably.
• Prepare a project proposal of not more than 5 typewritten double-spaced pages, a maximum of 1,250 words. Neither the bibliography nor figures will count against the page/word limit, but please be judicious about the overall length of your proposal. Your proposal also should include information concerning your background in the project field and a statement concerning any arrangements that have been made to obtain or use special equipment or other resources required for the project.

Be sure to consult your project advisor for the appropriate way to organize your proposal within your field of study.

Your proposal will be in competition with proposals from many other fields throughout the arts and sciences and will be judged by a small faculty panel which may not include a specialist in your field. Therefore, you should write the proposal for a non-specialist audience and attempt to state your proposal and its significance in relatively non-technical terms. It is recommended that you define all acronyms and limit the use of (or be sure to explain) discipline-specific terminology or jargon. Because the project is to be carried out in close cooperation with your project advisor, the proposal should be written in consultation with the faculty member who will serve as the project advisor and write the official Project Advisor Recommendation. Please note that spelling and grammar are considered.

Eligibility to Apply

• Do I have to be in the Honors Program to apply? 
  • No.
• Do I have to be pursuing a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences to apply?
  • Yes.
• Does my project advisor have to be an Ohio State faculty member?
  • Yes.
• Do I have to be planning to travel internationally (related to my research) to apply for the IRG?
  • Yes.
• If I am graduating at the end of this semester, can I apply for the URS or IRG during this semester?
  • No. The funding is designed to support continuing or future undergraduate research. Once you have graduated, you are no longer an undergraduate. Students graduating at the end of Spring semester (for example) are not eligible to apply for funding through the Spring competition.
• Do I have to be working on a thesis to apply?
  • No, but projects that will lead to a thesis will generally be given preference. If you have not considered making your research project into a thesis, discuss it with your project advisor. Information about the thesis can be found at the Research Distinction web page or the Research Thesis web page for students in the Honors Program.
• Can I apply if my project does not have any costs associated with it?
  • Yes, you are welcome to apply for the URS. The URS is designed to be applied to your tuition, fees, room, and board, to reduce the cost of your education and enable you to have more time to spend on your research (rather than working at a job, for instance). The scholarship is not necessarily designed to cover costs associated with your project. That said, if you are already receiving scholarship and/or grant aid that covers your full cost of attendance, you would only be eligible to receive additional funding to cover your own out-of-pocket expenses associated with your research. Therefore, if you are already receiving scholarship and/or grant aid that covers your full cost of attendance, you should not apply unless you have costs associated with your research that you (personally) will be responsible for paying.
• If I am already receiving scholarship or grant aid that covers my entire cost of attendance (tuition, fees, room, and board), can I still apply for these awards?
  • Yes. You will only be eligible to receive funding beyond the cost of attendance to cover documented out-of-pocket expenses (for which you personally will be responsible) related to your research. In this situation, you will need to submit a Cost of Attendance Appeal to Student Financial Aid to request an increase in your cost of attendance limit. If you do not have any costs associated with your research that you will be responsible for paying, you should not apply for these awards.

Timing of Funding

• If I am awarded the URS, when will I receive it?
  • If you entered the Autumn competition, you will receive your scholarship as part of the following Spring semester’s financial aid disbursal. If you entered the Spring competition, you will receive your scholarship as part of your financial aid for the terms you designate over the following academic year (Summer, Autumn, and/or Spring). Typically, those awarded scholarships through the Spring competition will receive half of the scholarship in the following Autumn and half in the following Spring.
• If I am awarded the IRG, when will I receive it?
  • As soon as possible after awards are announced and after you have enrolled in Ohio State’s Supplemental Travel Insurance (which is required in order to receive the IRG).

Funding Conditions – Enrollment Requirements

• Do I have to be enrolled full time during the terms I would receive the URS?
  • Yes, unless you ask for and are granted a special exception. Special exceptions to the full-time enrollment requirement are typically only considered when you are anticipating a heavy research emphasis during the funding term, and the exception will usually result in a reduction in your award based on the actual number of credit hours in which you are enrolled.
• Do I have to be enrolled full time in order to receive the IRG?
  • No.

Applying More Than Once

• Can I apply for the URS more than once?
  • Yes. However, you are more likely to be awarded a more significant scholarship if you apply later in your undergraduate career (in your third or fourth year) when your research project is more fully developed. You should be aware that the committee that reviews applications will take into consideration whether you have received the scholarship previously. Please note that if you receive a scholarship through the Spring URS competition, you should not also apply for the Autumn URS competition that immediately follows it. These competitions provide funding for the same academic year and should be considered mutually exclusive (you can apply for one or the other, but not both).

If you wish to preview a sample of the application in order to help prepare, you can access the applicant and advisor portions of the application here. Make sure you have fully reviewed the guidelines for completing the project proposal. These materials are just a sample and any submission must be completed through the official DocuSign application form on this page. 

Applicant portion:

Advisor portion:

If you have any questions about the application, please contact sallade.3@osu.edu.

If you are experiencing any technical issues with your application, please contact scholl.136@osu.edu.

The URS and IRG application materials are now all part of one document. To apply for the URS or IRG please press click on the "Apply Now" button below. This will redirect you to DocuSign where you will be prompted to provide information on your project. Once your section of the application is completed it will then be automatically sent to your project advisor's email. Once your project advisor has completed their recommendation you will receive a copy of the completed application. Please keep in mind the SP26 deadline is Friday, March 27th at 5 PM. We will not accept applications submitted after the deadline or those started and remaining incomplete at the time of the deadline. If the application deadline has passed (or the application is not yet open), the link to apply will not be available below on this site. 

Check Back in August for the link to Apply!

If you have any questions about the application, please contact sallade.3@osu.edu.

If you are experiencing any technical issues with your application, please contact scholl.136@osu.edu.