FAQ
Resources
Eligibility
No. There is no minimum GPA requirement to receive UROP funding.
Yes. UROP Grants are not intended to support "general" coursework, even if it is research/inquiry-based, but funding may support students doing research or creative projects outside the classroom while they’re enrolled in Independent Study/Honors Thesis courses with section numbers in the 800-900s.
No.ÌýStudents should apply for a to attend a conference or exhibit/perform their creative work.
No. UROP funds are for faculty-mentored academic research, scholarly or creative projects only.
There are opportunities for research and development outside of UROP and the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ campus.
Due to a range of variables (e.g. the number of proposals submitted in each grant term, the ratio of grant types submitted, etc.) as well as variations between review cycles and budgetary allocations across fiscal years, the award rate fluctuates and complicates generalized estimations about one’s chances of receiving an award. ÌýWe encourage you to see UROP as an achievable goal that requires planning and attention to detail. ÌýThough competition has increased and the award rate has declined in recent cycles, UROP still funds the majority of students and faculty who apply.
No. Only completed applications will be reviewed. ÌýPlease make arrangements to get all of the sections of the application submitted on time.
Payment
| Applicant | Grant Type | Term | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| ÌýÌýStudent | ÌýÌýConference Travel | ÌýÌýRolling Timeline | Up to $500 |
| ÌýÌýStudent | ÌýÌýAssistantship | ÌýÌýAcademic Year (Fall & Spring) | $1,000 |
| ÌýÌýStudent | ÌýÌýIndividual Grant | ÌýÌýAcademic Year (Fall & Spring) | $1,500 |
| ÌýÌýStudent | ÌýÌýAssistantship | ÌýÌýSummer | $2,000 |
| ÌýÌýStudent | ÌýÌýIndividual Grant | ÌýÌýSummer | $3,000 |
| ÌýÌýFaculty | ÌýÌýTeam Grant (Groups of 2+ Students) | ÌýÌýAcademic Year /ÌýÌýÌýSummer | $4,000 |
| ÌýÌýFaculty | ÌýÌýGroup Conference Travel (2+ Students) | ÌýÌýRolling Timeline | Up to $5,000 |
Refer to the payment pages for information about the process.
Student grant funding is paid as a stipend using the university's payroll system (job code 3205).ÌýÌýAlthoughÌýstudents need an employee identification number (EID) and payments are made through the payroll system, UROP funding is not considered payroll wages or employee compensation.ÌýUROP funding is considered "Other Financial Aid" (OFA) according to the university's policy on paying students and all award information will be reported to the Office of Financial Aid.
Refer to the Payroll Enrollment page for instructions.
Payments to recipients who are U.S. citizens are not typically subject to federal and state income tax withholding and payroll taxes (i.e., FICA and Medicare taxes). The university has no tax reporting requirement for these payments (no W-2), butÌýis required to report payments on the federal form 1042-S.ÌýGrants, scholarships and awards received as OFA may need to be reported on tax returns if the amount exceeds qualified educational expenses as defined by . Grants and scholarships are listed on a 1098-T. Students are responsible for accurately reporting their income.
Additional Questions
Faculty can learn about the review process and sign-up to evaluate proposals on the UROP Review Board page.
Students can learn about the nomination process on the Mentor Award page.
Venture Partners creates and implements an IP strategy for your research and creative works so you can understand your IP rights and obligations as you work with various collaborators, research sponsors and industry partners.
Contact us as early as possible if you don't think you will meet the completion date.
UROP Deadline
February 14, 2025
Mentor Endorsements are due Feb. 21, 2025.
We offer accessible funding options for undergraduates to form partnerships with faculty for projects in all majors, fields of study and professional practice; host inclusive events for students, staff and faculty to connect and grow; celebrate and enable culturally-responsive mentorship; support a diversity of student-led campus publications; collaborate broadly throughout campus to support student success and recruitment initiatives; and work with national and global partners to advance best practices in experiential learning.
We strive to create a campus where all students feel they belong, know they are valued and have an enabling opportunity to realize the empowering potential of culturally-responsive mentorship. We work to connect learners to the academic and creative life of the campus and see experiential learning as a pathway to success open to all learners.
- Equity
- Accessibility
- Diversity
- Curiosity
- Lucidity
- Enthusiasm
- Creativity
Enable Transformative Learning
UROP represents an opportunity to support student-centered education that makes the most of CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s global leadership in research and creative production. We invite you to explore, consider giving and contact us as you have questions.
Our campus has an expansive history of undergraduate engagement dating to the creation of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) in 1986. A significant body of scholarship has emerged and continues to demonstrate the value of connecting students to the academic and creative life of the campus. With well-documented benefits from persistence and resilience to belonging and graduation, engagement can be transformative—and empowering for marginalized students. UROP is critical to ensuring equitable access for marginalized students by eliminating one of the most significant barriers to participation: funding.