Multi-step Application Process

Eligible students can apply to the Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) thesis program each summer. The application is a multi-step submission, review, and approval process.

The entirety of the URS thesis program application process will now be conducted in a single platform. Use the application templates to prepare your submission ahead of time. Students must refer to the Part 2 Application Instructions & Examples Guide to complete this application. 

Applicants must consult their faculty advisors when working on the proposal document, before submitting an application to our portal (portal link to be announced). Upon submission, faculty advisors will receive an email with a link to formally approve the document in our portal. Faculty advisor approval is required before the proposal can be assigned for review.

Responses should be thorough and demonstrate a clear plan to conduct an independent research project and produce a written thesis document within the scope of the program (August 2025 through April 2026).

Undergraduate applicants must be the sole authors of the proposal. Undergraduate teams may work together, but each member is expected to equally contribute to the authorship of the proposal and the thesis. Language from existing grants, proposals, or content written by graduate students, faculty advisors, or other contributors will not be accepted.

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Application Review Process 

Once your application is approved by your faculty advisor, it will be assigned to one of our volunteer proposal reviewers. This person may be a faculty member or postdoc in your field or in a similar field.

The purpose of the proposal review process is to assess whether your research plan is acceptable within the scope of the program. Depending on the level of detail you provide in your proposal as well as writing clarity, proposal reviewers may request multiple rounds of revision before they will recommend acceptance. You must address all comments by your proposal reviewer by the deadlines they provide.

We recommend providing as much detail as possible in your proposal document. Be as granular as possible in your timeline, focusing on specific research tasks in addition to program deadlines. Consider all possibilities in your contingency plan.

Students and faculty will receive a separate and final acceptance notice from UGR staff confirming acceptance into the program. 

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NEW Application Deadlines 

If you are required to enroll in a course related to your participation in the URS thesis program*, you must submit your full and complete application by August 8. 2025 at 9:00 AM Central Time to ensure your application can be reviewed and accepted by August 25, 2025, the first day of fall 2025.

If you are not required to enroll in a course related to your participation in the URS thesis program, you must submit your full and complete application by September 5, 2025 at 9:00 AM Central Time.

*Any 491, 485, 497, or other course specified by a faculty advisor who says your course enrollment is dependent on your acceptance into the URS program.

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Special Note: Team Applications

• Undergraduate Research Scholars teams may consist of 2-5 students working with the same faculty advisor.
• ALL team members must individually submit an application. The application must be identical for all members. We recommend that all team members work together to submit all parts the application. 
• Teams must select one member as the Primary Contact. This member will be the primary point of contact for all submissions and correspondence in the URS program.  
• Faculty advisors must individually approve each team member's application.

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Honor and Student Conduct Code Acknowledgement 

Any type of honor or student conduct code violation from student rules will result in a review and possible dismissal from the program. Additionally, any type of honor or student conduct code violation after completion of the program will result in a review and ineligibility to receive the Undergraduate Research Scholar honors transcript distinction.

• Students in the URS thesis program must be in good standing at the university while they are in the program, at the time of graduation distinction audit, and through graduation to be eligible for the Undergraduate Research Scholar honors transcript distinction.
• Students who receive the F* sanction for academic misconduct at any time from entry to Texas A&M University through graduation are ineligible to participate in the URS program or receive the Undergraduate Research Scholar honors transcript distinction.
• Students who have been found responsible for a violation of the Student Conduct Code and sanctioned with suspension or expulsion at any time from entry to Texas A&M University through graduation, or any sanction that has resulted in their not being in good disciplinary standing while they are in the program, at the time of graduation distinction audit, and through graduation are ineligible to participate in the URS program or receive the Undergraduate Research Scholar honors transcript distinction upon final resolution of their case.
• Students may not be awarded the Undergraduate Research Scholar honors transcript distinction retroactively after completing the Academic Integrity Development Program.

In summary, our policy is that students must:

• Currently be and remain in good standing (prior offenses where students were not in good standing are not considered if the student is in good standing at the time they apply to the program through graduation)
• Have never received an F* from entry to Texas A&M University through graduation
• Have never received a sanction of suspension or expulsion from entry to Texas A&M University through graduation

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Questions about research compliance? Visit the Research Compliance & Biosafety website. 

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Don’t have a faculty research advisor? Attend one of our monthly Getting Started in Research workshops or other campus-wide events to get advice from faculty, staff and students currently involved in research activities.
View our upcoming events schedule.