Multi-step Application Process

Eligible students can apply to the Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) thesis program each year between June and September. The URS application consists of two parts:

1. Part 1: Intent to Apply
2. Part 2: Completed proposal document using required template submitted to thesis portal (portal link to be announced) that includes:
   • Proposal sections
   • Research compliance acknowledgement
   • Contingency plan
   • Timeline 

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Part 1

Part 1 is an online form documenting your intent to apply to the URS program. Download the Part 1 Planning Document to see what questions you will be asked during Part 1. Copy and paste your information from the Part 1 Planning Document into the online form.

Applicants should work on Part 1 and Part 2 (the proposal document) concurrently; however, Part 1 should be submitted before Part 2 (the proposal document). Part 2 (the proposal document) will be submitted to a portal on a separate website (portal link to be announced). 

Part 2

Part 2 is comprised of a fillable Word document students will complete, save, and upload into the official thesis portal. Use of the fillable Word document is required. 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 the document 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. 

Use of our proposal template document is required, and all sections must be complete. 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 (September 2025 through April 2026). Applications with incomplete sections, or applications that do not use the required template will be returned without review, jeopardizing admittance into the program. 

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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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 both parts of the application. Part 2 of the application must be identical for all members. We recommend that all team members work together to submit all parts the application. 
• During the application stage, 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.  
• Note: Faculty advisors must individually approve each team member's application.

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Application Review Process

Once Part 2 (the proposal document) is submitted to our portal and approved by your faculty advisor, the document 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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Application Deadlines

 
If you are required to enroll in a course related to your participation in the URS thesis program, you must submit Part 1 by August 1, 2025 at 9:00 AM Central Time and Part 2 (the proposal document) 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 Part 1 by August 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM Central Time and Part 2 (the proposal document) by September 5, 2025 at 9:00 AM Central Time. 

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.