Research Experiences for Undergraduates, funded programs in the United States where students join a research project for a summer, usually with a stipend.

Do I need research experience to apply?

Often not. Programs value curiosity, coursework and potential, and many are designed for beginners.

Eligibility varies. Many US-funded programs are open to citizens and permanent residents, while some accept international students. Check each program.

When do applications open?

Often in the autumn or winter for the following summer, with deadlines in winter or early spring. Check each program.

How do I find a research opportunity at my own college?

Read faculty pages, contact professors whose work interests you, and ask your department or research office.

Research Internships and REUs: How to Find, Apply, Prepare and Succeed

Research is one of the best ways for an undergraduate to learn what academic and scientific work is actually like. It is also one of the more accessible forms of internship, because professors often need motivated students and funding agencies run programs to bring them in. A summer on a research project can teach you methods, build a relationship with a mentor, provide a strong recommendation and give you a poster or a presentation to show. It can also help you decide whether graduate study or a research career is for you.

Program details, funding and eligibility change from year to year. This guide describes the general model, with a focus on the United States and similar systems, and quotes no stipend amounts or deadlines. It is general information, not career or immigration advice. Always read the official program pages.

What research internships are

A research internship places a student in a lab, field project or research group to contribute to ongoing work. Tasks vary: collecting data, running experiments, coding, reviewing literature, interviewing participants, analyzing results, writing sections of papers and presenting findings. Some are in laboratory sciences. Others are in social sciences, humanities, engineering, computing, health, environment and the arts.

Types include:

Funded summer programs. Structured programs, often lasting around ten weeks, with a stipend, sometimes housing and travel support, a faculty mentor and a final presentation. In the US, a well-known example is the Research Experiences for Undergraduates model, supported by federal science funding and hosted at universities and research centers. Similar programs exist in other countries.

College-based research assistantships. Roles with professors at your own college, during term or summer, paid, for credit or volunteer.

Industry and government research internships. At companies, national laboratories and agencies.

International research programs. Exchanges, summer schools and funded placements abroad.

Course-based research experiences. Class projects that involve real research.

Independent projects and theses. Student-led work supervised by faculty.

Why they are valuable

Skills. Methods, tools, critical thinking and communication.
Mentorship. Close contact with a researcher.
Recommendations. Strong letters for graduate school and jobs.
Clarity. Insight into research careers and graduate study.
Output. Posters, presentations, code, data and sometimes publications.
Network. Contacts with faculty and other students.
Confidence. You see that you can contribute.

Research is also uncertain. Experiments fail, data are messy and progress is slow. Learning to cope with that is part of the experience.

Who can apply

Eligibility depends on the program.

Level of study. Many are for undergraduates, often between the first and final years. Some target those who have completed one or two years.
Field. Programs are subject-specific, such as chemistry, computer science, psychology or marine science.
Citizenship and residency. Many US federally funded programs are limited to US citizens and permanent residents, though some accept others. Programs funded by universities, companies or other countries have different rules.
Academic standing. Some require a minimum grade level, but many look at the whole application.
Underrepresented groups. Some programs prioritize students from groups underrepresented in the field, or from colleges with limited research opportunities.
Age and enrollment. Usually you must be enrolled in a degree program.

Read the eligibility page carefully before you invest time in an application. International students should also check visa rules for any program they join.

How to find programs

Your college's research office or undergraduate research program. They list opportunities and offer funding.
Your department, which may post opportunities and run its own summer programs.
Faculty websites. Read about their research, and contact those whose work interests you.
National program databases and funding agency pages. For example, in the US, the federal science funding agency lists funded programs in many fields.
Professional societies, which often list programs and fellowships.
National laboratories and research institutes.
Universities' summer research pages.
Your network and alumni.
Pre-health and pre-law advisers, for programs related to those paths.

Make a list with deadlines, eligibility, funding, location, field and application requirements.

Compare programs

Questions to ask:

What is the research area? Does it match your interests?
How long is it, and when does it run?
What does it pay? Is there a stipend, housing and travel support? Is the stipend taxable? Our tax guides explain the basics.
Who will supervise you, and how often?
What will you actually do? Look at past participants' projects.
Is there training, workshops or seminars?
Is there a final presentation or poster?
Who are past participants, and where did they go?
Is it a good fit for your level?
Is housing provided, and what are the living costs?
Does it accept international students, and what are the visa implications?

Consider applying to several programs, including a mix of competitive and less competitive ones.

Contact faculty at your own college

Many research opportunities are never advertised. To find one:

Identify professors whose work interests you. Read their webpages and recent papers or summaries.
Prepare a short email. Introduce yourself, your year and course, mention specific interest in their work, describe your relevant experience and ask if they take undergraduate assistants.
Attach your résumé and transcript if appropriate.
Be polite and patient. Professors are busy. Follow up once after a week or two.
Meet if invited. Come prepared with questions and ready to discuss their work.
Be clear about your time. Say how many hours per week you can offer.
Be open to starting small. Initial tasks may be routine.

The application

Typical elements:

Application form with personal and academic details.
Résumé or CV.
Transcript.
Personal or research statement. Explain why you want research, what interests you, what experience you have and what you hope to learn.
Recommendation letters, usually from two lecturers or research supervisors.
Sometimes a writing sample or interview.

Writing a strong statement.

Be specific. Name topics, courses, projects or questions that sparked your interest.
Show curiosity and effort. Describe how you pursued a question beyond the classroom.
Link your background to the program.
Be honest about your experience. Beginners are welcome.
Explain your goals, such as learning methods or exploring graduate study.
Keep to the word limit.
Proofread.

Asking for recommendations.

Ask early, at least a few weeks before the deadline.
Ask lecturers who know your work.
Provide your résumé, statement and details of the program.
Remind them of the deadline.
Thank them.

Money, housing and practicalities

Stipends. Many programs pay, but amounts vary. They may be taxable.
Housing and travel. Some programs include them, and others do not.
Living costs. Plan for food, transport and incidentals. Our student budget template can help.
Unpaid research. Be careful. Check whether it is legal and worthwhile.
College funding. Ask your research office about grants and fellowships for summer research.
Time. Research roles often require full-time commitment in summer.

International students

International students should check:

Program eligibility. Some are limited to citizens and permanent residents.
Visa conditions. Research assistant roles may count as work or may require specific authorization.
Funding sources. Some grants have citizenship rules.
Tax and stipends.
Programs in your home country or in third countries. Many offer funded places for international students.

Speak to your international office before you accept.

During the program

Meet your mentor and clarify expectations and goals.
Read background material.
Keep a lab or research notebook with careful notes.
Ask questions. Researchers like curiosity.
Be reliable. Show up, meet deadlines and be careful with data and equipment.
Follow safety and ethics rules.
Accept that things go wrong. Learn from failures.
Attend seminars and social events.
Get to know the team.
Ask for feedback.
Respect confidentiality and authorship norms.

Present and share your work

Many programs end with a poster or talk.

Start early. Outline your question, methods, results and conclusions.
Keep it clear. Focus on a story, with simple visuals.
Practice.
Credit collaborators.
Ask for feedback.
Consider conferences, college research days and journals. Ask your mentor about opportunities.
Add the work to your résumé with clear descriptions.

After the program

Thank your mentor and the team.
Ask for a recommendation while your work is fresh.
Stay in touch and share updates.
Consider continuing the project during term or next summer.
Reflect. Did you enjoy research? What did you learn?
Plan next steps: more research, graduate study, industry or other paths.
Update your résumé and profiles.

If you are not accepted

Do not be discouraged. Programs are competitive.
Ask for feedback, if offered.
Apply to more programs, including at your college.
Contact faculty for assistant roles.
Build skills: coursework, coding, statistics or lab techniques.
Try a smaller project or a research course.
Try again next year.

Common mistakes

Missing early deadlines.
Applying without reading eligibility.
Writing a generic statement.
Asking for recommendations late.
Emailing professors with mass messages.
Underestimating the time commitment.
Not documenting the work.

A quick checklist

Do I know which programs I am eligible for?
Have I listed deadlines and requirements?
Have I contacted faculty and requested recommendations?
Is my statement specific and honest?
Do I have a plan for money, housing and visa issues?

Final thoughts

Research internships give you a close look at how knowledge is made. Start early, read the details, contact people and write honestly about your curiosity. Be patient with the work, ask for feedback and share what you find. Whether or not you become a researcher, the skills and relationships will help you.