Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant

Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant is sponsored by University of South Carolina - Office of Undergraduate Research. This grant is for students working under the guidance of a USC faculty, staff, or community member on any scholarly, research, or creative project.

Undergraduate Research Mini-Grants - Undergraduate Research | University of South Carolina Undergraduate Research Mini-Grants Undergraduate Research Mini-Grants up to $1,500 per recipient for salary, materials and travel to conduct research for projects in collaboration with a USC faculty mentor funds research, scholarly and creative projects all campuses and all disciplines are eligible to apply Application Deadlines and Announcement Dates Fall Application Window : September 22 - October 20, 2026 by 5:00 pm Award Announcement Date : by December 11, 2026 Grant Duration : January 2027 through December 2027 Spring Application Window : February 23 - March 23, 2027 by 5:00 pm Award Announcement Date : by April 30, 2027 Grant Duration : June 2027 through May 2028 a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student attending any USC campus in good standing with the university working under the guidance of a USC faculty mentor You may not submit a proposal during the semester you graduate.

Preference given to those who are not eligible for funding through other sources. ( Living Learning Communities , Honors College Research Grants and Thesis Funding , TRIO , etc.) Preference given to those who have not previously received this award. Pharm.

D. students who have earned a bachelor's degree are not eligible. Mentors may support a maximum of two student applicants each round.

(This can be two individual student applications or one application by a group of two students.)

Primary Mentor Eligibility a USC faculty member (tenure-track/research/clinical) at any USC campus, including USC professional track teaching faculty are eligible to serve as primary mentor provided that three conditions are met: 1) must possess a terminal degree, 2) a secondary mentor is required who must be tenure track faculty, and 3) the department chair must approve Mentors planning sabbaticals or extended leave during the Mini-Grant project period must identify a secondary faculty mentor during this period to supervise the project Family members are not eligible to serve as primary or secondary mentors of applicants.

Post-doctoral fellows may be eligible with department permission and a tenure track faculty member as secondary mentor. Complete the Undergraduate Research Grant Application . Complete this first, working with your mentor.

You will need it for the next step. Ask your mentor(s) to complete the Mentoring Plan document(s) and have them email it to our@mailbox. sc.

edu . It is due by 5pm on the deadline date. Your application is not complete until we Mentoring Plan - Primary Mentor Mentoring Plan - Secondary Mentor : note that graduate students are permitted as daily supervisors and secondary mentors, but are not eligible to be the primary mentor for a grant application.

Submit the online application form found here during the application window, prior to the application deadline. Select "Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant" from the menu. Under Project Information , upload the Undergraduate Research Grant Application form that you completed with your mentor under #1 above.

You may not submit an application during the same semester when you are graduating. You must be enrolled for one full semester after the award date of the grant. The proposed budget should include a list of anticipated expenses and a rationale for all expenditures.

Expenses must occur during the grant period – not before or Salary and fringe benefits of the undergraduate student applicant Travel (based on mileage) to conduct the research. Mileage must be more than 10 miles one way or 20 miles roundtrip.

Project materials and supplies Participant incentives may be requested with an approval memo from the business manager; must follow university policies Computer software required to conduct the project Animal maintenance expenses Travel to present research cannot be included No publication costs – includes print and digital publications; thesis printing Computer/electronics hardware – includes tablets, cameras, etc. Payment to anyone other than the undergraduate student applicant Incentives or payments to participants outside of the US Expenses that occur prior to the grant start date, after the grant end date, or after the undergraduate student graduates.

The budget items requested should be equal to or less than $1,500 - the maximum grant Additional funding sources: if you have applied for, received, or plan to apply for additional funding to support the project, this must be clearly indicated on the budget portion of the application. Program Guidelines and Requirements Review the program guidelines and requirements here to understand expectations of grant recipients and their mentors.

Contact OUR at our@mailbox. sc. edu if you have questions.

The Mini-Grant program is administered by OUR with financial support from the Office of the Vice President for Research . Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional.

No Limits.