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Grants and Funding for Research

The NU-Q Research Office provides support to students in identifying both internal and external funding opportunities and developing grant proposals to support their research activities. To be eligible for funding programs through the Research Office, students must be in good standing.

Students can apply for the following grants from the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR)

Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grants (AY URG)

Website: https://undergradresearch.northwestern.edu/funding/ayurg/

Summary: Academic Year URGs provide up to $1,000 to pay for your research expenses to do an independent academic or creative project in any field. The project is connected to an independent study or thesis seminar.

Eligibility: NU-Q third- and fourth-year students. Seniors may not apply to conduct projects after graduation. Only one Academic Year URG may be awarded per student during their academic career. If you already received an AYURG from the Office of Undergraduate Research, you may be eligible for a second grant through the Academic Year URG Advanced program.

What it is: Your own project. Use the money for research expenses: lab materials, travel to archives or field sites, study participant compensation, or something else – you decide. While your project may relate to a faculty member’s research or develop from work within a lab, you must design and execute the project independently, with advisory assistance from your faculty mentor.  

What the grant covers:  Students receive a lump sum payment to make their own travel arrangements, such as economy-class airfare, accommodation, transportation, visa application fees, meals etc. Academic Year URGs are exempt from paying the QAR 500 travel confirmation fee. Health insurance is provided for the approved travel period, either through the student’s standard health insurance policy or an extension of that policy.

Summer Undergraduate Research Grants (SURG)

Website: https://undergradresearch.northwestern.edu/funding/surg/

Summary: Summer URGs provide a $4,000 stipend to cover living and research expenses for full-time eight-week independent academic and creative work in all fields of study under faculty supervision.

Eligibility: Northwestern University undergraduates. Seniors may not apply to conduct projects the summer following graduation. Only one Summer URG may be awarded per student during their academic career. If you already received a SURG from the Office of Undergraduate Research, you may be eligible for a second grant through the Summer URG Advanced program.

What it is: Your own project. Full-time (40 hours/week). Eight weeks. $4,000 lump-sum grant paid to you upfront to cover your living and research expenses. While your project may relate to a faculty member’s research or develop from work within a lab, you must design and execute the project independently, with advisory assistance from your faculty mentor. 

What the grant covers: Students receive a lump sum payment to make their own travel arrangements, such as economy-class airfare, accommodation, transportation, visa application fees, meals etc. Summer URGs are exempt from paying the QAR 500 travel confirmation fee. Health insurance is provided for the approved travel period, either through the student’s standard health insurance policy or an extension of that policy.

Undergraduate Language Grants (ULG)

Website: https://undergradresearch.northwestern.edu/funding/language-grants-ulg/

Summary: ULGs provide up to $5,000 for the intensive and experiential learning of a foreign language during the summer.

Eligibility: Undergraduates who will be returning to Northwestern in the fall following the summer language study. Students cannot receive ULG funds to participate in language programs following graduation from Northwestern.

What it is: You identify a summer language-learning program, and this grant helps defray the costs of attending (up to $5,000). Language programs must be at least six weeks in duration, and language instruction must be the predominant (if not the sole) aim of the program. ULGs fund students who plan to use the summer language training in the pursuit of specific academic and/or professional goals. In your application, you will explain how your chosen language program will help you meet those goals.

What the grant covers: Students receive a lump sum payment to make their own travel arrangements, such as language school tution, economy-class airfare, accommodation, transportation, visa application fees, meals etc. Summer ULGs are exempt from paying the QAR 500 travel confirmation fee. Health insurance is provided for the approved travel period, either through the student’s standard health insurance policy or an extension of that policy.

Conference Travel Grants (CTG)

Website: https://undergradresearch.northwestern.edu/funding/ctg/

Summary: CTGs fund a portion of your expenses to present your research or original creative work at a national or international conference or film festival.

Eligibility: Open to all Northwestern University undergraduate students. Students cannot receive funds to attend conferences following graduation.  

What it is: Money to help you go present your scholarly and creative projects. Going to conferences can help you communicate your research findings, network with other researchers, and expand your understanding of the scope and nature of academic research. Plus, it is great experience in learning to effectively present your work to others.

What the grant covers: Students submit a budget that includes economy-class airfare, accommodation, and conference registration fees. The student receives a lump sum to cover those expenses and they make their own travel arrangements. If the student is on financial aid, s/he can request a reasonable stipend from the Office of Business and Finance to cover food, transportation, and other minor incidental expenses. CTGs are exempt from paying the QAR 500 travel confirmation fee. Health insurance is provided for the approved travel period, either through the student’s standard health insurance policy or an extension of that policy.

*NU-Q students residing in the U.S. at the time of the conference will be awarded at the same rate as all other NU-E students; that is, the OUR grant will cover 50% of conference expenses, up to $500. 

Additional funding opportunities

The Global and Research Opportunities website is a dynamic and searchable database showcasing Northwestern University’s opportunities for international travel and learning, research experiences, fellowships and much more.

View funding opportunities

 

View travel benefits by type of grant

Type of grant

Funded by

Who organizes travel?

QAR 500 fee

Travel benefits

Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grant (AYURG)

NU-Q through NU Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR)

Students receive a lump sum payment to make their own travel arrangements.

No

Health insurance is provided for the approved travel period, either through the student’s standard health insurance policy or an extension of that policy.

Summer Undergraduate Research Grant (SURG)

NU-Q through NU Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR)

Students receive a lump sum payment to make their own travel arrangements.  

No

Health insurance is provided for the approved travel period, either through the student’s standard health insurance policy or an extension of that policy.

Undergraduate Language Grant (ULG)

NU-Q through NU Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR)

Students receive a lump sum payment to make their own travel arrangements.

No

Health insurance is provided for the approved travel period, either through the student’s standard health insurance policy or an extension of that policy.

Conference Travel Grant (CTG)

NU-Q through NU Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR)

NU-Q

No

Budget includes:

·   economy-class airfare

·   accommodation

·   conference registration fees

 

·   Students on financial aid can request a reasonable stipend to cover food, transportation, and other minor incidental expenses.

·   Health insurance is provided for the approved travel period, either through the student’s standard health insurance policy or an extension of that policy.

 

(NU-Q students residing in the U.S. at the time of the conference will be awarded at the same rate as all other NU-E students; that is, the OUR grant will cover 50% of conference expenses, up to $500.) 

Undergraduate Research and Arts Exposition

Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q)

NU-Q

Yes

·   economy-class airfare

·   accommodation

·   airport transfers

 

·   Students on financial aid can request a reasonable stipend to cover food, transportation, and other minor incidental expenses.

·   Health insurance is provided for the approved travel period, either through the student’s standard health insurance policy or an extension of that policy.

National Priorities Research Program (NPRP)

 

Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP)

Qatar National Research Fund

NU-Q

No

·   economy-class airfare

·   accommodation

·   airport transfers

·   conference registration fees

·   visa fees

·   Students do not receive per diems, but can submit itemized receipts to claim meals and transportation expenses up to the assigned UN per diem rate.

·   Health insurance is provided for the approved travel period, either through the student’s standard health insurance policy or an extension of that policy.

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