Undergraduate Research

One of the endless benefits of attending a world-class university is having access to its world-class faculty. UC Berkeley's faculty is on the cutting edge of research in nearly every field imaginable, and undergraduates have the opportunity to contribute to their progress. There is a great demand for student assistants in dozens of active research projects on campus. If you are interested in participating in a faculty research project, you can do so through the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program or the Summer Research Opportunity Program. If you want to pursue your own research, you can find support through Undergraduate Research @ Berkeley, SURF, and the Haas Scholars Program. If you want to travel for your research, you can apply for the UCDC or Cal in the Capital programs. The vast majority of the research programs offer credit toward your degree.

Undergraduate Research @ Berkeley

The Undergraduate Research @ Berkeley website is the central clearinghouse for undergraduate research opportunities on campus. Come here for links to the campus undergraduate research calendar of workshops and events, as well as links to programs that offer you opportunities to assist faculty with research, or design and launch your own research project. Many programs offer funding for the summer before your senior year.

The Haas Scholars Program

Open to all majors, this Cal program funds financial aid eligible, academically talented undergraduates to engage in a sustained research, field-study or creative project in the summer before and during their senior year at Berkeley.

The McNair Scholars Program

The McNair Scholars Program prepares selected UC Berkeley undergraduates for graduate study at the doctoral level. Selected scholars participate in both academic and summer activities. The McNair Scholars Program aims to increase numbers of groups underrepresented in doctoral programs.

The Summer Research Opportunity Program

This program prepares students for graduate study and research careers. The program targets students historically underrepresented in graduate school. The summer research internships carry a stipend, require a full-time commitment, and are restricted to juniors and seniors.

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships at Berkeley

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships at Berkeley program is designed to allow Berkeley undergraduates in the College of Letters and Science to spend the summer doing concentrated research in preparation for a senior thesis or another major capstone research project.

The Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP)

The Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program involves undergraduates in research and scholarship by pairing them with members of Berkeley's distinguished faculty on projects that will deepen your knowledge and skills in areas of special interest while enabling you to experience what it means to be part of an intellectual community. As an undergraduate research apprentice, you can work on a research project for a semester or an academic year and enroll for credit or volunteer your time.

UC Center in Sacramento (UCCS) Scholar Intern Program

Open to all majors, this program provides the unique opportunity to become involved in state policy in Sacramento. The capstone of the UCCS program is a research seminar led by faculty from several UC campuses and culminates in a research thesis. The seminar is supplemented with an intensive internship experience.

University of California Washington Program (UCDC)

Open to all majors, this program provides a unique opportunity to spend a semester (Fall or Spring) in Washington, D.C. pursuing full-time course work and an internship in your selected field. The centerpiece of the curriculum in Washington is a multidisciplinary research seminar that leads to a substantial term paper based on your internship.