Program Overview
The Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP) pairs faculty who need research assistance with undergraduates eager to engage in advanced research. For faculty who take on this serious mentoring role, small grants (up to $700 per academic year) are available to pay for expenses incurred in bringing the undergraduate into the project. Limited summer funds for student summer stipends are also available. For more information see the Faculty Handbook.
URAP FACULTY PORTALS
URAP operates through a personalized web-based “portal” that is created for each faculty member. Your portal will allow you to view applications, post notes for applicants and apprentices, create Learning Contracts, and see if students have signed the contracts. You may also renew and revise your project(s) at the portal.
ACADEMIC YEAR APPLICATION
Mentors can post research opportunities for each fall and spring semester. Fall 2025: URAP will begin to list open fall projects in mid-August. The application process is entirely remote. It is your decision if the work will be remote, in-person, or a hybrid version. Please contact Stefanie Ebeling at urap@berkeley.edu for the link to submit a proposal. The last day to submit a new project for the fall semester is August 22, 2025.
Student deadline: The student application usually opens on the first Friday of the administrative term, and closes on Monday in the second week of classes. The fall 2025 application period for students will be Friday, August 22nd through Tuesday, September 2nd.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
Click here for a look at current URAP faculty research projects for apprentices.
FACULTY HANDBOOK
The URAP Faculty Handbook offers an extensive description of the program and guidelines for working with undergraduates.
CALENDAR
Important dates in the URAP cycle are noted in our Faculty Calendars: Fall 2024 (pdf) and Spring 2025 (pdf).
LEARNING CONTRACTS
Each semester, the URAP faculty mentor and the undergraduate apprentice must sign a Learning Contract outlining roles and expectations, whether or not they enroll for units. Contracts are completed online for new and continuing apprentices.
SUMMER STIPEND PROGRAM
There are no new URAP projects listed in the summer, but there is usually funding available for continuing URAP faculty and apprentices. Faculty who participate in URAP during the fall AND spring semester may nominate a current apprentice to receive a SUMMER work stipend. Eligible faculty will be notified in mid-February about summer funding.