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Undergraduate Research Week – April 19-23, 2025
April is a month that provides university students across the U.S. with the opportunity to shine with their progressive work during Undergraduate Research Week from April 19 to 23 this year. Yes, conducting research work does not have to be limited to your finals. Continuously researching on topics and forming numerous new hypotheses is the best way to aid in the evolution of society. If you’re currently enrolled in college or university and are looking for funding here are some scholarships for undergraduates . Here’s more on why Undergraduate Research Week is so important.
History of Undergraduate Research Week
Keeping the youth motivated to make a difference is not easy, but it is not an impossible task either. This initiative was started by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) and the organization continuously strives to make efforts that lead to the creation of scholarly ideas and groundbreaking research. With the vision to help in the advancement of society through creative undergraduate research, CUR assigned a week in April as Undergraduate Research Week. This initiative was initially pushed forward by the U.S. House of Representatives on the 16th of November, 2010.
This week has become a national celebration during which numerous universities hold events exhibiting brilliant research studies conducted by undergraduate students of different institutes. This means, not only will the students be motivated to put an extra effort into their research throughout the year, but they will also be bestowed with the opportunity to have their voices heard.
During the celebratory week, aspiring and brilliant students may present their ideas using various mediums ranging from video presentations, detailed papers, a performance, or a creative art display — all you need is a bright idea that stands out from the rest! It’s time to start brainstorming!
Undergraduate Research Week timeline
The University of Berlin is founded by Wilhelm von Humboldt — it introduces a sound model for undergraduate research.
John Hopkins University in the U.S. introduces experimentation and research.
The MIT Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) makes research projects a norm.
The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) is established.
Undergraduate Research Week FAQ s
Is undergraduate research time-consuming.
It’s time-consuming only if you procrastinate and let the work pile up.
What type of research can be conducted?
You can either join a faculty member’s research project, start a solo project, or come up with a research idea with a group of students.
Can any undergraduate student be a part of the Research Week?
Yes! All that is required is motivation and a proactive attitude.
How to celebrate Undergraduate Research Week
Make a video.
To attract an audience, shoot an interesting video to showcase your research findings. Better yet, if possible, form an interesting narrative and represent it in movie-form.
Give a live performance
Don’t have the skills to produce a video? Just write an entertaining and gripping script and have some actors play it out live on Zoom to whichever audience you want.
Animate it!
To stand out from the rest, present your findings through an animated short video. This will also make the presentation appear super professional.
Five Fun Facts About Undergraduate Research
Research universities in the u.s..
There are 261 research universities in the United States.
Undergraduate research for foreigners
The U.S. provides a J-1 visa for international students interested in studying and doing research.
The best U.S. undergraduate research university
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the best undergraduate research university in the U.S.
Federal funds for research
In 2019, the Department of Defense issued 3.51 billion dollars to fund research programs.
#5 Research is for the faculty, too!
The faculty members at research universities are expected to partake in research and are required to publish research articles.
Why undergraduate research is important
It can aid with the groundwork for a new business venture.
Working for yourself is always better than working for someone else. Why choose the undergrad years to put in this effort? Because you have more time and energy. Most importantly, student ventures tend to receive funding from outside sources.
It keeps the students motivated
If you invest your undergraduate years in research, you are more likely to feel motivated since you will have a goal and vision to work towards.
It can help you change the world
A big idea is all you need to change the world! Case in point — the creation of Facebook, Apple, and numerous others brands, ventures, and ideas that have completely changed life as we know it.
Undergraduate Research Week dates
Undergraduate research week related holidays.
National Student Employment Week
National Internship Awareness Month
National Teen Self-Esteem Month
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Get ready to celebrate Undergraduate Research Week (URW) on April 21 – 25, 2025.
On November 16, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives declared the week of April 11, 2011, as “Undergraduate Research Week.” Since that time, CUR has designated a week in April each year as “Undergraduate Research Week.” This is a national celebration in which CUR showcases what other campuses are doing to celebrate UR, congratulate students on their research, and thank those faculty and mentors who have helped guide the way for UR.
Celebrate with us all week long. Take a look at what will be happening here at CUR and at other institutions. Follow along on social media using #URW2025.
Gratitude Posts: What impact has undergraduate research had on you? Is there a mentor you would like to thank? Is there a research project that made you think twice about something? Is your faculty’s hard work making your undergraduate research programs successful? Make sure to thank those who have made a difference in your undergraduate research journey by tagging #URW2025 on social and making sure to tag @CURinAction so we can share your stories. Celebrate Success: Throughout the week, CUR will be posting undergraduate research highlight stories from many membered institutions and award winning community members. Make sure to read these amazing stories!
Share What’s Happening On Your Campus: Take a minute and share upcoming celebrations, symposia, and more that may be happening on your campus during or after Undergraduate Research Week.
Undergraduate Research Week 2025 Activities
The annual Honors Day Research Symposium at Presbyterian College offers students an opportunity to share the results of their scholarly efforts with the campus community. The Symposium and Honors Day Convocation honor outstanding academic work, with inclusion of art, literary, humanist, and scientific presentations and posters from students of all academic years. PC’s Honors Day will take place on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
Missouri Western State University (MWSU) will host its Annual Applied Learning Showcase event on the MWSU campus. The event celebrates the applied learning accomplishments of our students, will feature presentations, art exhibits, performances, short films, department open houses, and more.
Penn State Schuylkill will host its annual spring poster conference on April 9. Students across various disciplines will present their work and be judged for a chance to attend the Penn State Eastern Region Symposium.
MSU Texas undergraduates participating in faculty-mentored research who submitted mentor-approved abstracts to the MSU-Texas Office of Undergraduate Research will present their ongoing or final results in selected categories: creative activity, emerging research, oral, papers, or posters. Students from across multiple disciplines will be represented. The area communities and MSU Texas campus community are invited to attend. The MSU Texas Office of Undergraduate Research sponsors this event.
Planning Ahead? Mark your calendars for our future Undergraduate Research Week celebrations: April 20 – 24, 2026.
Illinois Office of Undergraduate Research
2025 undergraduate research week.
April 20 – 26, 2025
- 2024 Program
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A celebration of student innovation and excellence at Illinois
Advancing the University of Illinois educational mission to foster a ‘culture of discovery’ and its commitment to innovative research and scholarship with global impact, Undergraduate Research Week (URW) showcases the best of undergraduate research and creative inquiry at the University of Illinois. Campus events include workshops on getting started in research, special exhibits, and colloquia sponsored by individual departments, programs, and units, highlighting the best of our students’ work. The Undergraduate Research Symposium, a day-long signature event, brings together hundreds of students from all academic disciplines to share their research through oral panels, poster presentations, and performances. These students and their projects take on the important issues and questions of our time, and hold the potential to change the world for the better. We invite you to come be inspired!
For Units, Programs, and Departments: Why include your event in the URW? Play a role in contributing to the campus-wide showcase of undergraduate scholarship and innovation and show your units commitment to supporting undergraduate research. URW events are promoted by OUR and will be included in a digital and printed program that is widely distributed to current and future students as well as faculty and staff on campus.
If your unit would like to schedule an event to be featured in the 2025 URW, please submit an application here. Please note: Students interested in presenting at the URS should NOT apply using this form. Instead, students should use the "Apply to Present" link in the left navigation menu. This link will appear in November.
For Students: