The Office of Undergraduate Research offers the Academic Year Undergraduate Research Award (AYURA) to support project expenses of student-initiated, faculty-mentored independent scholarly research or creative endeavors in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts. Awards are budget-based, up to a maximum amount of $2500.
Eligibility
- WashU senior working towards thesis, capstone, or culminating project
- Research project must be in humanities, social sciences, or arts
- Research must not conflict with student’s academic year studies
- Nomination from a WashU faculty mentor in the field of proposed inquiry who agrees to actively engage in overseeing the project.
- Note: the nomination form comprises several short answer questions rather than a traditional letter of recommendation.
- If the project is co-mentored, a second nomination may be required.
Application Timeline
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from August 28, 2023 up to 11:59PM on the deadlines below, which vary depending on the start date of the project:
- Fall start projects: October 10, 2023
- Spring start projects: March 17, 2024
- Summer-start projects: June 1, 2024
Awards will be made until funds are exhausted. Therefore, the OUR recommends that students apply as early as possible and at least one month before expected expenditures. Award payments require approvals from several university offices, meaning funds can take up to one month from the award decision to be received. Note that we cannot fund expenses incurred before award approval (i.e., before the official award decision).
Selection Criteria
Applications for AYURA funds will be evaluated based on the feasibility and necessity of the proposed research or creative activities, as well as the disciplinary and personal impact of the project. Student application materials and faculty nomination forms should address the students' preparation for independent scholarly work in the proposed field, the underlying rationale for their methodological approach or creative process, anticipated findings and implications, and the importance of the proposed project for the field and the student. Priority is given to first-time OUR award applicants, and students may receive only one AYURA award.
Payment Logistics
Funds will be disbursed directly to the student as an award, typically via direct deposit (though mailed checks are also possible), and they are considered taxable income. For international students, the tax burden can be substantial (up to 30%), and taxes are automatically withdrawn by the WashU Tax Department upfront; this effectively means that international students will only be able to use part of the award towards their project. Taxes are not an allowable budget item.
Academic Year Undergraduate Research Award
The Office of Undergraduate Research offers the Academic Year Undergraduate Research Award (AYURA) to support project expenses of student-initiated, faculty-mentored independent scholarly research or creative endeavors in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Arts. Awards are budget-based, up to a maximum amount of $2500.
Eligibility
- WashU senior working towards thesis, capstone, or culminating project
- Research project must be in humanities, social sciences, or arts
- Research must not conflict with student’s academic year studies
- Nomination from a WashU faculty mentor in the field of proposed inquiry who agrees to actively engage in overseeing the project.
- Note: the nomination form comprises several short answer questions rather than a traditional letter of recommendation.
- If the project is co-mentored, a second nomination may be required.
Application Timeline
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from August 28, 2023 up to 11:59PM on the deadlines below, which vary depending on the start date of the project:
- Fall start projects: October 10, 2023
- Spring start projects: March 17, 2024
- Summer-start projects: June 1, 2024
Awards will be made until funds are exhausted. Therefore, the OUR recommends that students apply as early as possible and at least one month before expected expenditures. Award payments require approvals from several university offices, meaning funds can take up to one month from the award decision to be received. Note that we cannot fund expenses incurred before award approval (i.e., before the official award decision).
Selection Criteria
Applications for AYURA funds will be evaluated based on the feasibility and necessity of the proposed research or creative activities, as well as the disciplinary and personal impact of the project. Student application materials and faculty nomination forms should address the students' preparation for independent scholarly work in the proposed field, the underlying rationale for their methodological approach or creative process, anticipated findings and implications, and the importance of the proposed project for the field and the student. Priority is given to first-time OUR award applicants, and students may receive only one AYURA award.
Payment Logistics
Funds will be disbursed directly to the student as an award, typically via direct deposit (though mailed checks are also possible), and they are considered taxable income. For international students, the tax burden can be substantial (up to 30%), and taxes are automatically withdrawn by the WashU Tax Department upfront; this effectively means that international students will only be able to use part of the award towards their project. Taxes are not an allowable budget item.