Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): How the Programs Work and How to Apply

Research Experiences for Undergraduates, known as REU, is a program funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) that supports undergraduates taking part in active research. Most REU opportunities run in the summer at universities and research institutions across the United States. Students join a project, work alongside researchers, and are typically paid a stipend.

Looking for NSF's application system?

NSF’s own application website is the NSF Education and Training Application (ETAP) at etap.nsf.gov. Many REU sites take applications there.

Next Step Forward is an independent publication. It is not ETAP, is not run by NSF, and cannot accept, process or track applications.

This guide explains how REU works, who can apply, what sites typically provide and how to put together a strong application. If you’re still deciding whether research is for you at all, start with our broader guide to undergraduate research opportunities.

REU is one program, not a name for all undergraduate research

People sometimes say “REU” when they mean any summer research. It’s worth being precise, because the rules are specific.

NSF REU compared with undergraduate research in general

NSF REU compared with undergraduate research in general

Question	NSF REU	Undergraduate research in general
Who funds it	NSF, through grants to host institutions	Many sources: colleges, agencies, foundations, companies
Who can be supported	US citizens, US nationals and permanent residents (for NSF-funded participants)	Depends entirely on the funder and host
How you apply	To each REU site, following its instructions, often through ETAP	Anything from a formal application to an email to a professor
When	Mostly summer; some sites run during the academic year	Any time of year
Fields	Areas of research NSF funds	Any discipline

How the program is structured

NSF funds REU in two ways, according to the current program solicitation (NSF 23-601):

• REU Sites are grants to an institution to host a group of students working on research projects around a shared theme, which may be within one discipline or across several. The solicitation says a typical site hosts 8 to 10 students a year.
• REU Supplements add undergraduate positions to research projects that NSF already funds. These are usually arranged with the researcher leading the project, so they’re rarely advertised the way sites are.

Most students who talk about “applying to REUs” mean sites. One point trips people up: NSF is clear that students don’t apply to NSF itself. Each site runs its own selection, and you follow that site’s instructions.

What a summer at a site is like

Every site is different, but most combine a defined research project, a faculty mentor and a cohort of students from other colleges. Many add workshops on research skills, talks and a closing presentation or poster session. You’re usually expected to work full time for the length of the program.

An invented teaching example, not a real site: imagine a materials science site where each student joins a different lab. Weeks one and two cover safety training and core techniques. The middle weeks are spent on an individual project with a graduate student mentor, and the program ends with a poster session for the whole cohort. Real sites vary widely in structure, so read each one’s description carefully.

Who is eligible

NSF’s rules set a floor, and individual sites can add their own requirements.

NSF’s requirements. Undergraduates supported with REU funds must be US citizens, US nationals or US permanent residents. They must be enrolled, part time or full time, in a program leading to an associate or bachelor’s degree. NSF’s solicitation says students who have already received a bachelor’s degree are generally not eligible.

Site requirements. A site may look for students in particular majors or years of study, or with relevant coursework. Some sites focus on students from institutions with limited research opportunities. Read each site’s eligibility section, not just the program summary.

Location versus citizenship. REU sites are located in the United States, but a US location doesn’t make a site open to everyone studying in the US. If you’re an international student, you are generally not eligible for a position funded with NSF REU money. NSF’s solicitation doesn’t address positions paid for from other sources, so if you’re interested in a particular site, ask its director directly whether any non-REU positions exist. Our guide to summer research programs covers alternatives.

Community college students studying toward an associate degree fall within NSF’s definition of an undergraduate.

Funding and costs

REU positions are paid. NSF’s student page says participants “receive competitive stipends and in many cases assistance with housing, meals and travel.” The current solicitation states that student stipends for summer sites are “expected to be approximately $700 per student per week,” and lists housing, meals, travel and lab fees among other costs a site may cover. Each site sets its own package, so check what yours includes, especially housing and travel.

Applying should cost you nothing. The solicitation states that “an REU Site may not charge students an application fee.” A request for an application fee is a reason to check that you’re dealing with a genuine REU site.

Finding REU sites

Use official sources:

1. NSF’s directory of REU sites on nsf.gov, linked from NSF’s REU page for students. You can search by research area, location and keyword.
2. NSF ETAP at etap.nsf.gov, where many sites list their opportunities and accept applications. NSF notes that not every REU opportunity is advertised there, so check the directory as well.
3. Each site’s own web page. For dates, eligibility and how to apply, the site’s page has the final word.

Funding changes since 2025

The number of REU sites can change from year to year, and recent changes have been significant. In May 2025, the American Institute of Physics’ FYI news service reported that NSF had awarded 52 REU grants in 2025, compared with around 200 a year since 2015, and had terminated 15 active site grants that April, leading some sites to cancel summer sessions. Before you invest time in an application, confirm on the site’s own page that it is running in the year you’re applying for.

Preparing your application

Requirements vary by site, but most ask for some combination of:

• A personal statement about your interests, preparation and why this site fits. Our guide to writing an REU personal statement goes into detail.
• A résumé or CV covering relevant courses, projects, skills and work experience.
• Transcripts, often unofficial at the application stage.
• Recommendation letters, usually from faculty. Through ETAP you typically invite your recommenders to submit their letters directly; check how many letters each site asks for.

ETAP lets you reuse common information across several applications. Tailor your statement to each site anyway, because reviewers can tell when a statement was written for no program in particular. The research application planner helps you keep track of each site’s requirements.

A few practical points:

• Ask recommenders early, and send them your résumé, the list of sites and each deadline.
• Read the research descriptions. Mentioning a specific project or method that interests you shows you’ve done more than skim the title.
• Don’t let a lack of experience stop you. Many sites look for potential and motivation, not a long record.

Comparing offers

If more than one site offers you a place, compare them on the same points:

• the project and the mentoring arrangements
• the stipend, plus whether housing, meals and travel are covered
• dates, and whether they fit your academic calendar
• location, living arrangements and accessibility
• professional development, such as workshops, presentations or conference travel

Reply to every offer by its deadline. If you decline, do it promptly so the place can go to another student.

If REU isn’t available to you

You may be ineligible, or a site you wanted may not be running. Other routes include:

• Research at your own college, during term or over the summer.
• Federal agency programs. These have their own eligibility rules. The Department of Energy’s SULI program, for example, requires US citizenship or lawful permanent residency.
• Programs funded by universities or foundations, which sometimes have broader eligibility.
• International programs for students interested in research abroad. Our guide to international research experiences covers eligibility and planning.

Common questions

Can I apply to more than one REU site?

Yes. Students often apply to several sites, each according to its own instructions.

Do I need research experience?

Not necessarily. REU sites are designed to involve undergraduates in research, and many accept students who are new to it.

I’m graduating this spring. Can I do an REU the summer after?

NSF’s solicitation says students who have received a bachelor’s degree are generally not eligible. Ask the specific site how it applies this rule to the summer after graduation.

Does NSF choose who gets in?

No. NSF funds the sites; each site selects its own participants.

A practical next step

Open NSF’s REU site directory, filter by a research area that interests you, and save three sites. For each one, note the eligibility rules, what the stipend package covers and how to apply. Then confirm on the site’s own page that it is running this year.