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Harvard College Research Program (HCRP)

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Harvard College Research Program (HCRP) provides funding in support of student-initiated, independent scholarly research or creative endeavors undertaken with guidance of a Harvard-affiliated faculty mentor.

GENERAL INFORMATION:
The Harvard College Research Program (HCRP) provides funding in support of student-initiated, independent scholarly research or creative endeavors undertaken with guidance of a Harvard-affiliated faculty mentor.** HCRP grants advance academic experiences outside the classroom and expand opportunities for students to work closely with faculty members. In contrast to a research assistantship, HCRP recipients demonstrate autonomy in the development, direction, and preparation of the overall research project. Awards are available for fall and spring terms of the academic year, as well as for the summer. Undergraduate students from all concentrations are encouraged to apply.

** Departmentally-approved senior thesis advisors who are not members of a Harvard faculty may also serve as the HCRP faculty mentor.

New for Summer 2024: please see the HCRP Summer application instructions for the most current information regarding the on-campus housing/food option for independent researchers this summer.

Eligibility:
In order to be eligible for HCRP funding, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Enrolled Harvard College degree-seeking students
  • Students in good academic and disciplinary standing
  • Students whose research project faculty sponsors are members of a Harvard Faculty
  • Term-Time: students enrolled for the duration of the funded semester
  • Summer: students in good standing on a voluntary leave of absence during the Spring term may apply for HCRP Summer funding provided that they obtain prior approval for funding from the Administrative Board. [Start this process by contacting your Resident Dean!]

2023-2024 DEADLINES
Fall term funding: Sunday, 10 September at 11:59pm
Spring term funding: Sunday, 28 January at 11:59pm
Summer funding: Sunday, 24 March at 11:59pm

 

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See also: First-Year, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, International Students, US Citizen, US Permanent Resident, Undocumented/DACA, Opportunities, Student, Any/All Fields, Applied & Physical Sciences, Arts & Humanities, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Domestic, Harvard, International, Research, Summer, Term-Time

FAQs

FAQs

What are the typical HCRP award ranges? Term-time support is up to $1000 per student. Summer support is up to $6000.

How competitive is the research application process? HCRP would love to support the research of every student at Harvard. However, there is always a budget that only allows so much to be spent. The summer is usually the most popular time for research because classes are not in session. During the term-time, approximately 80% of students are funded. During the summer, we accept between 60-75% of applicants.

Is it possible for me to get HCRP funding for both the spring and summer semesters? Does it decrease my chances of receiving funding? It is possible to receive funding for spring and summer but you do need to apply separately for each semester. Further, it does not decrease your chances of funding if you have applied and received funds before. If you apply for funding every semester and summer throughout your four years it may eventually decrease your chances, but we often see students apply for 2-3 terms consecutively.

Can I still receive funding if I am doing my research for credit? You cannot receive a stipend for research for which you are receiving credit. You can, however, be supported for research-related expenses.

I was wondering if I could still apply for the summer HCRP even for 2-4 weeks, with faculty approval? I am not eligible for Federal Work Study and would have no way otherwise to support my research here over the summer. With HCRP you can apply for a project that fits your schedule. If you are applying for 2-4 weeks, please make sure that the proposed project matches matches the proposed timeline.

What if the person directly mentoring me isn’t Harvard-affiliated? HCRP only funds research activity undertaken under the mentorship of a Harvard-affiliated faculty member. However, sometimes you may be working on a project on which there is a Harvard-affiliated faculty member, but the person directly mentoring you is not Harvard-affiliated. In this situation, you should have both the research advisor and the Harvard-affiliated faculty member co-write the letter of support to explain the unique situation and your role and how they will each be advising you.

Can two people who are working on the same project together submit the same research proposal, but tailored to our own personal interests? Group research projects are generally not well received. HCRP was founded on the principles of individual research and the student experience. However, if a group wants to apply for HCRP the proposals should be unique and independent to each student’s research.

Can I submit more than one HCRP application to request funding for more than one research project? No, students may only submit one application for research funding per cycle.

If I receive HCRP funding and then don't end up using the award during the award period, can I defer my funding until the next cycle? No. HCRP funding must be used to support research conducted during the award period for which the funding is requested.