To apply, you must have a faculty mentor and a well-developed proposal. Other requirements include: 

• U.S. citizen, resident alien, or national
• Minimum of 30 hours of college credit at time of funding
• Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher at the time of application
• Support from faculty member

You may not have an active Honors College Research Grant at the same time that you have an active SURF.

Important Notice
You are not eligible for SURF funding, but you may apply for an Honors College Research Grant in the fall. Assemble the same materials and meet the same deadline as SURF applicants. Your application will automatically be considered for an Honors College Research Grant

The SURF Grant application is typically submitted in the second week of October.

Winning proposals are typically announced in December, with work expected to begin in January at the earliest, depending on the grant period requested in your application.

Seniors with SURF grants must complete their SURF-funded research work prior to graduation.

Didn't get the SURF Grant? No worries! If you are a member of the Honors College, your application will automatically be considered for an Honors College Research Grant.

The student stipend is paid directly to the student to supplement the student’s income during the research period and allow the student to devote time to the approved project. The stipend may be used for living expenses and is not required to be spent on research supplies or other project costs. A student may choose, after discussing the matter with the faculty mentor, to use part of the stipend for research expenses. Any such arrangement must be identified on the SURF Student Stipend Agreement.

• Spring-only project: $1,250 total, consisting of $625 in SURF funding and a $625 institutional match.
• Multi-semester project: $2,500 total, consisting of $1,250 in SURF funding and a $1,250 institutional match.

Mentor and Project Support

Up to $750 may be used for direct costs associated with the mentor’s work with the student and the completion of the approved project. Allowable expenses may include:

• Research materials and supplies
• Books and other project resources
• Printing and copying
• Project-related mentor travel
• Other justified expenses directly associated with the approved research

Summer salary and applicable fringe benefits may be requested only when the application includes summer funding and the mentor is on a nine-month appointment. All mentor and project expenses must be itemized and justified in the application. Indirect costs are not allowed.

Student Travel

Up to $750 is available to support the dissemination of the student’s SURF-funded research. These funds may be used for allowable travel costs associated with:

• Presenting the research at a state or national conference
• Attending a meeting of experts in the student’s discipline, as directed by the faculty mentor

Travel must be directly related to the approved SURF project and must follow University of Arkansas travel procedures.

Institutional Match

The institutional match is the University of Arkansas contribution to the student’s stipend. It is combined with the state-funded portion of the stipend and paid to the student. The institutional match is not a separate account for research supplies, mentor expenses, or travel.

Important Funding Conditions

• All SURF funds must be used for the project described in the approved application and during the approved period of support.
• The purpose of the research project may not be changed without approval.
• Funding cannot continue after the student graduates.
• Purchases and travel must follow applicable university procedures.
• Indirect costs are not permitted.
• Unspent funds must be returned at the end of the award period.

The SURF application requires students to submit a project proposal as part of the process. The following documents are sample 5-page proposals from past successful SURF applicants. If you would like assistance with your SURF proposal, please contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu to set up an appointment.

Below are examples of past proposals that received the grant.

• Biology
• Psychology

It's always helpful to see examples. You can read more examples of past proposals here.