Application Deadlines and Announcement Dates

Fall Application Window:  September 22 - October 20, 2026 by 5:00 pm
Award Announcement Date: by December 11, 2026
Grant Duration: January 2027 through December 2027

Spring Application Window:  February 23 - March 23, 2027 by 5:00 pm
Award Announcement Date: by April 30, 2027
Grant Duration: June 2027 through May 2028

Grant Eligibility

You must be: 

• a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student attending any USC campus
• in good standing with the university
• working under the guidance of a USC faculty mentor

In addition: 

• You may not submit a proposal during the semester you graduate.
• Preference given to those who are not eligible for funding through other sources. (Living Learning Communities, Honors College Research Grants and Thesis Funding, TRIO, etc.)
• Preference given to those who have not previously received this award.
• Pharm. D. students who have earned a bachelor's degree are not eligible.
• Mentors may support a maximum of two student applicants each round. (This can be two individual student applications or one application by a group of two students.)
  
  

Application Process

1. Complete the Undergraduate Research Grant Application.  
   Complete this first, working with your mentor. You will need it for the next step.
2. Ask your mentor(s) to complete the Mentoring Plan document(s) and have them email it to our@mailbox.sc.edu. It is due by 5pm on the deadline date. Your application is not complete until we receive these forms.  
   • Mentoring Plan - Primary Mentor
   • Mentoring Plan - Secondary Mentor: note that graduate students are permitted as daily supervisors and secondary mentors, but are not eligible to be the promary mentor for a grant application. 
3. Submit the online application form found here during the application window, prior to the application deadline. 
   Select "Undergraduate Research Mini-Grant" from the menu. Under Project Information, upload the Undergraduate Research Grant Application form that you completed with your mentor under #1 above.

You may not submit an application during the same semester when you are graduating. You must be enrolled for one full semester after the award date of the grant. 

Budget Guidelines

The proposed budget should include a list of anticipated expenses and a rationale for all expenditures.  Expenses must occur during the grant period – not before or after.

Allowable Expenses

• Salary and fringe benefits of the undergraduate student applicant
• Travel (based on mileage) to conduct the research. Mileage must be more than 10 miles one way or 20 miles roundtrip.
• Project materials and supplies that are compliant with E/N fund policies
• Participant incentives may be requested with an approval memo from the business manager; must follow university policies
• Computer software required to conduct the project
• Animal maintenance expenses

Expenses Not Allowed

• Travel to present research cannot be included
• No publication costs – includes print and digital publications; thesis printing
• Computer/electronics hardware – includes tablets, cameras, etc.
• Payment to anyone other than the undergraduate student applicant
• Incentives or payments to participants outside of the US
• Food or beverages
• Expenses that occur prior to the grant start date, after the grant end date, or after the undergraduate student graduates.

The budget items requested should be equal to or less than $1,500 - the maximum grant amount. 

Additional funding sources: if you have applied for, received, or plan to apply for additional funding to support the project, this must be clearly indicated on the budget portion of the application. 

Program Guidelines and Requirements

Review the program guidelines and requirements here to understand expectations of grant recipients and their mentors. 

Contact OUR at our@mailbox.sc.edu if you have questions. The Mini-Grant program is administered by OUR with financial support from the Office of the Vice President for Research.