Brandeis University
Undergraduate Research Program
Summer 2007

Budget Guidelines

Because funds for the Undergraduate Research Program are limited, competition for these awards is keen. Grants for summer range between $500 and $1000, with none usually exceeding $1250. Grants for the academic year average between $300 and $500, with none exceeding $750. Partial grants are possible, i.e. you may request $600 but receive $400. Funding decisions are the sole purview of the Undergraduate Research Program Committee. The following are guidelines designed to help you construct a budget.
  1. All travel requests and other budget requests not self-explanatory must be accompanied by a written explanation.
  2. Costs that may be eligible for funding are:
    1. Travel - URP may pay for domestic travel (inside the United States) for the purpose of research, and local travel integral to the project. Local travel abroad may be eligible but we will not cover international flights. Students are expected to travel as inexpensively as possible. Travel may include MBTA commuter rail or "T" passes.
    2. Photocopying research materials.
    3. Expendable supplies and tools (lab supplies, paint, etc.)
    4. Reimbursement to subjects in a research study. You will need to develop a form to demonstrate receipt of payment.
  3. The Undergraduate Research Committee is unlikely to distribute funds for the following:
    1. Travel to the student's home area
    2. Travel to another country (The exception is that if you are going to be in your home country doing research, the URP may be able to fund local expenses while you are there.)
    3. Per diem costs (i.e. We will not fund requests that say "I'll be in Washington, D.C. for 6 days and would like $30 a day while I'm there").
    4. Ordinary school supplies (typing paper, pens, etc.) and department-specific equivalents (calculators, paint brushes, etc.)
    5. Typing and/or photocopying the final product
    6. Any piece of capital equipment that becomes the property of a university department or the property of the student
    7. Campus housing (During the summer only, URP may fund students for up to 10 weeks in campus summer housing (if available) or the equivalent dollar amount to be applied to off-campus rent. No food or other living expenses are reimbursable.) Applying to fund your housing through the URP is not a guarantee that you will be offered a room on campus. Please contact the Office of Residential Life to apply for summer housing.
  4. Receipts/Reports. At the end of the summer (or academic year, depending on the award) all URP winners are expected to submit a 3-5 page project report as well as a detailed expense report. Keep careful track of your original receipts.

These guidelines are not exhaustive. Please feel free to include other expenses pertinent to your project. Remember to list your budget items in order of importance to your project.

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