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Undergraduate Research Funding

Undergraduate Research Funding Application Form

  • Download, fill out, and save the form to your computer.
  • Please note: All application materials must be submitted electronically in PDF format only.
  • All application materials (application form, proposal, and faculty letter of support) must be submitted electronically as one PDF to the Office of Undergraduate Studies: kroth@msu.edu.
  • Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

The College of Music has funding available for undergraduate music students to support special projects that make a creative and/or scholarly contribution, and enhance the development of students as scholars, artists, composers, and teachers.

These projects would culminate in such outcomes as:

  • performances or presentations at local schools or regional/state/national/international conferences and festivals
  • outreach to various communities
  • eventual publications in suitable outlets
  • educational materials for elementary/secondary school music education classes
  • enhanced marketability of MSU music students

Applications

Applications are accepted at any time with a deadline of April 21 to be considered for the current academic year.

Eligibility

All undergraduate students in the College of Music are eligible to apply. Students must be enrolled full-time in a College of Music program at the time of application. Students eligible for summer support must have been enrolled as a full-time student during the prior Spring semester and will complete the project prior to their graduation.

Examples of projects that undergraduate research funds may be used to support

  • Commissioning of new music for solo instruments or chamber works
  • Student travel for research
  • Independent research projects
  • Assisting a professor in the completion of a book or other research project
  • Incorporating research into elementary or secondary school music curricula

Application Process

Please submit one application packet electronically to the Office of Undergraduate Studies (kroth@msu.edu) that includes all the following information:

  1. Completed application form.
  2. A 350-750 word proposal that includes:

a. A description of the research/creative activity for which you are applying for funding, including a description of the expected outcome
b. An explanation of the importance of this activity to your development as a scholar, artist, and/or teacher
c. A budget breakdown explaining how the funds will be used. Include any other funds that you have received for this project
d. A brief description of your qualifications relevant to this project. You may also attach additional supporting documentation to your proposal

3. A letter of support from your faculty sponsor. Before submitting your application, be sure your sponsoring faculty is willing to sponsor your project. At the conclusion of the project, faculty sponsors are responsible for submitting a brief (maximum one page) report to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies on how the student project made a creative and/or scholarly contribution (i.e. performance, presentation, or publication).

April 21 of each academic year.

The College of Music Undergraduate Committee will, based on the information provided by applicants for funding, review the applications and make recommendations to the Associate Dean. Ordinarily, funding will be limited to a maximum of $500, although additional funding may be available in extraordinary cases. Students should expect to hear from the committee within one month of the application deadline.

At the conclusion of the project, students are required to submit a brief research report to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies describing the outcome of the project. Faculty sponsors are responsible for submitting a brief (maximum one page) report to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies on how the student project made a creative and/or scholarly contribution (i.e., performance, presentation, or publication).

Students who receive funds are expected to present their research results or an artistic performance at a local, regional, state, national or international conference/meeting. This could include presenting research results at the Michigan State University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF). Students who author or co-author any publication as a result of this research project should provide the name of the publication/journal.

Undergraduate Research Funding Application Form

  • Download, fill out, and save the form to your computer.
  • Please note: All application materials must be submitted electronically in PDF format only.
  • All application materials (application form, proposal, and faculty letter of support) must be submitted electronically as one PDF to the Office of Undergraduate Studies: kroth@msu.edu.
  • Incomplete applications will not be accepted.