UTRAs support various types of projects between Brown students and faculty. While most students collaborate with professors on research during the summer months, they may also apply for grants to support the creation or revision of a course, international projects, and in some cases, research during the academic year.

Semester UTRA
Students may apply for a semester UTRA to conduct research and curriculum development projects during the semester.  Semester UTRAs take place in the fall and spring and are especially attractive for students who want to collaborate with faculty who are unavailable during the summer or who cannot themselves spend the summer in Providence. Shorter term projects, as well as those that require school to be in session (as in many education or psychology projects) are also appropriate for semester UTRAs. 

Summer UTRA
During the summer, students and faculty collaborate on research and teaching projects.  Depending on the nature of the project, this might include time spent in the laboratory, archive, or in the field. 

International UTRA
The International UTRA supports collaborative research or teaching projects abroad. Applications to work abroad will be considered only when both the faculty and the student are traveling and are on-site together.

Students may only apply for an international UTRA during the summer. Semester international awards are not permitted. Students who are interested in conducting research while abroad during the academic year should consider the possibility of a Global Independent Study Project (GLISP), sponsored by Brown's Office of Undergraduate Study Abroad.

Brown may, at its discretion, prohibit undergraduate study abroad or other university-sponsored undergraduate activity at sites where the severity of the U.S. State Department Travel Warning is particularly acute. 

Please check back in mid-September for details on the Spring 2026 UTRA cycle.

Learn about the research and curriculum development opportunities available this fall in the Fall 2025 SPRINT|UTRA Opportunities List(or access a pdf version). You can also use the SPRINT Search Tool to search for opportunities. 

UTRA focuses on forging new research and curriculum development collaborations between students and faculty mentors. If you have previously collaborated with a faculty mentor, please review the guidelines for collaboration when selecting opportunities to ensure that you are eligible for those opportunities. 

For each UTRA opportunity to which you are applying, you will upload:

• a cover letter that describes the specific ways this experience will be impactful for you and also articulates how you hope to contribute to the project
• a resume that describes your past experiences and skills

Students must follow the SPRINT Fellowship application process. 

For UTRA, this includes two parts:

• Part 1: Register in UFunds (SPRINT Fellowships)
• Part 2: Submit your application materials for one or more UTRA opportunities through the Brown-Generated SPRINT Fellowship Google Form application.

To apply to multiple opportunities, you will submit the Google Form application multiple times. You can submit up to five SPRINT applications, inclusive of Brown-Generated and Student-Generated opportunities.

Please take care when completing the application form to ensure that you are attaching the correct materials for the specific opportunity to which you are applying. You will be able to edit your application(s) until the deadline by following the link in the confirmation email you receive after submitting each application. Your application will not be complete until BOTH required parts are submitted.

The application deadline is Noon EST on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Your application will not be reviewed unless you complete and submit BOTH the UFunds registration AND at least one Google Form application.  

Please write to utra@brown.edu if you have any questions.

This section gives students access to relevant tools or information to enhance their undergraduate research experience.

Undergraduate Research Fellowships - Distinctions Table

Fall 2025 Student Collaborator Guide

Spring 2025 Student Collaborator Guide

SUMMER 2025 STUDENT COLLABORATOR GUIDE

VIDEOS