Senior Thesis Grant
Undergraduate Students: Apply Now
Available to Undergraduate Students
Deadline: Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Seniors must apply by January 31, 2027; Juniors must apply by March 12, 2027.
Funding Amount: Up to $2,500
Restrictions
Juniors and seniors conducting a thesis under the direction of an Arts and Letters faculty member are eligible for Senior Thesis Grants. Students cannot receive both a Research and Materials Grant and a Senior Thesis Grant in the same year.Purpose
Senior Thesis Grants support research conducted to fulfill the requirements for a thesis. Senior thesis grants support expenses such as:
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art supplies
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human subject payments
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survey services
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computer programming services
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software (as long as it is not already available through OIT or the Hesburgh Library)
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travel (and associated lodging and meal costs) to archives or other research destinations
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remote archive/library services.
Application Instructions
Proposal Application Materials
Every application must have the following elements with the correct formatting to be considered.
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Title page with a 100-word non-technical abstract.
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Five-page project proposal that includes a description of the project, methods, timeline, and a discussion of broader impacts.
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Budget using the Franco Institute budget template.
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For Human Subject Research: IRB approval and completion of the online Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) module.
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Travel: For any domestic travel, complete the Domestic Travel Waiver Form. Projects involving international travel require that students register with the Notre Dame International Travel Registry and forward proof of registration to Therese Blacketor (tblacket@nd.edu), Student Grants Coordinator.
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Letter of Recommendation (from Arts and Letters faculty).
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Sample of work: Creative Projects Only.
If grant funds are awarded, recipients are also required to complete post-award reports.
Proposal Preparation and Submission
All proposals should be a maximum of five pages, double-spaced, with one-inch margins and 12-point Times New Roman font. Include page numbers (bottom center) and embed any figures or images within the project description with captions. Footnotes, endnotes, in-text citations, and the bibliography should use a discipline-appropriate citation style. The bibliography is not included in the page limit.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on the clarity of the proposed project, the intellectual merit, the potential impact of the project, and the applicant’s qualifications to conduct the proposed work.
Budget items with insufficient justification may be reduced or eliminated in an award offer.
Questions and Additional Information
For additional information and best practices, see the Before You Apply page for undergraduate students.
Timing: Academic Year, Summer