Application Information

To receive full consideration for the program, apply online by January 19th 2024, however applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until January 26th, 2024 or until all projects are filled. A completed application consists of the following:

• an online application, which requires at least two (2) letters of references (advice on getting strong reference letters),
• a 300 to 500–word Statement of Interest describing your personal goals and how you believe this REU experience could help you achieve those goals,
• and an official or unofficial transcript uploaded to the application.

This website (Pathways to Science) has resources with helpful information on preparing applications to summer research programs.

Eligibility

• Students must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at a two-year or four-year institution (recently graduated seniors are not eligible for the program).
• Students must be a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States.
  • Note: The NSF-funded REU program can only support citizens or  permanent residents (including Green Card holders) of the United States, but the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Physics is excited to host at least one international student each summer. 
• Students are best prepared if they have completed their sophomore year by May 2024 with at least 4 semesters of physics and having an average technical (math/physics) grade point average of 3.0/4.0. 
  
  • Note: This requirement does not apply to community college students. Interested community college students who have completed one year of studies are very much encouraged to apply to our program.
  • Some research topics recommend more prior preparation than others. To review the research topics, check out the Projects tab, or click here. 
• Students must be majoring in physics or a related field.
• Applications are not accepted from currently enrolled students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Timeline

• December 7, 2023 — Applications open!
• January 19, 2024 — Priority application deadline, rolling until final deadline*
• January 26, 2024 (11:59PM) — All application deadline*
• February 23, 2024 — Offer letters sent to REU prospective participants
  • No response is required until after March 1, 2024
• March 8, 2024 — Deadline for REU participant acceptance
• May 25, 2024 — REU participants arrive on UIUC campus
• May 28–May 31, 2024 — REU Research Bootcamp
• August 1–August 2, 2024 — REU final project presentations

*Offers will be made on a rolling basis after the application deadline, until all positions are filled. Awardees will be notified by email of their acceptance into the program and will be given a specific time window to accept or decline the offer.

The REU summer site program of the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is supported by the National Science Foundation  grant PHY-2244433. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed on this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Additional funding has been provided by the Department of Physics and by our generous alumni donors.