Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)

Dates: June 2 - July 25, 2025

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a summer research program that provides undergraduate students with an opportunity to explore careers in research. The program at Illinois provides students with an experience that will help strengthen their knowledge, skills and understanding of graduate school.

Since 1986, the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) at Illinois has brought talented undergraduate students from across the US and its territories to our campus as an introduction to graduate study, research and the admission process.

The many activities offered through the SROP give participants an opportunity to establish important relationships with faculty in their respective fields of study and conduct graduate-level research under the supervision of a renowned University of Illinois faculty member. Participants will also become acquainted with the culture of graduate school and learn what is needed and expected of them as graduate students in their discipline at the University of Illinois.

Benefits

You will receive valuable graduate school information and a variety of other benefits in addition to the many experiences that support your pursuit of graduate study.

Academic Benefits

Participants are assigned a research advisor (Faculty Mentor) who will guide their summer research. The Faculty Mentor will be from a discipline, or is involved in research, that matches the participant's research interests.
Participants also have an opportunity to earn up to three credit hours of independent study during the summer, which may be transferred to their home institution.
Participants will also attend a weekly Research Writing Seminar designed to teach how to write and publish academic papers.
All SROP participants will also have the opportunity to present their summer research project at the Illinois Summer Research Symposium (ISRS). Taking place in mid July, ISRS includes SROP at Illinois and many other summer research programs.
As a summer student at Illinois you will have access to the University of Illinois Library, one of the largest public academic libraries in the United States.

Collegial Experiences

There are many organized activities designed to enable participants to develop networks useful to an emerging scholar. Aside from the many opportunities to interact socially with the other SROP participants, you will establish meaningful relationships with faculty and administrators on campus.
Students are given an opportunity to exchange ideas and broaden their knowledge and perception of their discipline through research team participation. You will be assigned to a research team consisting of approximately 10 SROP participants from similar majors. Your team will meet regularly under the leadership of a Research Team Leader who is currently pursuing an advanced degree in a related field of study. In addition to expanding your knowledge and scope, the research team serves as a mechanism to help refine your research project and develop collegial relationships with other students.

Financial Benefits

Each student who is selected will receive a stipend of up to $4,000, room and board for the duration of the program, and travel expenses to and from the summer program.
Each student will receive books, supplies, and materials needed to support their participation in the academic workshops, writing course, and team meetings.
As a summer student at Illinois, you will receive an Illinois identification card (i-card). The i-card is the University's official photo ID and is used to access services and facilities such as computer labs, printing and copying, campus recreation facilities, health care, residence halls and dining facilities. It also serves as a library user card and a free bus pass. More information is available at the i-card site.

Apply to SROP at Illinois with the BTAA SROP Application

If you would like to apply to the Summer Research Opportunities Program at the University of Illinois, please submit your application through the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) SROP online application.

This common application is used by all BTAA institutions to identify prospective summer research participants.

Applying through the BTAA SROP online application means that you do not need to request, pay for, or send us duplicate copies of your transcripts and letters of recommendation. We will have full access to these documents through the BTAA website.

Another benefit to you is that even if Illinois is your first choice, because it is a common application, all BTAA institutions will have access to your application. On the application you will have the opportunity to select all of the BTAA institutions at which you wish to do summer research.

Be sure to choose University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or we will not receive your application.

Please read the SROP FAQs offered on the BTAA SROP site. It will give you useful information and instructions on completing the application.

Any mailed documents should be addressed to

SROP
The Graduate College
507 East Green Street
Suite 101, MC-434
Champaign, IL 61820

Learn More About & How to Apply to our SROP at Illinois Partner Programs

Have you been recommended by an Illinois faculty member?

If you have been recommended by a University of Illinois faculty member or partner institution, please have that person contact us at GradDiversity@illinois.edu telling us that they have recommended you for our SROP Program. Please note: it is not necessary to be recommended by an Illinois faculty member to be accepted into SROP at Illinois.

Application Deadline

The BTAA SROP Application opens November 1, 2024 and applications are due February 10, 2025. Please note that we review applications submitted to the BTAA website on a rolling basis.

Questions may be emailed to GradDiversity@illinois.edu. Be sure to include your name and undergraduate institution with each e-mail correspondence.

Who Should Apply

The University of Illinois receives applications from students across the US and its territories. Participation in the Summer Research Opportunities Program is extended, to undergraduate students interested in graduate school or research careers.

Applicants should be:

U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or approved domestic applicants
Sophomores, Juniors, or those who will not graduate before December 2025
Those with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

Dates and Deadlines

SROP 2025

Monday, June 2, 2025 through Friday, July 25, 2025

Application Deadline: for full consideration for participation, applications and all supporting documents must be submitted no later than February 10, 2025.