The L&S Honors Summer Research Apprenticeship allows Honors students the opportunity to learn how to conduct research within a discipline and actively contribute to an ongoing project under the mentorship of a UW faculty member. The apprenticeships are generously funded by grants from the Brittingham Wisconsin Trust and the Kemper K. Knapp Bequest.
Apprentices receive $3,000.
Summer 2026 Apprenticeship Cohort
- Application opens: December 15, 2025
- Deadline: February 2026
Specific dates will be posted in September 2025. We encourage students to reach out to potential faculty mentors no later than early January to allow plenty of time for the completion of your application.
Information Sessions
Info sessions are typically offered in the fall and spring prior to the February deadline. You are encouraged to attend an info session to learn more about the application and the Apprenticeship program. See upcoming Honors information sessions.
Who Can Apply
- Must be completing your first or second year of your undergraduate degree
- Must be a declared student in the L&S Honors Program pursuing Honors in the Liberal Arts, Honors in the Major, or the Comprehensive Honors track
- Must have a minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA at the time of application
- A student can only receive this grant once
This grant is intended to support students who have limited or no prior research experience. Students who have more than 1 semester of prior undergraduate research experience or are intending to undertake their own research project should consider also applying for the university-wide Sophomore Research Fellowship (see FAQs for more information).
The application includes the following components:
- Proposal of no more than four double-spaced pages with at least 1 inch margins, and no smaller than 11pt font. This will include your project title, abstract, previous research experience, proposed duties, mentor engagement, and a 500-word personal statement that speaks to what you hope to gain from an apprenticeship experience. Click here to download an overview of the project proposal requirements.
- An unofficial UW-Madison transcript. For instructions on how to access your unofficial transcript, go to request unofficial transcript.
- A letter of support from your Faculty Mentor.
- Your mentor will submit this letter through the application within WiSH. The letter and application must both be submitted by the deadline for full consideration.
- The letter of support is an opportunity for the mentor to share more about your anticipated experience throughout the summer. In many cases, you may not have previously worked with your mentor. Therefore, the mentor is not expected to complete a traditional recommendation letter and it will not be evaluated as such.
- If you are also applying to the Sophomore Research Fellowship, you are permitted to use the same letter for both applications. We recommend following the Fellowship expectations for your faculty letter. Honors will accept the same letter for your Apprenticeship application.
The L&S Honors Summer Research Apprenticeship application is available in the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH). You can access WiSH through your MyUW or by logging in at wisc.academicworks.com.
Both you and your faculty mentor must fill out portions of the application and discuss what role you will play in their research. As soon as you begin drafting your application in WiSH, enter your mentor’s name and email address. This action will notify your mentor that a letter of recommendation is required. Begin your application as early as possible to allow your mentor time to write and submit their letter on your behalf.
Applicants typically hear whether they have been awarded a grant by the end of March.
Note: Applicant information will be shared between the L&S Honors Program and the Undergraduate Academic Awards Office in order to maximize funding opportunities for as many qualified students as possible. This collaborative practice supports the mission of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the principles of the Wisconsin Experience.
Applications for this grant are reviewed by the Faculty Honors Committee. Applications are evaluated using the following criteria:
- Strength of the proposal, including, but not limited to:
- Mentorship & Engagement Strategy
- Significance & Value of Experience
- Alignment with the intent of the Apprenticeship program
- Personal statement
- Academic record (including GPA)
- Progress towards completing your Honors track(s)
Each student is required to find a UW faculty member to serve as their primary mentor for their apprenticeship. The student and the mentor are expected to develop the application together. If the student receives the apprenticeship, the student and mentor should meet consistently throughout the summer. Explore resources to help you secure a mentor here.
This grant is intended to enable students to pursue what would otherwise be an unpaid introductory research experience under the guidance of a UW faculty mentor. Students must not receive wages or other funding for their apprenticeship experience.
If a student is currently working in the lab in their proposal, the student must delineate how the proposed project is separate from their current lab work and how the project has been specifically created to provide the student with learning opportunities under faculty mentorship.
Requirements
- Total hours: We expect approximately 20 hours of research-related activity per week for 8-10 weeks of the summer, resulting in roughly 200 hours in total.
- You and your faculty mentor(s) are free to arrange any mutually convenient schedule for the work, provided that all work is completed before the fall academic term commences.
- In some cases, the research will not be completed by the date of the retreat, so the retreat presentations can be on the progress of the research to that point.
- Welcome Event: All recipients are required to attend a Welcome Event in early June to kick off the Apprenticeship program. Students will meet other apprentices and briefly share about their summer projects.
- Retreat: All recipients must attend a one-day retreat where they will discuss their experience with research and their own personal reflections with fellow apprentices and UW faculty mentors. This retreat is typically the Monday of the last week of July or the first week of August.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When does the Apprenticeship work take place?
L&S Honors Summer Research apprentices typically complete their experiences between May and August, with all work completed before the fall semester begins. The specific schedule is determined by the apprentice and their faculty mentor(s).
Do I need to find a faculty mentor before applying?
Yes. You must identify a UW–Madison faculty member who agrees to supervise your research and support your application.
Who can be my faculty mentor?
Your primary mentor must be a faculty member or permanent/long-term instructional staff with a terminal degree. These individuals typically have the following titles:
- Professor
- Associate Professor
- Assistant Professor
- Teaching Faculty or Instructor (with research projects)
Throughout this page, the use of “faculty mentor” has this definition.
As a general rule, graduate students, postdocs, and temporary lecturers are not able to serve as primary mentors.
Can I have a part-time job or take classes during the summer?
Yes, but your schedule must allow you to fully participate in the Apprenticeship program, including attending the summer retreat and completing your research duties.
Can I do remote research or work off-campus?
Possibly. Remote or off-campus research may be allowed if your mentor is affiliated with UW–Madison and the experience meets the program’s learning goals. Be sure to explain this clearly in your application. The Faculty Honors Committee may prioritize applications that include in-person research experiences.
How is the L&S Honors Summer Research Apprenticeship similar to, and different from, the Sophomore Research Fellowship?
The primary goal of each of these programs is to support undergraduates early in their careers as they learn about research in specific fields. Both programs also:
- Aim to foster research skills and academic growth
- Require collaboration with a UW–Madison faculty or academic staff mentor
- Require a project proposal, transcript, and recommendation letter
- Prohibit receiving duplicate funding for the same project during the same time period for the same work
While the objective of these programs may be similar, there are a host of differences. Please review the following information:
L&S Honors Summer Research Apprenticeship
- Eligibility: Must be in the L&S Honors Program
- Timing: Summer only, following the student’s first or second undergraduate year
- Focus: Emphasizes learning research methods and gaining exposure to research
- Mentor Role: Mentor guides student through existing research
- Presentation Requirement: Attend and present at a summer retreat
- Application Emphasis: Focus is on apprenticeship duties, mentor engagement, and student growth
- Eligibility: Open to all eligible undergraduates (not Honors-specific)
- Timing: Can be for summer or academic year
- Focus: Supports student-led independent research projects
- Mentor Role: Mentor supports the student’s original project idea
- Presentation Requirement: Present at Undergraduate Symposium or similar venue
- Application Emphasis: Focus is on research proposal quality, feasibility, and collaboration
Can I apply to both the L&S Honors Summer Research Apprenticeship and the Sophomore Research Fellowship?
Yes, students can apply for both the Apprenticeship and the Sophomore Fellowship. If interested in both the L&S Honors Summer Research Apprenticeship and the Sophomore Research Fellowship, you must apply to each opportunity through the WiSH portal. We encourage students to consider selecting the academic year for the funding term for the Sophomore Fellowship. The L&S Honors Program will communicate with the Undergraduate Academic Awards office to determine awardees when students apply for summer funding for both the Apprenticeship and Sophomore Fellowship.
I've never done research before. Can I still apply?
Absolutely! The intention of the L&S Honors Summer Research Apprenticeship is to support students seeking initial research experiences. Please review the resources below for additional support in narrowing your interests and finding a mentor.
I have prior experience with research. Can I still apply?
Yes, you may still apply. However, keep in mind that the Apprenticeship is designed primarily for students who are developing foundational research skills and want to learn more about the research process through close mentorship. The Faculty Honors Committee will prioritize applicants for whom this is true.
If you already have substantial experience and are ready to design and lead your own independent project, you might consider applying for the Sophomore Research Fellowship, which is better suited for student-initiated research.
I plan to continue to work in my current research placement throughout the summer. Can I still apply?
Yes, you can apply—but there are a few important considerations:
- You can apply if:
- Your current research placement aligns with the goals of the Apprenticeship (i.e., you’re working with a UW–Madison faculty mentor).
- You and your mentor are willing to structure part of your summer work to meet the expectations of the Apprenticeship program (e.g., focusing on learning research methods, attending the summer retreat, and submitting required materials).
- You clarify how the work that you would complete as part of the Apprenticeship would be separate and distinct from the work you’ve already done.
- You should not apply if:
- You’re receiving other funding or wages for the same research work during the same time period (double funding is not allowed).
- Your current placement doesn’t allow time or flexibility to fulfill the Apprenticeship’s requirements.
- The work that you would complete is a continuation of the work that you’ve already been completing.
Can I receive the Apprenticeship twice?
No. Students are only eligible to receive the L&S Honors Summer Research Apprenticeship one time. If you continue to work in the same research space (or an entirely new one) for the subsequent summer, we encourage you to consider the Sophomore Research Fellowship or department-specific programs.
How will I receive the funds?
The funds are provided as a Research Support payment and are typically distributed in late May/early June. Funds are distributed through your Student Account, with the exception of international students who receive funds via payroll. Recipients are encouraged to enroll in eRefund (direct deposit) for the quickest receipt of funds.
If you are an international student that is awarded this grant and you have not received a payment from UW-Madison previously, you will need to set up a Glacier account in order to confirm the proper disbursement method. Information will be provided at the time of grant acceptance.
Visit the Business Services website for additional information about student payments and the Bursar’s Office website to enroll in eRefund.
Read more about Glacier accounts on the Human Resources website.
Further questions?
Please reach out to Associate Director of Admissions and Engagement, Pete Keys, at pkeys@wisc.edu.
Additional Resources
Resources to find a Faculty Mentor:
- Review the information on the “Getting Involved in Research” Honors webpage.
- Consider scheduling an appointment via email with Associate Director Pete Keys.
Attend an upcoming information session to learn more about the Summer Research Apprenticeship and other Honors funding opportunities.