Grants and Research Support

The Letters & Science Honors Program currently offers several different grants, scholarships, and awards for introductory and senior thesis research, study abroad and research-related travel, and community and university service projects. For more information about these funding opportunities, including directions on how to apply, please follow the links below. 

L&S Honors Award Opportunities

Introductory Research Experience Support

Apply in spring of first or second year for funding during summer

  • Honors Summer Research Apprenticeship Grant
    • Available for the summer before or after a student’s second year on campus
    • Enables students to pursue what would otherwise be an unpaid introductory research experience under the guidance of a UW researcher
    • Please note that this opportunity is similar to, but distinct from, the campus-wide Sophomore Research Fellowships.

Senior Honors Thesis Research Support

Summer Awards

Apply in spring of junior year for funding during the summer before senior year

  • Honors Summer Senior Thesis Research Grant
    • Helps students with research-related expenses for work toward senior Honors thesis
    • Stipend of $3000
  • Barry L. Popkin Senior Thesis Research Award
    • For students doing research in economics or social sciences, with priority going to students who intend on traveling to a lower-middle income country outside of Europe to conduct a portion of their research.
      • The awardee will be selected from the pool of Summer Senior Honors Thesis Grant applicants.
    • Stipend of up to $3500
  • Mark Mensink Honors Research Grant
    • Honors Program’s most prestigious senior thesis award, recognizing the most distinguished senior thesis proposal submitted to the program each spring.
      • The awardee will be selected from the pool of applicants for the Summer Senior Honors Thesis Grant.
    • Provides the awardee with funds equal to two semesters of resident, full-time tuition (excluding fees)

Academic Year Awards

Apply in fall of senior year

Study Abroad Grants

Apply in fall or spring (depending on your study abroad term(s))

Research-Related Travel Grants

Applications accepted on a rolling basis

Community or University Service Project Funding

Apply in spring when you have at least two semesters left before graduation

  • Cyrena Pondrom Leadership Award
    • Supports student projects to improve UW-Madison, the community and/or the university student body
    • Provides up to two Honors Program students with funds equal to two semesters of resident, full-time tuition, as well as up to $3000 of funding to help them implement their ideas

Events

Upcoming Information Sessions

  • Dec
    04

    Summer Senior Honors Thesis Research Awards Information Session @ 1:00 pm Zoom (you will be emailed the link 24 hours in advance)

    Description: Are you planning to complete a Senior Honors Thesis next year? Would additional funding for the summer allow you to do more than you would otherwise do? Please consider joining one of our informational …

  • Dec
    04

    Summer Research Apprenticeship Information Session @ 3:00 pm Washburn Observatory (1401 Observatory Drive)

    Description: Come and learn more about the Summer Research Apprenticeship through the L&S Honors Program! This amazing opportunity can provide an opportunity for Honors students to more deeply engage in research experiences at the introductory …

  • Dec
    10

    Cyrena Pondrom Leadership Award Information Session @ 12:00 pm Washburn Observatory (1401 Observatory Drive)

    Description: The Cyrena Pondrom Leadership Award supports students as they plan, develop and implement projects designed to improve UW-Madison, the community and/or the university student body. Each year, up to two (2) students receive awards …

  • Jan
    23

    Cyrena Pondrom Leadership Award Information Session @ 5:00 pm Zoom (you will be emailed the link 24 hours in advance)

    Description: The Cyrena Pondrom Leadership Award supports students as they plan, develop and implement projects designed to improve UW-Madison, the community and/or the university student body. Each year, up to two (2) students receive awards …

  • Jan
    28

    Summer Research Apprenticeship Information Session @ 12:00 pm Washburn Observatory (1401 Observatory Drive)

    Description: Come learn more about the L&S Honors Program’s Summer Research Apprenticeship! This amazing opportunity can provide an opportunity for Honors students to more deeply engage in research experiences at the introductory level and beyond. …

Questions?

You are more than welcome to connect with an Honors staff member with any questions. To do so, you can email Associate Director of Admissions and Engagement Pete Keys (pkeys@wisc.edu) and/or the Honors Advising Team at advisor@honors.ls.wisc.edu. Additionally, you could schedule an appointment with Pete and/or an Honors advisor through Starfish.