Individual Grants
Student Grants
These grants allow students to take ownership of part or all of a project with an original proposal.
Project Proposal
Your proposal explains the “what,” “why,” “how,” and “when” of the research or creative work you plan in partnership with your faculty mentor—and argues its' importance. You will also explain your “learning goals,” or what you expect to learn—beyond project outcomes. UROP prioritizes learning objectives over project outcomes, even in Individual Grant proposals, so you should also clearly state what you will learn beyond the results of the project. In addition to the project proposal, you might need to complete additional steps if your project involves any of the following:
Proposal Prompts
Like an Assistantship proposal, this is the first part reviewers will see and serves as an introduction to the project. Your goal is also to capture your reviewer’s attention and get them excited about your work.
Student Prompts
100 word maximum: State the specific objectives/purpose of your project and, if applicable, of the larger project within which yours is embedded. Explain the project's relevance and who stands to benefit.
Creative/Performance Projects: Tell us the objectives, points of curiosity from which you're starting, hypothesis or question you're exploring and the guiding principles of the work. Discuss where and when the final project will be exhibited, displayed or performed.
100 word maximum: Situate your project within other work in the field by providing a summary of the work done and discuss the theoretical traditions influencing your project. Note what is original about your project and what contribution it makes to the field.
Creative/Performance Projects: Discuss what theoretical, aesthetic, and/or creative traditions influence your project. Include what contributions you're making to the field. Include your own creative/performance history and talk about how it's prepared you for this project.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Comment on the development of this proposal, noting the origin of the idea and its potential impact in the field.
Unlike an Assistantship proposal, Individual Grants have two prompts for the “context and objectives” section. You have more space for background information, but still avoid spending too much time introducing the topic.Focus the first prompt on the project’s goals and fill in the context in the second prompt. If your project is part of a bigger project, be sure to highlight your contribution.
Like an Assistantship proposal, this section follows the introduction provided in the “context and objections” portion and serves to explain what you will do to achieve the project goals.
Student Prompts
200 word maximum: Explain the method(s)/strategy used in this project, including justification for your approach. Also justify international travel, if your project requires it.
50 word maximum: Note any experience, training and/or coursework required to complete this project, and explain how you have prepared.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Comment on your mentee's ability to perform this project, highlighting relevant coursework, experience with methods and/or materials, and other relevant certifications and qualifications.
Unlike an Assistantship proposal, Individual Grants have two prompts for the “methodology and strategy” section. You have more space to explain, but still avoid overly detailed and technical descriptions of methods. Be sure to explain how you have the training and skills needed for the project or how you will learn them. You might still have limited experience when applying for an Individual Grant, but reviewers need to see how you will gain the skills needed.
Like an Assistantship proposal, this section follows the “methodology and strategy” portion of the proposal and serves to highlight how participation in the project will help you achieve your professional goals.
Student Prompt
100 word maximum: Describe how this project advances your personal, academic and/or professional goals, including how it fits within your degree plan.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
100 words maximum: Respond to your mentee's learning goals, commenting on 1) how you and/or an additional supervisor will support these objectives and 2) how this project will advance their academic and/or professional goals?
UROP prioritizes student learning objectives over project outcomes even in Individual Grant proposals, so you should also clearly state what you will learn beyond the results of the project.
This is an additional element to the Individual Grant proposal not included in Assistantships and serves to explain how you will get everything you need for your project.
Student Prompt
75 word maximum: Indicate the resources and materials needed for your project, and explain how you plan to acquire and make use of them.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
Should some of this grant be disbursed to a faculty/departmental account?
Yes: (100 words maximum) Explain the need to transfer funds to a faculty/departmental account.
You are not required to spend any portion of your UROP funding on supplies or other expenses for your project, though you may do so. Even if your mentor is providing all the resources, you will need to explain (as best you can) what resources and materials are required for the project. You are not required to provide an itemized budget of project expenses.
Like an Assistantship proposal, this is the last section and serves to highlight when you will do the activities outlined in the “methodology and strategy” portion.
Student Prompt
150 word maximum: Outline the major phases of your project, providing a timeline of activities.
Mentor Endorsement Prompt
Optional: Provide additional information about this project timeline.
Avoid overcrowding the timeline with details more suitable for other portions of the proposal. Be sure your timeline aligns to the grant term to which you are applying (summer or academic year). Students submitting proposals for projects continuing into the academic year might have similar proposals in their applications, but the timelines should be distinct.
Refer to the Student Grants Guide for additional information.
Start with the purpose of your work to get reviewers’ attention.
Place your project in the context of the field of study.
Be clear about the benefits of your project beyond impact in the field of study.
Be sure reviewers understand why the project is needed.
Explain why the project is not only needed—but needed now.
Use language accessible to reviewers who might not be familiar with the topic.
UROP accepts the mentor endorsement as verification of sources without citation.
Consider consulting with the Boulder Writing Center as you draft your proposal.