Undergraduate Scholarship Program

NIH UGSP INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR AND Q&A SESSION

Date: Thursday, January 5, 2023
Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm ET
This event has already passed. Email Darryl Murray with any questions.

NIH UGSP INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR AND Q&A SESSION

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Time: 3:00pm-4:00pm ET
This event has already passed. Email Darryl Murray with any questions.

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research. The program provides up to $20,000 per academic year in tuition, educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses to scholarship recipients. Scholarships are awarded for one year and can be renewed for up to four years.

In return, scholars must commit to two NIH service obligations for every year of scholarship support. Scholars will spend ten weeks during the summer following each year of academic support, working in an NIH research laboratory. After graduation, scholars will spend one year for every year of support as a full-time employee conducting research at NIH. Scholars are paid for work during summers and after graduation. Each scholar will work directly with an NIH Principal Investigator or an NIH postdoctoral fellow, who will serve as mentors.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must:

• Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited four-year college or university
• Earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.3 or greater on a 4.0-point scale, or rank within the top five percent of class
• Demonstrate exceptional financial need (EFN) certified by your undergraduate institution’s financial aid office (EFN certification must be uploaded to the UGSP application portal by the financial aid officer).

• 2022 - Federal Register: Volume 87, Number 20, 21 January 2022, Page 3315.
• 2021 - Federal Register: Volume 86, Number 19, 1 February 2021, Page 7732.

You are not eligible for the UGSP if any one of the following items pertains to you:

• You are a high school senior
• You have already been awarded an undergraduate degree
• You are currently enrolled in an advanced degree program, such as a master's degree
• You are unable to fulfill the payback requirements

You must meet all these requirements to be eligible for the NIH UGSP award.  To confirm eligibility, check the UGSP Eligibility Wizard.

BACKGROUND CHECK

All fellowship offers are contingent on your ability to successfully pass a federal background check, which is required for logical and physical access to NIH facilities and systems. As part of the clearance process, you will be asked questions about a variety of topics including your citizenship, criminal history, and other personal information.  One specific question you will be asked is “In the last year, have you used, possessed, supplied, or manufactured illegal drugs?”  This question pertains to the use of controlled substances or drugs as defined under federal law. Please be aware that while marijuana may be legal or decriminalized within your home jurisdiction it remains illegal under U.S. federal law.  The use, possession, supply, or manufacture of marijuana may preclude you from obtaining the necessary clearances to participate in NIH intramural training programs, even if you were initially offered a position. If you have questions about this policy or would like guidance on the clearance process, please reach out to oite@nih.gov (please put “Eligibility Inquiry” in the subject line).

Applications for 2023-2024 will be accepted starting January 4, 2023. The application deadline is April 3, 2023. Applicants can apply online on the UGSP website.  Applicant’s university must determine whether the required exceptional financial need (EFN) criteria have been met.  Applicant must provide an email address for the institution’s financial aid office, to receive a form to confirm EFN criteria. The form will disclose applicant’s first and last name, email address and university student ID number to the financial aid office. By providing an email address for the financial aid office and submitting this form to them, applicant authorizes the NIH UGSP to disclose the above-mentioned information to the financial aid office. By submitting this form to their institution’s financial aid office, applicant also authorizes the financial office to disclose their financial aid and financial need information to the NIH UGSP.

Notice: You may be asked to sign a release of information by your university. It is your responsibility to comply with your institution’s release of information requirements.

To learn more about the application process and requirements, review the videos "How to Apply to the NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program" and "How to Find an NIH Mentor".

For more information and questions and answers about the application process visit the UGSP Application Center and check the USGP Frequently Asked Questions: Application page.   

Selection

The NIH UGSP is highly competitive. A subset of candidates will receive invitations to interview virtually in mid-June and interviews will be conducted in mid-July. Successful candidates will be informed of their selection in late July 2023.

Scholarship and Salary Information

UGSP Scholars may receive up to $20,000 during an academic year that may be used for tuition, educational expenses, and reasonable living expenses. While working at NIH during the summer and after graduation, scholars will be full time federal employees and paid a salary that is commiserate to the level of education completed.

Key Dates for Admission Consideration in Fall 2023-2024 Academic Year

• January 4, 2023 - Application Opens
• April 3, 2023 - Application Deadline
• April 17, 2023 - Letter of Recommendation Deadline 
• May 19, 2023 - EFN Form with 2021 or 2022 Tax Year Information Deadline
• Mid-June 2023 - Invitations to Virtual Interview
• Mid-July 2023 - Virtual Interviews for Admission
• Late-July 2023 - Selection of Scholars

This program is administered without discrimination on the basis of age, race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or other nonmerit factors.

NIH is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from underrepresented minorities, women, and individuals with disabilities.  NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs.