UG Summer Research Abroad Sponsorship (USRA)

Download Application Guidelines

Download Research Programme Proposal Form

Download Departure Form

Download Completion Report Template

Call for Applications: USRA 2023/24

Aiming to enhance the research experience and international exposure of undergraduate (UG) students, the UG Summer Research Abroad Sponsorship (USRA) provides financial support to UG students to undertake research programmes under the guidance and supervision of academics at overseas pre-eminent universities.

Eligibility Criteria 

Applications must meet the following criteria:

• the applicant, serving as Programme Coordinator, must be a full-time PolyU academic staff.
• the research programme must be no less than six weeks in a face-to-face mode in collaboration with an overseas institution that ranked in the top 200 in the latest world university rankings or leading in the faculty’s respective disciplines.
• the nominated students for the programme must be full-time non-final year UGC-funded UG students, who have not been granted USRA before.

Application Submission

Applications should be submitted to the Graduate School (GS) via D/SRC by 31 March 2024 by email at gs.attachment@polyu.edu.hk. The application should include:

• a completed research programme proposal form with the D/SRC endorsement, and
• a collaboration letter issued by the hosting unit.
  

   

Application Selection and Funding Approval

The proposals will be assessed and selected by a selection panel on:

• scientific merits of research activities;
• impact of the research collaboration; and
• benefits to students.

The financial sponsorship of a funded proposal is calculated as the number of students approved x student allowance. The student allowance consists of a subsistence allowance and a travel allowance, as shown below. The decision is subject to the availability of funding.

Under this sponsorship, both the University and the students share the costs of the research programme. If necessary, students can seek additional funding from external sources to top up their subsistence allowance. However, travel allowance is not applicable for the top-up.

Responsibilities of Participating Students

Upon receiving funding approval, participating students should:

• submit the departure form with airfare receipt to the GS at least 3 weeks before departure;
• arrange accommodation and necessary visa for the trip;
• ensure insurance coverage is adequate for the duration of the trip;
• submit a post-activity report about their experience and research outcome, along with the boarding passes, to the GS within 2 weeks upon the completion of programme, and
• share the experience with future participating students.



GS reserves the right to claw back the sponsorship, should the student fail to complete the programme or fail to comply with the responsibilities above.

Timeline

Event	Date
Call for applications	1 February 2024
Application submission deadline	31 March 2024
Application selection and funding approval	15 April 2024
Result announcement by email	30 April 2024
USRA trip	June 2024 – August 2024

 

Contact

For application and enquiries, please contact the Graduate School by email at gs.attachment@polyu.edu.hk.