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UG Summer Research Abroad Sponsorship (USRA)

Guidelines

 

Call for Applications: USRA 2022/23

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

 

Proposal Submission

Eligible full-time academic staff should submit a proposal as the Programme Coordinator for a research programme of no less than six weeks in collaboration with an overseas institution. The collaborating institutions should be ranked in the top 200 in the latest world university rankings or leading in the faculty’s respective disciplines.

The proposal should include:

  • information on hosting unit and collaborators at the overseas institution;
  • programme objectives;
  • research activities to be undertaken by UG students;
  • deliverables and learning outcome of the programme;
  • proposed programme period;
  • proposed headcount of UG students; and
  • a collaboration letter issued by the hosting unit.

     

Proposal Selection and Funding Approval

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

  • quality of the proposal;
  • 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 daily allowance and a travel allowance, shown below.

 

Student Allowance

Destination

Daily Allowance

Travel Allowance

Asia

10% of the rate of subsistence

allowance set by

Finance Office (FO)

HKD10,000

Europe / Australia

HKD20,000

North America

HKD25,000

The sponsorship amount is subject to the availability of funding.

 

Nomination of Students

    The programme coordinator of a funded proposal is required to provide the list of nominated students in accordance with the approved headcount to GS. The nominated students should be full-time UGC-funded degree seeking, non-final year undergraduate students, and have not been granted USRA before.

 

Responsibilities of Participating Students

    Participating students should:
  • fill in the sponsorship application form and return it with supporting documents to GS at least 4 weeks before departure;
  • acquire sufficient insurance coverage;
  • arrange accommodation and visa;
  • submit a post-activity report about the experience with at least two photos to 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.

 

Timeline

      Date
       Event
      3 January 2023 Call for applications 
      28 February 2023 Proposal submission deadline 
      15 March 2023 Proposal selection and funding approval
      17 March 2023 Proposal result announcement
      15 April 2023 Student nomination by programme coordinators
      30 April 2023 Nomination result announcement

     

    Contact

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

     

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