Undergraduate Research Abroad: Programs and Funding for US Students

Why research abroad differs from study abroad

A semester of research abroad puts you inside an active lab or fieldwork team led by a host country researcher, rather than sitting in classes with other international students. You produce data, contribute to a project with real deadlines, and often work alongside graduate students and faculty from the host institution rather than other undergraduates.

This structure means research-abroad opportunities are usually built around a specific faculty investigator's project and funding, not a general study abroad catalog. Finding one means finding the right program or the right professor, not browsing a list of countries.

NSF International Research Experiences for Students (IRES)

The National Science Foundation's International Research Experiences for Students program , known as IRES, funds cohorts of US students working on international research with mentorship from researchers overseas, aimed at building a globally engaged STEM workforce. Eligible students must be US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents, and the program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.

You do not apply to NSF directly for IRES. Instead, individual faculty investigators who have received an IRES award recruit and select their own student cohorts, so finding an opportunity means searching NSF's award database for active IRES projects and contacting the investigators running projects in your field. Ask your department's research office or a faculty mentor if they know of active IRES-funded collaborations, since a professor already connected to an international project can be a faster route than a cold search.

Faculty-sponsored research through your own department

Many research-abroad placements happen through a single faculty member at your home institution who has an ongoing collaboration with a lab, field site, or research group overseas. This path depends entirely on relationships your department already has, so the first step is talking to professors in your field about any international projects they run or know about.

• Ask your undergraduate research office if your school tracks faculty with active international collaborations

• Attend your department's research symposium or poster sessions, faculty often mention ongoing international work there

• Email professors directly and ask specifically about international research opportunities, not general lab openings alone

• Check if your major has a study abroad advisor who focuses on research rather than coursework

Structured research-abroad programs

Outside NSF and individual faculty connections, several organizations run structured research-abroad programs that place undergraduates with host labs or field sites for a fee, similar to a study abroad provider but focused on research placements. These fit students whose field or school does not have an existing NSF IRES site or faculty connection abroad.

The Institute of International Education maintains information on a range of international academic and research exchange opportunities beyond the programs it directly administers, and is a reasonable starting point for comparing options across fields.

Funding a research-abroad semester

NSF IRES awards fund the cohort of students selected by the investigator, typically covering international travel, housing, and a stipend, since the money flows through the grant rather than your own pocket. Faculty-sponsored placements vary more, some are funded through the professor's own grant, others expect you to apply separately for a research or study abroad scholarship to cover costs.

Your school's undergraduate research office, financial aid office, and study abroad office each maintain separate scholarship lists, so check all three rather than assuming one office tracks every funding source. General study abroad scholarships sometimes apply to research placements if the program is credit-bearing, so ask specifically rather than assuming a scholarship is study-only.

Building your application

Research-abroad applications typically want a statement of research interest, a faculty or advisor recommendation, and sometimes a transcript showing relevant coursework. Start building this well before your target application deadline, since a strong faculty recommendation depends on a professor knowing your work, not your GPA alone.

Apply at least two semesters ahead of your planned research term. Visa categories for research work vary by country the same way internship visas do, and IRES and similar programs run on their own funding cycles that rarely accommodate short-notice applications.