Undergraduate Research and Community Engagement Fellowships

Campuswide Undergraduate Research Fellowships

Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowships and 
Holstrom Environmental Research Fellowships support undergraduate research done in collaboration with UW–Madison faculty or research/instructional academic staff during summer 2026 or the 2026-27 academic year. The student researcher receives $4,000, and the faculty/staff research advisor may request $1,000 to help offset research costs. Students must have at least junior standing at the time of application. The Holstrom Fellowships require an environmental focus. Apply by February 15, 2026. Questions can be directed to the Undergraduate Academic Awards Office, awards@provost.wisc.edu.

Sophomore Research Fellowships support undergraduate research done in collaboration with UW–Madison faculty or research/instructional academic staff during summer 2026 or the 2026-27 academic year. The student researcher receives $3,000, and the faculty/staff research advisor may request $500 to help offset research costs. At the time of application, the student must be a second-year undergraduate, a first-year undergraduate who will have more than 24 credits after May 2026, or a transfer student in their first year of attendance at UW–Madison. Apply by February 22, 2026.
Questions can be directed to the Undergraduate Academic Awards Office, awards@provost.wisc.edu.

Lakeshore Nature Preserve Student Engagement Grants of up to $1,000 each, are available to facilitate the use of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve as a resource for education among UW undergraduates. Any student, faculty or staff member at UW–Madison may apply. Groups of individuals may submit a proposal as a team. Every individual or team must have at least one faculty or staff member, who is expected to play an active role in overseeing the project. Apply by March 1, 2026. Funds should be expended by October 31, 2026, when a final report is due. Questions can be directed to the Preserve Director, Bradley.Herrick@wisc.edu.

 

Community Engagement Fellowships

Public Humanities Exchange for Undergraduates (HEX-U) high-impact program for undergraduate students funds humanities-based projects that support a need in the Madison community beyond the university. The program provides training in community partnership, support for project development and implementation, and funding. Participating students receive a $600 stipend award and up to $2,000 in project funding. Students are encouraged to propose new, innovative ideas for engagement with the local community through a project. Apply for the spring 2026 cohort by February 9, 2026 and the fall 2026 cohort by April 6, 2026Questions can be directed to Public Humanities Program Coordinator Danielle Weindling, weindling@wisc.edu.

Wisconsin Idea Fellowships are awarded annually to undergraduate student projects that address a challenge identified in collaboration with a local or global community partner. Fellowships are awarded to semester-long or year-long projects designed by an undergraduate student (or group of students) in partnership with a community advisor at a community organization and a UW–Madison faculty or academic staff member. Projects can receive up to $7,000 in total funding, and students receive 3 academic credits. Apply for 2026-27 fellowships by February 8, 2026. There is a priority deadline of January 4, 2026 for applicants seeking proposal feedback from the Wisconsin Idea Fellowship Advisor.
 Questions can be directed to the Wisconsin Idea Fellowship Team at the Morgridge Center, wif@office365.wisc.edu.