URS Assistantship Grants

URS Assistantship Grants will reopen for the summer cycle on May 5 at noon.

Step-by-Step Guide: Applying for the URS Assistantship Grant

Earn Wages as a Research Assistant Through Work-Study!

With a work-study award, you can earn wages as a research assistant. These awards are typically $1100 per semester, but the amount awarded can vary on a case-by-case basis. 

It's important to note that financial aid does not cover 100% of your work-study award for your employer/research mentor. The remaining percentage is usually expected to be covered by your employer, but this isn’t always financially feasible for some research mentors. 

That's where our office steps in. At URS, we believe wages for employment as research assistants vitally enhance undergraduate research engagement. When a research mentor can't cover the gap that financial aid doesn't provide for work-study awards, our grants help cover the cost. This allows you to use your full work-study award, ensuring your research mentor can keep you on payroll without any cost to them. 

Eligibility

Our assistantship grant is open to currently enrolled Duke undergraduates in any discipline. In the summer, you don’t need to be enrolled in classes to qualify for a URS grant. You must at least be enrolled in the following academic year to be eligible for an assistantship grant. The research assistantship must be separate from any course or for-credit work.

NOTE: URS cannot provide assistantship grants to hire hourly workers for roles outside of North Carolina because our office is not set up to comply with other states’ non-exempt payroll and tax laws.

Work-Study and URS Awards:

URS Assistantships cover gaps in work-study not funded by financial aid, typically contributing $275-$550 per semester during the academic year and $225-$450 during the summer. This amount will vary on a case-by-case basis.

Who’s eligible for work-study?

Most Duke students qualify for either Federal or Duke Work-Study despite their family’s financial status. For all students who can fill out the FAFSA, we strongly encourage you to do so to gain at least a Work-Study award.

• Eligibility Check for the FAFSA
  • Eligibility for Federal Student Aid graphic
• Step-by-step FAFSA instructions

If you choose not to fill out the FAFSA, even if you’re eligible, URS can only award $400 per semester during the academic year and $225 during the summer.

What about students who are truly ineligible for work-study?

For international students who didn’t request financial aid upon admission and/or students who are on a scholarship/award where work-study is not available, you still qualify for a URS Assistantship. Our office will award the equivalent of a Federal/Duke work-study award, which is $1,100 for a semester during the academic year and up to $900 during the summer.

More questions on work-study?

For more specific questions, visit the Duke’s Work-Study Website from the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support. This page is very comprehensive and will likely answer most of your questions. 

Updates for Summer 2025 Assistantship Grants

Many students choose to work as research assistants at Duke over the summer. URS also offers assistantship grants during the summer, but awards depend on whether a student is enrolled in classes. Please see the breakdown below for more details.

For students enrolled in summer term I and/or II

Work-study awards are typically $450/term, up to $900 for both terms. These amounts vary per student. Similarly to the academic year, financial aid will not cover 100% of your wages from your employer. URS can fill the gap based on your work-study status.

• Federal Work-Study: URS funds 25% of wages, financial aid pays 75% of wages
• Duke Work-Study: URS funds 50% of wages, financial aid pays 50% of wages
• Ineligible for Work-Study: Students can be awarded $450/ per term or $900 total.
  • Please note: You are only considered ineligible for work-study if you are an international student who didn’t accept financial aid upon admission or a student who is on a scholarship/award where work-study is unavailable.
• If a work-study eligible student did not submit a FAFSA: Students are eligible for $225/summer term

Important Note: If you receive an assistantship from URS for an enrolled status, you cannot also apply for a non-enrolled status, even if you are only enrolled in one summer term.

For students not enrolled in summer term I and/or II, but continuing in fall

Work-study does not apply if you aren't enrolled in classes, so you are considered ineligible for work-study even if you typically have Duke/Federal Work-Study during the academic year. 

• All students under this category can apply for $450/term, up to $900 for both terms of assistantship. 

Preview of the summer 2025 application is coming soon

General Awarding Breakdown

• Federal Work-Study: URS funds 25% of wages, financial aid pays 75% of wages
• Duke Work-Study: URS funds 50% of wages, financial aid pays 50% of wages
• Students Eligible for Work-Study but Don’t Intend to Complete the FAFSA: URS funds 100% of the wages, and financial aid pays 0% of wages. the maximum URS Assistantship amount is $400 for the academic year and $225 for the summer.
• Students Truly Ineligible for Work-Study: URS funds 100% of the wages, and financial aid pays 0% of the wages. We fund the equivalent of a typical work-study award of $1100 for the Academic Year and $900 for the Summer.

Note: You are only considered ineligible for work-study if you are an international student who didn’t accept financial aid upon admission or a student who is on a scholarship/award where work-study is unavailable. Check your eligibility here. 

Note: URS Assistantships are wages for employment and not academic fellowships. Departments are responsible for hiring students and managing payroll. Please check with your mentor’s department on your eligibility to be hired in the current funding climate. 

For more details, resources, and assistance, email the URS Office. We’re here to support your research journey!

Updated 4/25/25