URS Assistantship Awards

ASSISTANTSHIP AWARD

URS Assistantship Award applications are CLOSED

Applications typically remain open while funding is available. Once we reach our allocated budget, the application portal will close. If you need URS support, you should plan to apply each semester you require assistance. This process helps ensure fairness, as demand is high and funding is limited.
 

Please note that if you are hoping to earn wages as a research assistant while engaging in research, this type of work can count as a work-study position. Most Duke students qualify for either Federal or Duke Work-Study despite family 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. 

You will need to have submitted the FAFSA form for the AY 25-26 if you intend to use work-study for research assistant wages.

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

Please note that your application is only considered complete once we have received your mentor’s endorsement. After we receive that endorsement, we will review your application. Because we receive a high volume of applications when the application cycle reopens, it may take up to two weeks for you to hear back.

Have Questions?

We understand that URS Assistantship Awards can be confusing territory. In an effort to provide clarity, we've compiled a list of common questions we receive. If you have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to ursoffice@duke.edu.

URS Assistantship FAQ

Earn Wages as a Research Assistant Through Work-Study!

MOST Duke students are eligible for work-study awards, either Federal work-study or Duke work-study, REGARDLESS of family income. Students must submit a FAFSA form each academic year. 

Learn more about the work-study program

If you have submitted a FAFSA form, you can determine whether you are eligible for Federal Work-Study or Duke Work-Study through DukeHub. It can take 2-3 weeks from the time of submission of the FAFSA form until you hear back from Duke Financial Aid. For more, visit Duke Financial Aid.

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 awards 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 for URS Assistantships 

Only Trinity students conducting research with faculty or mentors whose primary academic appointment is at Duke are eligible for URS Assistantships. Any other student may still use their federal work-study or Duke work-study awards to earn wages as a research assistant. Just please note that the portion of the work-study award not covered by financial aid is not eligible to be funded through the URS Assistantship unless the student is a Trinity student. In such cases, an alternative funding source, such as departmental or mentor-provided funds, must be identified to cover that portion. The research assistantship must be separate from any course or for-credit work. 

Each student can receive a URS assistantship OR independent study funding, but not both, regardless of whether they are two different projects, mentors, etc. 

NOTE: URS cannot provide assistantship awards 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 $112-$225 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.

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. 

General Awarding Breakdown

  • Federal Work-Study: URS funds 25% of wages, financial aid funds 75% of wages
  • Duke Work-Study: URS funds 50% of wages, financial aid funds 50% of wages
  • Students Eligible for Work-Study But Don’t Intend to Complete the FAFSA: URS funds a maximum of $400/per semester for the academic year and $225 for the summer.
  • Students Truly Ineligible for Work-Study: URS funds 100% of the wages, and financial aid funds 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. 

With this current funding climate, students may want to discuss other funding options with their mentors.  

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 1/6/26

Please Note:

  • URS cannot provide assistantship grants to hire hourly workers working outside of North Carolina, because our office is not set up to be in compliance with other states’ non-exempt payroll and tax laws.
  • Students must complete the required RCR CITI online course in order to be eligible for the URS Assistantship
    • HOW TO ACCESS the RCR CITI online course:
      • Go to the CITI website (https://www.citiprogram.org/?pageID=668)
      • Log in through your organization, and scroll down to select “Duke RCR,” and NOT any other Duke affiliation (such as Duke Health or Duke University Campus IRB)
      • You will be directed to single-sign-on (SSO) using your Duke NetID and password
      • Scroll down to the “Add a Course” link and select the curriculum for “Undergraduate Students” to reach the correct RCR course (CITI ID 40483)
  • Project descriptions should be in the student's own words.
  • Project must be completely separate from a course or course credit.

Application status: CLOSED