MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) 2027 (Fully Funded)

Applications are now open for the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) 2027, a fully funded nine week research internship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, USA. The program is for undergraduate students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities who want to do real research with MIT faculty and prepare for graduate school. It covers fields across engineering, science, architecture, economics, humanities, and social sciences. Participants receive a weekly stipend, round trip travel, free university housing, and a meal subsidy.

The application deadline is January 19, 2027 at 11:59 PM ET. The official details do not mention any application fee, and there is no cost to take part in the program. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, DACA recipients, and international students studying full time at a U.S. institution with the proper work authorization can apply. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Program Type: Summer Research Program
• Host country: United States
• Host institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Funding type: Fully funded
• Application deadline: January 19, 2027 at 11:59 PM ET
• Application fee: None
• Open to all nationalities: No. (see the eligibility section below)

What This Scholarship Offers:

• A weekly stipend that gives you income while you focus on research
• Round trip travel to MIT, so you do not pay for your journey
• Free university housing for the full nine weeks
• A meal subsidy, plus several meals provided each week at program events
• Experience in cutting edge laboratories across MIT departments and interdisciplinary centers
• Access to MIT’s libraries, athletic facilities, and health services throughout the summer

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Eligibility Criteria:

• Have a minimum 3.5 overall or major GPA on a 4.0 scale
• Be enrolled full time in a degree granting program at a U.S. college or university located in the United States or its territories (MIT students are not eligible)
• Be a sophomore, junior, or non graduating senior with at least two academic years of college coursework completed (credit earned during high school does not count)
• Not be graduating before December 2027
• Be interested in pursuing a graduate degree in one of MIT’s graduate programs (Sloan professional programs such as MBA and EMBA are not included)
• Have a genuine interest in a career in academic research and/or teaching
• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, non U.S. citizen with DACA, or an international student with the right visa and work authorization

What If My GPA Is Below 3.5?

A GPA of 3.5 or higher is typical among admitted students, but MSRP says grades do not tell the whole story. If you show a clear upward trend in grades, or explain meaningful personal or educational challenges in your statement, your application will still be considered.

Who Is Strongly Encouraged to Apply?

MSRP gives priority to students for whom this opportunity can make the biggest difference, including:

• Students from non traditional educational pathways, such as rural, urban, or under resourced communities
• Students who have shown strong academic potential despite economic, social, or educational barriers, including first generation college students
• Students who have promoted belonging and inclusion in academic settings through mentoring, advocacy, or peer support
• Students whose research interests focus on underserved populations and inequality

Information for International Students

• You must be enrolled full time at a U.S. institution located inside the United States or its territories
• F1 visa students must get work authorization through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT) from their home institution
• You must have CPT or OPT approval by May 15, 2027
• CPT guidance changed significantly in August 2026, so contact your International Students Office right away
• Satellite campuses abroad, study abroad programs, and hybrid programs do not qualify
• Students completing their bachelor’s degree outside the U.S. and exchange students are not eligible

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Programs Available:

MSRP General places students with faculty from all five MIT Schools and the Schwarzman College of Computing. The eligible fields are:

• Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Architecture
• Biological Engineering
• Center for Real Estate
• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Computational and Systems Biology
• Computational Science and Engineering
• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
• Economics
• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
• Health Sciences and Technology (joint Harvard and MIT program)
• History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology, and Society
• Institute for Data, Systems, and Society
• Linguistics
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Media Arts and Sciences
• MIT Sloan PhD Program
• Nuclear Science and Engineering
• Operations Research Center
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science
• Transportation
• Urban Studies and Planning

Interested in Biology or Neuroscience? Students in Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or Neuroscience (including Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience) should apply directly to MSRP Biology/BCS instead.

Documents Required:

• Personal statement
• Essay on your research interests and goals
• Essay on how MSRP fits your academic and professional aspirations
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Unofficial transcripts from all institutions you have attended
• Your top three research choices, each with a department, faculty member, and research area
• Two letters of recommendation

Recommendation Letter Rules

• At least one letter must come from a faculty member at an institution where you have taken classes or done research
• If you have prior research experience, one letter must come from a research supervisor
• If you have done MSRP before, one letter must come from your MIT research mentor
• Letters are submitted online. Your recommenders get an email link after you enter their details, so ask them to check their spam folder

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How to Choose Faculty Mentors:

You will list at least three faculty members you would like to work with. This helps MIT match you to a research group, so it matters in the final selection.

1. Browse the Interested Faculty Mentor List. It shows professors who want to host an MSRP intern, and about 70% of the cohort is placed with someone on it.
2. Explore MIT’s faculty directories. You can list any MIT faculty member, even one who is not on the list.

Listing a professor does not guarantee placement. Do not contact faculty directly about admission or placement, because this can hurt your application.

Important Dates:

• September 29, 2026: Application opens
• December 2, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET: Online MSRP information session
• January 19, 2027 at 11:59 PM ET: Application deadline
• March 31, 2027: Admission decisions announced
• May 15, 2027: CPT or OPT approval deadline for international students
• June 7, 2027: Program begins
• August 7, 2027: Program ends

Also Check: EPFL School of Life Sciences Summer Research Program 2027 in Switzerland

How to Apply:

1. Check that you meet all the eligibility requirements.
2. Explore the Interested Faculty Mentor List and MIT department websites to pick your top three choices.
3. Write your personal statement and research essays.
4. Update your resume or CV and download your unofficial transcripts.
5. Ask two recommenders early and enter their details in the application.
6. Submit your application on the official MSRP application portal before January 19, 2027 at 11:59 PM ET.

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