Research Talent Program (RTP)

Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP)

Supports undergraduate researchers in Qatar with project funding and faculty mentoring at approved institutions.

Eligibility · QA

The Undergraduate Research Experience Program (UREP) is one of the original grant programs launched by Qatar National Research Fund in 2006, now administered by the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council (QRDI) under its Research Talent Program. UREP funds one-year research experience projects for undergraduate students at approved Qatar institutions, structured as per-student awards of QAR 18,000 each, with a maximum of six students permitted per project. The funding covers student stipends, supervising faculty mentor support, direct research expenses, and limited indirect costs.

Eligibility centers on undergraduate students working under a qualified supervising faculty mentor affiliated with an approved Qatari institution. Graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty are not eligible as primary UREP recipients. The program spans all academic disciplines, consistent with QRDI's cross-sector research mandate. Projects run for 12 months, and applications are submitted through QRDI's Innolight portal.

UREP is designed to build Qatar's research pipeline by providing structured early-career research exposure to undergraduates across natural sciences, engineering, medicine, social sciences, and humanities. The maximum total award per project is QAR 108,000 (six students at QAR 18,000 each), making it a relatively accessible entry point into QRDI's grant ecosystem. Competitive applications typically demonstrate a well-defined research problem suited to undergraduate participation, a credentialed supervising mentor, and an institutional affiliation meeting QRDI's approved-institution standard. Proposals are submitted through the QGrants system at connect.qrdi.org.qa.