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Research Funding

Student Studying Under A Tree In Spring

Notre Dame offers generous funding opportunities for a wide array of undergraduate research experiences — and even grants to present your research at conferences.

The Tillman Scholars Program

 
The Tillman Scholars Program provides grants of up to $5000 to select current PLS majors in order to help fund summer activities that will support their PLS education. These projects can include abroad programs, research projects, language courses, summer classes, creative endeavors, and internships: all kinds of activities that have value in themselves and will help you succeed as a PLS student. PLS majors who will be rising juniors and rising seniors are eligible to apply for Summer 2026. The deadline for applications for the upcoming summer is typically in February. For more information, contact the PLS Office (pls.nd.edu).

The Senior Thesis

The Program of Liberal Studies is the only major in the College of Arts & Letters that requires a senior thesis for graduation. This is an opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty advisor on a topic of your choice. While the path to the senior thesis is unique for each student, many will seek various sources of funding to support their research. PLS has a number of small grants to fund the purchase of necessary research materials and to support writing groups. Please contact the PLS office to inquire about what is available in a given term. There are also some special opportunities to conduct research abroad both within PLS and administered by other centers and institutes on campus. A few of them are listed below.

“Discussing my PLS thesis with the CEO of my current company helped me land my job. PLS makes you a genuinely interesting person with multifaceted knowledge, which is attractive to hiring managers.” — Sabrina Battiston, PLS '19, Tech Recruiter, Trust in Soda, Los Angeles, CA

The Monteverdi Prize

In addition to the many study abroad programs offered by Notre Dame, PLS students have the special opportunity to apply for the Monteverdi Prize, which is awarded annually to a current junior in the Program of Liberal Studies. The Monteverdi Prize consists of a $3,000 research stipend to conduct research in Tuscany, Italy, during the summer between the recipient's junior and senior year (June and July). The recipient also receives a $10,000 award to be applied towards the student's university student account for his or her senior year.

Neus Family Senior Thesis Award 

 
Thanks to a generous donation from the Neus Family, the department has funds available to defray the cost of senior thesis research. These awards will reimburse research expenses of up to $3000. Applications for a Neus award should include a cover letter which includes a detailed description of the intended research, a CV, and a detailed budget of the projected expenses. The awards will be assessed and awarded three times per year on a rolling basis. Submit your application by 1)  Friday September 25, 2026; 2) the Friday before Spring break in the Spring term; or 3) the first day of classes in the Fall term. Applications should be directed to the Senior Thesis coordinator (eplaninc@nd.edu), cc'ing the Department Chair (prlibst@nd.edu). For any questions about the Neus Family Senior Thesis Award, please be in touch with the Senior Thesis coordinator (Prof. Emma Planinc).

Research Focused Study Abroad Programs

Because of the senior thesis requirement, PLS students have been successful in applying to some of the more competitive research-focused study abroad programs administered by Notre Dame Study Abroad, such as the Kennedy Scholars Program in London and the Rome International Scholars Program. PLS students have also been successful in pursuing nationally and internationally competitive fellowships, including the Gilman, Boren, UK Summer Fulbright, and DAAD (German Exchange) programs. For a full list of non-Notre Dame funding opportunities visit ND Study Abroad or the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement.   

Franco Institute 

The Franco Institute helps advance research in the arts, humanities, and social sciences by providing faculty and students with funding and other support. It also strives to bring humanities research to the world in a way that meaningfully shapes discourse on pressing challenges. Facilitated by the Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good, the Franco Institute's undergraduate funding opportunities are designed to expose undergraduate students to the rigors and rewards of scholarship. Awards include summer fellowship grants up to $4,500 and research and materials grants of $1,750.

Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement

The Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement offers a variety of grants for many different kinds of undergraduate research. CUSE can help students develop and find funding for many different kinds of research to help make the most of their Notre Dame experience and expand the intellectual life at the University.

Kellogg/Kroc Undergraduate Research Grants

The Kellogg and Kroc Institutes offer summer research grants for undergraduate students at Notre Dame. The grants are intended for juniors whose interests include a clear international dimension related to the Kellogg Institute's themes or the themes of the Kroc Institute. Grants up to $5,000 each will be awarded for research abroad or, if demonstrably appropriate, in the United States. 

Nanovic Institute for European Studies

The Nanovic Institute believes in the importance of interdisciplinary inquiry and that Europe holds answers to pressing questions about our past, present and future. Their undergraduate grant offerings include independent travel and research grants, internship and service grants, language study grants, and as of fall 2020, the Institute is offering a new Research Resources Grant to assist students with preliminary research expenses.  

Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies

The Liu Institute offers funding to undergraduate students at the University of Notre Dame for both research initiatives and student-led organizations that support the Institute's mission of increasing the understanding of Asia at the University. Students may apply for funding to support Asia-related cultural events hosted by student-led organizations. Students at the undergraduate level may also apply for individual funding for research and educational travel, language study, and meaningful immersion experiences.