FAQs

While a GPA of 3.5 or higher is typical among admitted participants, we understand that grades don’t tell the whole story. Applications from students who demonstrate strong academic potential such as a clear upward trend in grades or who share meaningful personal or educational challenges in their statement will still be considered. We encourage you to apply if you’re passionate about research and committed to pursuing graduate education.

Eligibility for MSRP is limited to sophomores, juniors, and non-graduating seniors who will have completed at least two academic years of college coursework by the start of the program (excluding college credit earned during high school or its equivalent). Students graduating prior to December 2026 are not eligible.

Note: First-year students from select undergraduate institutions may be eligible to apply through the Leadership Alliance’s James H. Wyche First Year Research Program (FYRE). Learn more about FYRE eligibility here

No, the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) is only available to undergraduate students currently enrolled at U.S. institutions outside of MIT.

We only accept applications from students currently enrolled at a home institution located in the United States or its territories.

International students who are enrolled full-time in a degree-granting program at a U.S. institution located within the United States or its territories are eligible to apply. Students completing their bachelor's degree at institutions outside the U.S., as well as exchange students, are not eligible.

Please see eligibility and qualification requirements on our Eligibility page.

Once you’re notified of your admission to the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP), you must respond by the deadline listed in your acceptance letter. Be sure to review your offer carefully and reply by the specified date to secure your spot in the program

Applicants will be notified of their admission decision by March 31st. Be sure to check your email regularly and follow any instructions provided in your notification.

For application technical support, please email programconnecthelp@mit.edu and msrp@mit.edu

• You’ll need two letters of recommendation to complete your MSRP application. At least one must be from a faculty member at an institution where you’ve taken classes or conducted research.
• If you’ve had prior research experience, whether at your home institution or elsewhere, one letter must come from a research supervisor.
• If you’ve participated in MSRP before, one letter must be from your MIT research mentor.
• All recommendation letters are submitted online. Once you enter your recommenders’ information in the application, they’ll automatically receive an email with a link to submit their letter and answer a few questions. Please remind them to check their spam or junk folders in case the email gets filtered.
• You can resend the reference request link at any time before the application deadline, even after submitting your application.

• Each year, MIT faculty members volunteer to host MSRP students in their research groups. You can view a list of interested faculty on the Interested Faculty Mentor Page, which is updated weekly through the application deadline. However, this list is not comprehensive, and you are not required to choose mentors from it. We encourage you to explore MIT department websites to identify faculty whose research aligns with your interests and list your top three preferences in your application.
• Please note: You should not contact faculty directly regarding admissions or placement. Faculty selections are used to better understand your research interests and assist with placement after admission. Reaching out to faculty during the application or placement process may complicate admissions and limit our ability to equitably match students with mentors.

• Essay Questions
  • Personal Statement
  • Research Interests and Goals
  • How MSRP aligns with your academic and professional aspirations
• Document Uploads
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Unofficial Transcript(s) from all institutions attended
• Research Preferences
  • Top Three Choices:
    • Department
    • Faculty Member
    • Research Area
      (Refer to the MSRP Faculty Mentors and Research Groups page for guidance.)
• Letters of Recommendation
  • Two Letters Required
  • Recommenders should be familiar with your academic and/or research experience
    (See the MSRP FAQ for additional details.)

2025 Application Deadline: January 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST. It is to your advantage to submit your application early to ensure all requirements arrive in time.

The application is expected to open on September 25, 2026.  Please ensure you application is submitted by January 20, 2026.

No, acceptance into the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) does not guarantee admission to MIT’s graduate programs. However, MSRP interns have meaningful opportunities to engage with MIT faculty, administrators, and graduate students, which can help strengthen your preparation and insight as you consider applying to graduate school in the future.

No, MSRP interns are not permitted to enroll in classes at MIT or elsewhere during the program. MSRP is a full-time, immersive research experience. Interns spend the majority of their time working in their research groups, completing program deliverables, and participating in weekly seminars, workshops, and community building activities. To ensure interns can fully engage with all aspects of the program, outside coursework is not allowed.

MSRP General pairs interns with faculty researchers from all 5 MIT Schools and the Schwarzman College of Computing. Faculty from any department within those 5 Schools and College may opt to host an MSRP intern, with the exception of faculty who only hold appointments in Biological Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, and Neuroscience, including Cognitive & Computational Neuroscience, who would host students through MSRP Biology/BCS rather than MSRP General. Apart from this exception, students may indicate an interest in working with any MIT faculty member from any department in their application. We do our best to place admitted applicants in their top choice or a closely related lab.

No, there is no cost to participate in the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP). Participants receive a weekly stipend, round-trip travel, and university housing for the full nine-week program. While food expenses are not fully covered, students receive a food subsidy, and several meals are provided each week as part of program activities.

Students are required to participate on site for the entire duration of the program. If your final exams conflict with the program start date, you should arrange to take your exams earlier. Students at institutions on the quarter system who are admitted may make arrangements to have their final exams proctored at MIT.

MSRP General is a nine-week research immersive experience. The 2026 dates are June 8 - August 8, 2026. Students are expected to participate on site for the entire duration of the program.