Honors Research/Creative Activity Grants

Commonwealth Honors College students who need funding for projects related to their academic career are eligible for grants of up to $1,000 to support their work. The funding can be used towards any project you are working on with a faculty sponsor—whether its your Honors Thesis, a creative project, research paper, or something in between. 

Translate your ideas to reality by applying for an Honors Research/Creativity Grant.

Applying for an Honors Research/Creative Activity Grant will help you build valuable skills in grant writing, budgeting, and creating an abstract. 

Who’s Eligible?

You are eligible for an Honors Research/Creativity Grant if:

  • You a Commonwealth Honors College student with a cumulative GPA of 3.400 or above
  • You are enrolled in or plan to enroll in an Honors Thesis course (499Y, 499T, or 499P)
  • You can also apply if you are in an Honors Thesis Seminar
  • You are working on a project with a UMass Amherst faculty member

Students who apply for funding related to their Honors Thesis will be given priority for the Honors Research/Creativity Grant. 

What Your Grant Includes

If you receive an Honors Research/Creative Activity Grant, you will receive up to $1,000 for materials, activities, or other activities directly related to your Honors Thesis or non-thesis project. Your grant also comes with these guidelines:

  • If awarded a grant, you will be required to present your research at the annual Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC).  
  • Grant funding will be awarded to your Faculty Sponsor’s department. Any equipment you purchase belongs to UMass and stays with the department.  
  • The Honors Research/Creative Activity Grant cannot be used as your stipend or wages.  
  • Funding does not cover conference travel, but students receiving the grant can apply for a CHC Conference Travel Grant

Timeline

  • The deadline for priority consideration is October 8, 2025 for spring semester funding
  • After October 8, applications will be considered on a rolling basis until funds are no longer available
  • Your Faculty Sponsor must submit their approval in CHC PATHS within seven days of your application submission

Proposal Requirements

In consultation with your faculty sponsor, your proposal should be one of the three following options. All proposals must include a detailed budget that contains:  

  • Individual items/expenses
  • Price per item/expense
  • Quantity of each item/expense
  • Total cost per item/expense category
  • Total overall project cost
  • Brief justification for major expenses (if applicable)

Choose one of the following proposal formats: 

  • 499Y, 499T, or 499P proposal and budget

OR

  • A Project Description and budget:  
    • Include Background & Significance (What you are doing and Why)  
    • Project Objectives (What you hope to accomplish/your goals for the work)  
    • Methods, Approach or Process (How you are going to do the work; specific to your discipline)  
    • References (Background reading and research, articles, books, films, performances, items of inspiration for your project.)  
    • Quality over Quantity! Don’t worry about the exact length of your Project Description, focus on clearly and concisely describing the proposed work  

OR

  • If your faculty sponsor wants you to have the experience of writing a detailed grant proposal similar to what would be expected from an outside funding agency, we offer the following guidelines:  
    • Background & Significance: What’s the context for your project, and why does this work matter? Use scholarly references to briefly review the research that has led to this study. (Maximum of 1,500 words)  
    • Objective: What exactly will you do? Keep it clear and action-oriented (use words like “develop, demonstrate, test, etc.”). Include a hypothesis if it fits. (Maximum of 500 words)
    • Methodology: How will you do it? Explain your plan, how you'll be trained, and how your mentor will support you. (Maximum of 1,500 words)
    • References: Cite your sources using the style for your field.  
    • Budget (required): Include an itemized budget, total cost, and funding request (Maximum of $1,000). Add narrative justification if needed. (Maximum of 500 words)
  • Please note: Portions of your application information may be used in a press release. 

Selection

CHC will evaluate all proposals to determine funding allocations. Proposals submitted by the priority deadline of October 8, 2025 will receive first consideration. After this date, remaining funds will be awarded on a rolling basis until depleted.

Checklist

Be sure you complete these steps before submitting your Honors Research/Creative Activity Grant proposal.

  • Read all instructions
  • Find a Faculty Sponsor early (aim for a month ahead)
  • Work closely with them as you draft your proposal
  • Give them plenty of time for feedback and final approval  
  • Submit your application in CHC PATHS
  • Make sure your Faculty Sponsor completes their part within seven days

We look forward to reviewing your submission!

Questions? Please research [at] honors [dot] umass [dot] edu (email Commonwealth Honors College).