Social Sciences Research Guide

Paid Research Programs

Beyond finding your own faculty mentor on department pages, KU runs several structured programs that place you with a mentor, pay a wage or stipend, and encourage professional development.

• Emerging Scholars Program: Paid research assistantships for first-year, Federal Work Study-eligible students, matched with a faculty mentor in one of many departments. Eligible students may apply during the summer before they enter KU.
• McNair Scholars Program: Prepares first-generation and low-income students for PhD study in any discipline.
• Mentored Scholars Program: Supports the academic success and career preparation of Pell-eligible and first-generation students.
• Hall Center Fellowships: Provides humanities majors support for conducting research via a stipend and mentorship. 

Research Networks

• IPSR (Institute for Policy & Social Research): Interdisciplinary social science and policy research hub spanning 11 schools.
• Hall Center for the Humanities: KU's humanities research hub, funding student and faculty projects across the humanities.

Student Organizations & Clubs

Every registered KU student organization is listed and joinable through KU Engage. In addition to this list, more opportunities can be found on Engage.

• Kansas Research Collective (KRC): A multidisciplinary group of students interested in expanding their research abilities.
• KU Model UN: Student organization for diplomacy, debate, and negotiation.
• KU Mock Trial: Competitive trial advocacy team.
• Psi Chi: International Honor Society in Psychology, which also runs as an active student club.

Honor Societies

• Phi Beta Kappa: The oldest and most prestigious liberal arts & sciences honor society in the US, recognizing top students across various disciplines.
• Phi Kappa Phi: The nation's oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society.
• Pi Sigma Alpha: Political science honor society, inducting new members annually at a departmental Recognition Ceremony.
• Alpha Kappa Delta: International sociology honor society, housed in KU's Sociology department.
• Psi Chi: Flagship chapter of the international honor society in Psychology.

Fellowships & Scholarships

CURF coordinates KU students' applications for prestigious national awards. Some opportunities require campus nomination months before the national deadline, so visit individual award pages for timeline information. This is not a comprehensive list, so please explore more opportunities on CURF's website and department pages.

Nomination Required

• Truman Scholarship: For juniors preparing for a career in public service.
• Udall Scholarship: $7,000 for sophomores and juniors focused on the environment, Tribal policy, or Tribal health.
• Beinecke Scholarship: $34,000 plus mentoring for students pursuing research-focused graduate study in the arts, humanities, or social sciences.
• Rhodes, Marshall, and Churchill Scholarships: Fund a graduate degree in the UK or Ireland; open to all majors.

Open Application

• James Madison Memorial Fellowship: $24,000 for graduate study for students committed to teaching American history, government, or social studies.
• PPIA Fellowship: Prepares students for master's study in public policy, public administration, or international affairs.
• Schwarzman Scholars: Fully funded one-year master's degree at Tsinghua University, built around global leadership.