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The MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) 2027 is fully funded. It gives a weekly stipend, round-trip travel to MIT, housing and a meal subsidy, for a nine-week summer research placement with MIT faculty in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, from 7 June to 7 August 2027.
MSRP is for undergraduate students who are enrolled full time at a university in the United States, including international students on an F-1 visa at a U.S. university. Students studying at universities outside the U.S. cannot apply. It gives priority to students with demonstrated need and from under-resourced backgrounds.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host country | United States (MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts) |
| Organisation | MIT Office of Graduate Education |
| Dates | 7 June to 7 August 2027 |
| Funding | Fully funded: weekly stipend, round-trip travel, housing, meal subsidy |
| Who can apply | Undergraduates enrolled at U.S. universities (incl. international students on F-1), GPA 3.5+ |
| Application fee | None mentioned |
| Deadline | 19 January 2027, 11:59 PM ET |
What is the MIT Summer Research Program?
MSRP started in 1986 to help talented undergraduates see graduate school as a real option. Each summer, interns do research in an MIT lab under a faculty member, with support from a postdoc or graduate student.
Alongside the research, interns attend weekly faculty talks and professional development seminars, write an abstract, a research paper and a graduate school statement of purpose, and present a poster at the end of the summer. There are social events too, such as a Boston Harbor boat cruise.
What you get
- A weekly stipend
- Round-trip travel to MIT
- Housing
- A meal subsidy
- Access to MIT libraries, sports facilities and health services
- Mentored research and graduate school advising
- A chance to co-author a research paper
Participating departments
Aeronautics and Astronautics, Architecture, Biological Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computational Science and Engineering, Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Economics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Linguistics, Materials Science and Engineering, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Media Arts and Sciences, Nuclear Science and Engineering, Physics, Political Science, Urban Studies and Planning, and more. Biology and Brain and Cognitive Sciences applicants apply to MSRP Biology/BCS.
Who can apply
- Enrolled full time in a degree programme at a U.S. university in the U.S. or its territories (not MIT)
- A sophomore, junior or non-graduating senior, with at least two years of college coursework done
- Not graduating before December 2027
- A GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale (overall or in your major)
- Interested in a graduate degree at MIT and a research or teaching career
- A U.S. citizen, permanent resident, DACA recipient, or international student with the right visa and work authorisation
Can international students apply?
Yes, if you study full time at a university inside the United States. F-1 students must get CPT or OPT work authorisation from their university by 15 May 2027. Students at universities outside the U.S., exchange students and students at overseas campuses of U.S. universities cannot apply.
If you study outside the U.S., these research programmes accept students from abroad: Summer@EPFL, CaCTüS in Germany and KAUST VSRP.
What if my GPA is below 3.5?
MIT says a 3.5 is typical, but grades don’t tell the whole story. It still considers students who show strong potential, such as rising grades, or who explain real personal or educational challenges in their essays.
Is there an application fee?
No application fee is mentioned.
Required documents
- Answers to all essay questions about your academic path, challenges, research interests and goals
- A CV of 1 to 2 pages
- An unofficial, unlocked transcript
- Two recommendation letters, at least one from a faculty member, and one from a research supervisor if you have done research before
How to write your MSRP essays
- Tell your real story: the barriers you’ve faced and how you kept going.
- Name the research area you want to explore and why.
- List three MIT faculty whose work fits your interests. Don’t contact them directly; MIT asks applicants not to.
- Explain how a summer at MIT moves you toward graduate school.
Ask your referees early. Our guide on how to write a motivation letter also helps with essay structure.
How to apply, step by step
- Check the eligibility rules on the MSRP website.
- Explore MIT department websites and the faculty mentor list.
- Prepare your CV and unlocked transcript.
- Start the online application and enter your two referees.
- Submit everything, including both letters, by 19 January 2027, 11:59 PM ET.
Selection process
MIT reviews complete applications and tells applicants by 31 March 2027. Applications missing a letter by the deadline are incomplete and are not reviewed.
Deadline
Deadline: 19 January 2027, 11:59 PM US Eastern Time
Both recommendation letters must also arrive by this time.
Have a question?
Ask in the comments and we’ll help where we can.
Related reading
- Summer@EPFL Internship 2027 in Switzerland (CHF 1,800 a Month + Fully Funded Travel)
- CaCTüS Summer Internship 2027 in Germany (Fully Funded)
- LPI Summer Intern Program 2027 in Houston, USA (Fully Funded)
- Paid Internships Abroad 2027 for International Students (12 Open Now)
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