Purdue SURF 2027: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship with $6,500 Stipend
Purdue University’s 10-week Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship places undergraduates in mentored research at West Lafayette or Indianapolis, with a $6,500 stipend and conditional housing support.
Purdue SURF 2027: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship with $6,500 Stipend
Purdue University’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) offers a 10-week mentored research experience for undergraduates considering advanced study or careers in research. The program is run through Purdue’s Engineering Undergraduate Research Office (EURO) in the College of Engineering. Purdue’s official prospective-applicant page now lists the 2027 cycle, so this is an upcoming opportunity. The application is scheduled to open in early November 2026 and is not yet open according to that schedule. Purdue lists December 15, 2026 as the international application deadline. The priority deadline for other applicants is January 15, 2027, with rolling review after that date.
Students selected for SURF conduct research at Purdue’s West Lafayette or Indianapolis campus under a faculty, graduate student, or postdoctoral mentor. The fellowship combines project work with required professional development, including bi-weekly mini-symposia, and concludes with a symposium where students present their findings. Participants must also submit a final report to their project advisor and EURO. This is a structured, full-time summer commitment rather than a self-paced course or a stipend for independent work.
At a Glance
| Item | SURF 2027 information |
|---|---|
| Program | Purdue Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) |
| Application opens | Early November 2026 |
| International application deadline | December 15, 2026 |
| Priority deadline | January 15, 2027; rolling review after this date |
| Remote program period | May 31–June 4, 2027 |
| Move-in | June 5–6, 2027 |
| Orientation and in-person period | Orientation June 7; in-person program June 7–July 30, 2027 |
| SURF Symposium | July 29, 2027 |
| Move-out | July 31–August 1, 2027 |
| Stipend | $6,500, paid bi-weekly |
| Housing allowance | $2,500 under the conditions described below |
| Locations | Purdue’s West Lafayette or Indianapolis campus |
| Minimum GPA | 2.8/4.0 or equivalent |
| Main documents | Academic CV or resume, unofficial transcript, and a statement of purpose; non-Purdue students also need a recommendation letter |
The January 15 date is the priority deadline, not a stated final closing date: Purdue says review is rolling after it. International applicants should apply by the December 15 deadline. Other applicants should use the priority deadline for full consideration and should not assume a later submission will receive the same consideration for support or placement. The official page does not give a separate final close date.
Research experience and program structure
SURF is intended to give undergraduates direct participation in a research project, with guidance from a faculty member, graduate student, or postdoctoral mentor. The exact work depends on the project and host group. Applicants should look at the current SURF project list, identify questions that interest them, and think about how their coursework or prior work relates to those questions. The listing is not a promise that every applicant will be matched to a first choice; project fit and mentor availability matter.
The program uses a remote period at the beginning, followed by move-in and the in-person program on a Purdue campus. The program dates shown by Purdue are a significant time commitment. Students should review the full sequence, including orientation, symposium, and move-out, before applying and make sure they can participate in the majority of activities. Purdue allows a start date up to one week after the program begins only with faculty permission. Participants cannot enroll in another academic activity such as a course, internship, or other summer program while SURF is underway.
Research is paired with required mini-symposia that support technical and communication skills. At the end of the experience, students present their findings at the SURF Symposium and provide a final report to both their project advisor and EURO. Applicants should be ready to discuss their work, respond to feedback, and explain results, including limitations or unexpected outcomes. The fellowship is a good fit for students who want a supervised project and can commit to its full schedule, not simply those looking for a short-term summer award.
Stipend, housing, and travel
Purdue lists a $6,500 stipend paid bi-weekly for participation in the 10-week program. It also lists a $2,500 housing allowance. The housing amount has eligibility conditions and should not be read as a guaranteed room or unrestricted grant for every student.
Accepted non-Purdue students automatically qualify for the housing subsidy under the official instructions. Purdue students who want to be evaluated for the subsidy must apply by the January 15 priority deadline. If selected, a Purdue student will be notified in the offer letter, and the allowance is added to bi-weekly compensation. All participants are responsible for securing their own housing. Purdue recommends looking at its summer residence and summer intern housing options; the allowance does not itself reserve accommodation.
Travel assistance is also conditional. Purdue says a travel subsidy to campus is only granted when the student’s SURF location differs from the home university. Examples on the official page include non-Purdue students traveling to Purdue and Purdue students traveling between the Indianapolis and West Lafayette campuses. Non-Purdue students seeking travel support must apply by the priority deadline. The prospective-applicant page does not state a fixed travel subsidy amount, so applicants should consult the program office or their offer details rather than budget for an assumed reimbursement.
These arrangements make the fellowship paid, with meaningful additional support for eligible students, but the page does not promise to cover every expense. Compare the stipend and any confirmed allowance with housing, meals, transportation, and other costs for the campus where you would work. Wait for the offer letter to confirm support specific to your situation.
Who can apply
Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time in a bachelor’s degree program at Purdue, another U.S. institution, or an international institution. They must have completed at least one academic semester or quarter by the time they apply and remain enrolled as an undergraduate for at least one academic semester or quarter after SURF ends. The minimum cumulative GPA is 2.8 on a 4.0 scale or an equivalent. These are baseline requirements, not a guarantee of admission.
Purdue generally designs SURF for first-time participants. A student may take part a second time with explicit support from the principal investigator (PI), but a returning participant is not eligible for EURO housing or travel subsidies. If departmental funding is limited, first-time participants receive preference. Anyone who has previously participated should speak with the potential PI and account for these restrictions before applying.
Applicants must also be available for most program activities and able to commit to the program schedule. An alternate start date of up to one week after the program begins may be accommodated with faculty permission. During the program, participants must not be enrolled in other academic activities, including courses, internships, or other summer programs. Resolve conflicts with classes, work, or travel before accepting a placement.
Application materials and project selection
Purdue requires an academic CV or resume and an unofficial university transcript. The statement of purpose should explain the experiences that led the applicant to their field, questions or problems in that field that interest them, why SURF’s program and resources appeal to them, and how the experience connects to long-term STEM career goals. The prompt also invites applicants to describe coursework, independent projects, internships, clubs, organizations, achievements, and challenges they have addressed.
Applicants should support their interests with specific examples. Relevant coursework can show preparation, while a class project, internship, club activity, or independent effort can show how the student approaches a problem. The statement should also make a clear connection between the student’s interests and the research opportunity. It is more useful to explain what one hopes to learn from a particular research question than to rely on broad claims about being passionate about science.
Non-Purdue students must request a recommendation letter from a professor or professional with whom they have worked closely. The recommender must upload the letter by the applicable application deadline. Ask early enough to give the recommender time to write a specific assessment of your work and submit it through Purdue’s process. Purdue’s page does not list this letter as a requirement for Purdue students.
Applicants can browse the SURF project list, connect with Purdue professors about their research interests and possible lab opportunities, and select up to three projects in the application. New projects may be added, and project information can be updated through April 15. Revisit the list as it develops, then choose projects that fit your preparation and goals. A thoughtful project preference helps faculty understand where you could contribute, but it should not be treated as a guarantee of placement.
How to apply
- Read Purdue’s prospective SURF applicant page and confirm the cycle’s eligibility, deadlines, program dates, and support rules.
- When the application opens in early November 2026, review the available project list and learn about the work of relevant Purdue groups.
- Contact professors whose projects fit your interests to discuss possible research opportunities. Use those conversations to understand the work and campus location.
- Prepare an academic CV or resume, an unofficial transcript, and a statement of purpose that addresses Purdue’s prompts with concrete examples.
- If you study outside Purdue, arrange for a professor or professional who knows your work to submit a recommendation letter by your deadline.
- Choose up to three projects in the application and check that your schedule permits the required remote and in-person participation.
- International applicants should submit by December 15, 2026. Other applicants should submit by January 15, 2027 for priority consideration; Purdue says applications are accepted on a rolling basis afterward.
Purdue’s applicant page gives the dates and requirements above but does not state a separate final deadline after the priority date. Since review becomes rolling, completing the application by the stated date is the clearest way to ensure timely consideration. Confirm any application-system instructions and updated project details on Purdue’s page when the application opens.
Planning checklist
Before applying, check that you meet the full-time bachelor’s enrollment requirement, GPA threshold, semester completion and post-program enrollment conditions. Confirm that you can be away from other academic activities during the program and available for its majority of events. If you may need housing or travel assistance, identify which rules apply to your home institution and campus placement, then use the priority deadline. Returning participants should discuss PI approval and the subsidy exclusions in advance.
For the written application, start with the research questions that interest you and connect them to evidence in your experience. Keep your CV or resume focused on education, relevant coursework, research or technical work, projects, and activities that show commitment. Ask a recommender early if you are a non-Purdue applicant, and check that the letter has been uploaded. Finally, consider the entire calendar, not just the lab dates: move-in, orientation, the symposium, and move-out are part of the stated program schedule.
Frequently asked questions
Is SURF 2027 accepting applications now?
Purdue lists an opening in early November 2026. As of the official page currently available, that opening is upcoming. Check Purdue’s page when the application opens for the live application link and any updated project information.
What is the deadline?
Purdue lists December 15, 2026 as the international application deadline. The general priority deadline is January 15, 2027, after which applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Purdue does not provide a separate final close date on the prospective-applicant page. Apply by the date that applies to your situation, and use the priority deadline for full consideration.
Is the program only for Purdue students?
No. Full-time bachelor’s students at Purdue, other U.S. institutions, and international institutions are included. Some support differs by institution: for example, non-Purdue students automatically qualify for the housing subsidy if accepted, while Purdue students must apply by the priority deadline to be considered.
How much funding is available?
The listed stipend is $6,500, paid bi-weekly. Purdue also lists a $2,500 housing allowance subject to the conditions described above. Travel assistance is conditional on campus location and timing, and the applicant page does not give a fixed travel amount.
Does the housing allowance include a room?
No. All students must secure their own housing. Purdue recommends its summer residence and summer intern housing options. The allowance provides financial support for eligible students but does not guarantee a room.
What will participants complete?
Participants work on a mentored research project, take part in required mini-symposia, present findings at the SURF Symposium, and submit a final report to their advisor and EURO.
Official source
The verified source is Purdue University College of Engineering’s Prospective SURF Applicants page, maintained for the Engineering Undergraduate Research Office:
https://engineering.purdue.edu/Engr/Research/EURO/students/about-SURF/prospectiveSURFApplicants
It lists SURF 2027 dates, benefits, eligibility, required documents, research-project selection guidance, and housing and travel rules. Consult that page for updates as the application opens and for the application-system instructions.