MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) 2027 in the USA
The MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) 2027 is a nine-week research program for undergraduate students enrolled at colleges and universities in the United States. Hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the program gives participants the opportunity to conduct research with MIT faculty and prepare for graduate study.
The 2027 program will run from June 7 to August 7, 2027, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT provides participants with a weekly stipend, university housing, a food subsidy, and round-trip travel to the program.
Important eligibility note: MSRP General is not open to all international students. Applicants must be enrolled full-time at a degree-granting institution located in the United States or its territories. International students studying at universities outside the United States, including students enrolled in Nepal, are not eligible for this program.
MIT Summer Research Program 2027: Overview
Host country: United States
Host institution: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Program dates: June 7 to August 7, 2027
Duration: 9 weeks
Program type: Undergraduate summer research program
Application deadline: January 19, 2027, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Official program page: https://oge.mit.edu/msrp/msrp-overview/
Eligibility and application details: https://oge.mit.edu/msrp/application/
Benefits of the MIT Summer Research Program
MIT provides selected participants with:
A weekly stipend. MIT has not published the stipend amount on its official MSRP pages.
University housing.
A food subsidy.
Round-trip travel to MIT.
Research experience with MIT faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students.
Weekly seminars and professional development activities.
Opportunities to prepare a research abstract, paper, and graduate school statement of purpose.
A final research poster presentation.
Access to MIT campus facilities.
The program is designed to help students build research skills and prepare for graduate education. Participation does not guarantee admission to an MIT graduate program.
Research Areas and Participating Departments
MSRP General offers research opportunities across a range of academic fields, including:
Aeronautics and Astronautics
Architecture
Biological Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Economics
History
Linguistics and Philosophy
Materials Science and Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Nuclear Science and Engineering
Physics
Political Science
Urban Studies and Planning
MIT’s Biology and Brain and Cognitive Sciences departments run a separate program, MSRP Biology/BCS. Applicants interested in those fields should review the separate program requirements.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants to MSRP General must meet MIT’s eligibility requirements.
Be enrolled full-time in a degree-granting undergraduate program at a college or university located in the United States or its territories. MIT students are not eligible.
Be a sophomore, junior, or non-graduating senior who has completed at least two academic years of college coursework by the start of the program. College credits earned during high school do not count toward this requirement.
Have a minimum overall or major GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
Have an interest in pursuing graduate study and a career in academic research or teaching.
Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, eligible DACA recipient, or international student with the appropriate visa and work authorization.
Be available to participate on campus for the full program.
MIT says applicants with a GPA below 3.5 may still be considered if they demonstrate strong academic potential, such as significant improvement in their grades or relevant educational challenges.
Applicants should not be graduating before December 2027.
Can international students apply?
International students may apply if they are enrolled full-time at a degree-granting institution located in the United States or its territories.
International students studying at universities outside the United States are not eligible, even if they are U.S. citizens. Students studying at U.S. institutions’ campuses abroad, in study-abroad programs, or in hybrid arrangements with instruction outside the United States also do not meet the eligibility requirement.
International students on F-1 visas must obtain Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT) authorization through their home institution before the program begins. MIT states that this authorization must be approved by May 15, 2027. Applicants should contact their institution’s international student office early to confirm their eligibility and current work authorization requirements.
Required Application Materials
Applicants must submit the following materials:
Completed online application and essay responses.
A current CV or résumé.
An unlocked, unofficial transcript from each institution attended.
Two letters of recommendation from faculty members, research mentors, or supervisors who can discuss the applicant’s academic ability, research potential, and character.
Applicants will also identify their top three choices for research departments, faculty mentors, and research areas.
Both recommendation letters must arrive by the application deadline. MIT states that incomplete applications will not be reviewed, and it will not extend the deadline for missing letters.
How to Apply for the MIT Summer Research Program 2027
Follow these steps to apply:
Review the eligibility requirements on MIT’s official application page.
Explore the participating departments, research areas, and faculty mentors.
Prepare your CV, unofficial transcript, and essay responses.
Request two recommendation letters from appropriate academic or research references.
Complete the online application and list your top three research preferences.
Check that your transcript is unlocked and all required materials are submitted.
Submit your application and confirm that both recommendation letters arrive before the deadline.
MIT advises applicants not to contact faculty members directly about admission or placement. Use the application to identify your research preferences.
MIT MSRP 2027 Application Deadline
The application deadline is January 19, 2027, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
The deadline applies to the complete application, including both recommendation letters. Applicants should submit early and check that all required materials have arrived.
Official Links
MSRP program overview: https://oge.mit.edu/msrp/msrp-overview/
Eligibility and application instructions: https://oge.mit.edu/msrp/application/
Frequently asked questions: https://oge.mit.edu/msrp/frequently-asked-questions/
