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Undergraduate Research

Applying

For the 2024-2025 academic year, we anticipate a large number of applications. This will likely result in a lower percentage of funded applications compared to previous years.

Fall Deadline

Due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, we have extended the deadline:

October 16, 2024 at 5 p.m. for Columbia, Beaufort, Lancaster, Salkehatchie, and Sumter
October 23, 2024 at 5 p.m. for Aiken, Upstate, and Union

Announced: by December 13
Grants start January 2025

Spring Deadline

February 12, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Announced: by April 18
Grants start May or August 2025

EXCEPTIONS

College of Nursing - Columbia

Arnold School of Public Health

  • Requires submission into USCeRA 1 full business day prior to the deadline.
  • Contact Charlotte Stalvey, CSTALVEY@mailbox.sc.edu with questions.



 

 

Application Process

The order of the following steps is not important, but all are required for a complete application.

The Magellan Scholar application video is found here.

The application workshop or application video is only required once. So no, the application video is not required if you participated in a past semester's application workshop or previously watched the Scholar application video.

However, changes occur each application round including forms. It is your responsibility to follow the current semester's guidebook, rules, requirements, and forms. The Update section on page 1 may be particularly helpful with this.

NOTE: the Magellan minigrant/apprentice application videos do NOT fulfill this requirement; they are NOT the same as the Magellan Scholar application video.

Are you resubmitting a proposal? If so, review the guidebook for resubmission guidelines and requirements.

No, the application video is not required if you participated in a past semester's application workshop or previously watched the Scholar application video.

However, changes occur each application round including forms. It is your responsibility to follow the current semester's guidebook, rules, requirements, and forms. The Update section on page 1 may be particularly helpful with this.

Pay special attention to the resubmission section in the guidebook.

The required part of the application video series is ~1 hour, divided into four shorter topical videos.

Mentors are encouraged to review the application video once. Mentors and students do not have to watch the video together.

Please NOTE this program is updated regularly. Applications must be compliant with the current semester’s requirements, guidelines, and formats as outlined in the current Magellan Scholar application guidebook.

FORMS are updated often! Please do not reuse forms, including mentor collaboration forms, from previous semesters. Forms can be found below.

 

The guidebook [pdf] will walk you through the application process including eligibility, formatting, project description/proposal details, form access, award requirements, and more. This is your best resource for all things Magellan Scholar. To ensure your project is considered for the program – follow the current semester's guidebook!

All Magellan Scholars must have a faculty mentor and project to apply.
Things to consider and discuss:
  • Review the student mentoring guide.
  • Talk with your mentor about the application process.
  • Set up a timeline to ensure that your mentor has time to review each of your proposal drafts.
  • Discuss the writing and editing process. 
  • Review the tasks and goals for your project.
  • The key to a successful application is how well you describe your project plan. Make sure that you understand your project in sufficient detail to explain this in language that a non-expert will understand.

The applicant information form must be submitted in addition to your proposal by the submission deadline.

Group applications: submit one form with maximum of 3 students in group (updated in Spring 2021). List group members alphabetically by last name.

NOTE for all applicants: If anything on this form changes (such as title) after it is submitted or you decide not to apply, contact our@sc.edu with the new information and we will update or delete the form for you.

  • Follow the advice/expertise from your mentor. 
  • Include all sections and formatting described in the guidebook. 
  • The proposal tips and hints guide may be helpful in the writing process.
  • Make sure you set up a timeline with your mentor for drafts and reviews. 
  • Ensure that your mentor has the final version in plenty of time for submission by the 5 p.m. deadline. 
  • Remember: your mentor submits the full application into the system. 

The Guidebook [pdf] contains additional guidance regarding special situations such as:

  • group projects
  • research or travel abroad
  • human or vertebrate animal subjects
  • resubmissions
  • Using one of the budget forms below, work with your mentor to plan the proposed project budget.
  • Carefully review the guidebook for allowable and unallowable expenses and requirements for uses such as participant support and conference travel.
  • The budget form is added after your project description.

Budget Form
This is the only acceptable format for your budget. If it is not working for you, contact our@sc.edu

 

Special Situations and Helpful Resources

Before You Plan Your Research...

Review the Research Abroad Guidelines Document [pdf] for:

    • Important people to meet with and contact
    • Research abroad requirements
    • Guidelines and tips for the application 

For Aiken, Beaufort, and Upstate students:
Contact us at our@sc.edu or 803-777-1141. 


For Columbia and Palmetto Campus/College students:

1) Register and comply with all policies, rules, and regulations of the Education Abroad Office

ALL students traveling abroad for research, volunteer, internships or study must register with the Education Abroad Office. 

2) Follow Education Abroad Non-Credit Programs Instructions 

This is required for ALL research, internship, volunteer, and non-credit study abroad activities. 


Students must also comply with University Travel policies and procedures


If You Are Not Sure If You Need to Register:
Check with the Education Abroad Office at edabroad@sc.edu or 803-777-7557. Be safe, not sorry!

 

If the project involves vertebrate animals, it must have approval through the Animal Care and Use Committee and the student must have appropriate training. If the project already has approval, the student must be added. Contact the Department of Animal Resources, 803-777-8106, iacuc@mailbox.sc.edu. For USC Aiken, contact the Sponsored Research Office.

If the project involves humans (including but not limited to interviews, surveys or review of personal/private information), mentors must review the Student Research guide. Based on this guidance from the Office of Research Compliance, most student driven projects will not require further review. Faculty oversight and student training through the CITI Human Subjects modules are required. Some projects may also require use of the Undergraduate Research Consent Form. A template is available on the Student Research page. If a student is "engaged in the research" on a mentor's project requiring IRB oversight (new or approved protocol), the student must be added. Contact the Office of Research Compliance (803-777-7095) with questions.

 

This guide provides additional information, tips, hints, and details to assist in writing the project description.

Use this guide to help develop your project plan and understand your responsibilities for the project.

Below are proposals from Magellan Scholar awardees.

  • These are meant as helpful resources but may not meet current application requirements. Follow the guidebook!
  • Not all majors are represented but even proposals outside your discipline will provide you with an understanding of expectations.
  • Be sure to review the Guidebook and Tips & Hints for additional information on writing your proposal.

 

The rubric reviewers use to evaluate proposals. This may be helpful as you develop and revise your project description.

 

The checklist may be helpful to ensure your application is complete prior to submission.

  • The primary mentor and any secondary mentors (such as graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, additional faculty mentors, community partners, etc) must each complete the appropriate form.
  • The collaboration forms are added after the budget form.
NOTE these forms are updated regularly, please be sure to use the most recent versions.

 

Primary Mentor Collaboration Form [doc]
The mentor's role on the project and the plan for student training and skill building

Secondary Mentor Form [doc]

  • Role of secondary mentor(s) on the project and how the mentor(s) will work with and train the student
  • Include as many secondary mentor forms as needed
  • Combine the project description, budget form, and mentor form(s) into ONE word or pdf document = Full Proposal. Do not include transcripts
  • Please name the document file: StudentLastName_FirstInitial OR for groups - StudenLastName1_StudentLastName2
  • Submit full formal proposal through USCeRA*, no later than 5pm on the deadline date. See deadlines and EXCEPTIONS below. *NOTE, for the USCeRA project title, please use the format: Magellan-StudentLastName-Project Title OR for groups: Magellan-StudentLastName1_StudentLastName2-Project Title

 

Guide for Magellan Scholar mentors: forms and USCeRA submission [pdf] - step-by-step guide to USCeRA for Scholar submissions including common questions and solutions 

 

Fall Deadline

Due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, we have extended the deadline:

October 16, 2024 at 5 p.m. for Columbia, Beaufort, Lancaster, Salkehatchie, and Sumter
October 23, 2024 at 5 p.m. for Aiken, Upstate, and Union

Announced: by December 13
Grants start January 2025

Spring Deadline

February 12, 2025 at 5 p.m.
Announced: by April 18
Grants start May or August 2025

EXCEPTIONS

College of Nursing - Columbia

Arnold School of Public Health

  • Requires submission into USCeRA 1 full business day prior to the deadline.
  • Contact Charlotte Stalvey, CSTALVEY@mailbox.sc.edu with questions.





 


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