The MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) 2026 is a fully funded summer research opportunity in the United States. It is designed for talented undergraduate students who want to explore advanced research, gain hands-on experience, and prepare for future graduate studies at MIT or other top universities.
The program will run from June 8 to August 8, 2026, and it offers full financial support, including a stipend, travel, meals, and housing. It is open to students from all nationalities, including international students studying at U.S. universities, U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA students.
MIT is one of the world’s top universities and is consistently ranked as #1 in the QS World University Rankings. Joining the MIT Summer Research Program gives students a chance to work with leading researchers, develop new skills, and experience life at MIT.
Interested candidates can apply for the MIT Summer Research Program 2026 before the deadline 20 January 2026.
In this article, we shared all the details you need to know regarding this program. So read all the details carefully.
About MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP)
The MIT Summer Research Program aims to encourage students to pursue graduate studies in STEM fields. Through this program, MIT wants to:
- Train and support talented undergraduate researchers
- Increase diversity in research and innovation
- Help students gain confidence and skills for graduate-level study
- Build a strong future workforce in science, engineering, and technology
During the 8-week program, students will join research labs, participate in workshops, explore career opportunities, and enjoy group activities like boat cruises and trips around Boston
Program Details
| Host University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) |
| Program Duration | June 8 – August 8, 2026 |
| Funding | Fully Funded |
| Eligible Nationalities | All nationalities |
| Location | United States |
| Application Deadline | 20 January 2026 |
Financial Benefits (Fully Funded)
Selected students will receive:
- Weekly stipend
- Round-trip travel to MIT
- Meal subsidy
- Free accommodation
These benefits make the program fully funded and accessible for students from all backgrounds.
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Participating Departments
Students can work in many top MIT departments, including:
- Media Arts and Sciences
- Nuclear Science and Engineering
- Comparative Media Studies
- Philosophy
- Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences
- Political Science
- Civil and Environmental Engineering
- MIT Sloan PhD Program
- Linguistics
- Operations Research Center
- Architecture
- Materials Science and Engineering
- History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology & Society
- Chemical Engineering
- Economics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Aeronautics and Astronautics
- Mathematics
- Health Sciences and Technology (Harvard–MIT Program)
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)
- Center for Real Estate
- Physics
- Urban Studies and Planning
- Biological Engineering
- Computational Science and Engineering
- Computational and Systems Biology
- Transportation
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the MIT Summer Research Program 2026, students must meet the following requirements:
Academic Requirements
- Minimum GPA of 3.5/4.0
- Must be enrolled full-time at a U.S. university or U.S. territory (MIT students are not eligible)
- Must be a sophomore, junior, or non-graduating senior
- Graduation date must be after December 2026
Interest in Graduate Study
- Students should be interested in pursuing a graduate program at MIT
- Professional programs like MBA, EMBA, LGO are not eligible
Citizenship Requirements
Eligible:
- U.S. citizens
- Permanent residents
- DACA students
- International students studying full-time at a U.S. institution
Not eligible:
- Exchange students
- Students studying outside the United States
Application Deadline
The last date to apply for the MIT Summer Research Program 2026 is: 20 January 2026
Students are advised to apply early because the program is competitive.
How to Apply
Applicants must apply online through the official application link (as mentioned in the original announcement).
You will need to prepare academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a personal statement.