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Transfer Research Entry Program

The Transfer Research Entry Program (TREP) is designed to connect transfer students with research experiences as soon as setting foot on campus. One of the things that UNCW does best is faculty-mentored undergraduate research, creative scholarship, and community engagement and we want transfer students involved!

Undergraduate research fosters academic belonging along with career development. Undergraduate research helps clarify career interests and post-graduation plans, strengthens skills that employers look for, help students connect with the campus, create student-mentor relationships, and reduce time to graduation.

TREP students can do research in any discipline. It can be in your major, or not. Just find something that interests you! For this program, you will work on research projects with a faculty mentor for 3-10 hours per week during the Fall semester and be registered for 1-3 Directed Independent Study (DIS) credits (1 credit is approximately 3-5 hours). You will also complete 7 professional development or academic belonging activities of your choosing throughout the semester. Complete your DIS, PD activities, present at the Fall Showcase of Student Research and Creativity on November 20 2026, and register for DIS or thesis credits in the Spring to qualify for a $300 scholarship.

TREP is open to all transfer students for their first semester at UNCW (i.e., you cannot do TREP Fall 2027 if you start at UNCW in Fall 2026). Students do not need to be in the Honors College. No previous research experience is required.

Application Process

Students will need to find their own research mentors and secure their own research projects. You can do this on your own or participate in one of our online summer bootcamps designed to help students find research opportunities.

The application for TREP itself will be available soon.

We're still finalizing these bootcamps and the formal application form but you can get on the mailing list by filling out this interest form.

Get on the mailing list for TREP

Scholarship Eligibility

To be eligible for the $300 scholarship in the Spring, students must complete the following and upload the evidence to the provided portal:

  • Complete a Directed Independent Study, Federal Work Study, or paid research project at UNCW in the Fall Semester.
  • Complete 7 professional development or academic belonging activities during the Fall Semester
  • Present at the Fall Showcase of Student Research and Creativity (Nov 20 2026)
  • Register for a DIS or be hired for a FWS or paid research position for the Spring Semester.

Any questions can be directed to Dr. Katherine Liu, Associate Director of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, at liuk@uncw.edu.