Library Prize for Undergraduate Research Application Procedures

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled at the time of application submission, full-time UCLA undergraduates at any class level and in any discipline. Graduate students and post-baccalaureates are not eligible. Seniors who graduate in the winter quarter before the awards in spring are eligible to apply.
• Have completed a research paper or project at UCLA during the previous three academic quarters, including study abroad and, if applicable, summer session.
• Agree to provide the research paper or project and/or the reflective essay for public display in the UCLA Library and/or online.
• Agree to attend the reception when the winners are honored.
• If you’ve ever been employed or are currently employed at UCLA, your research paper must be unrelated to work performed during your employment.
• Research projects do not need to be final/complete in order to apply for the prize. Please submit your most current version with your application. You will be given the opportunity to share a final product if selected as a winner.

*Students may submit more than one project for a different course and different prize category (only one submission per project category). If selected for a winning prize, students will win in ONE category only. Please email libraryprize@library.ucla.edu with questions.

All of the following are required in your application:

• Your Library Use Statement will describe your research process: the methods and strategies you learned or developed to access the information you needed for your work. Download the Library Use Statement Guidelines(opens in a new tab).
• A final or near-final version of the project. If the project is a paper, it must be written in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins. Exceptions will be made for papers produced using LaTeX or other discipline-specific formats. Please include a detailed description if the project is in a format that cannot be submitted electronically, such as an architectural model, CD, or DVD. If the project is on the Web, please submit the URL on the application form.
• A bibliography in a recognized style. Tips on the bibliography's format and contents are available below.

Download this rubric(opens in a new tab) to see how our judges will evaluate your project.

The entry period for the 2026 Library Prize for Undergraduate Research is now open. Submit your application(opens in a new tab) by Sunday, March 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.(opens in a new tab)

Need additional help? Please email libraryprize@library.ucla.edu if you have any questions.

The Library offers in-person and virtual services and resources to support your research. Visit the Research Help Page to search for workshops and research guides, schedule a one-on-one research consultation or ask a librarian for help using 24/7 chat.