Constructing a Budget

Overview

VPUE Undergraduate Research Student Grants cover expenses that enable students to participate in intellectual activities connected with a scholarly/creative project opportunity. An integral part of your grant application is a budget, indicating how much money your project needs and how the money will be spent. 

Making the Most of Your Resources

Students interested in applying for a VPUE Student Grant should take the following steps prior to submitting a proposal:

1. Reflect on the resources needed to execute your proposed project.
2. Check our list of allowable and prohibited budget items
3. Determine if your needed resources can be attained free of cost. Here are suggestions on where to start:
   • Your faculty mentor
   • Your home or partnering department
   • Lathrop Library, Stanford Arts Equipment Lending Library, Roble Arts Gym, Terman Engineering Library, etc. (for software/hardware, art supplies, etc.)
   • Alternative on or off-campus resources
4. Estimate how much money you will need to support your project. 
   • All grant proposals (Chappell Lougee, Major Grant, Conference Grant, and Small Grant) must include a line-item budget and a brief discussion on your funding needs in light of available on- and off-campus resources. Strong budget sections of project proposals will clearly show that you have been thoughtful and done your due diligence in considering on- and off-campus resources.
   • In addition to the above, Small Grant applicants must also upload a Research Budget Request Form that is provided in the "Budget" section of the Small Grant application proper.

Constructing Your Budget

Ready to outline your budget? Be sure to review our Budget Guidelines for Student Grants.

Additional budget questions? Please visit our Budget FAQs page.