The REU Program Solicitation, which can be found under PROGRAM GUIDELINES on the REU Program Overview page, provides instructions on how to apply for an REU Site or an REU Supplement. The REU program seeks to expand student participation in all kinds of research -- whether disciplinary, interdisciplinary, or educational in focus -- encompassing efforts by individual investigators, groups, centers, national facilities, and others. The program seeks to attract a diverse pool of talented students into careers in science and engineering and to help ensure that they receive the best education possible.

Proposals for REU Sites must be submitted by the annual deadline, which is advertised in the solicitation. REU Sites are funded by research divisions/directorates throughout the Foundation. Each disciplinary unit has a point-of-contact for questions about REU Site proposals, which can be found on the Web page REU Site Contacts.

Investigators with an active NSF research award may request an REU Supplement through the Supplemental Funding Request module in FastLane; or investigators preparing a research proposal may include an REU Supplement request as a component of the proposal. Both methods are described in the solicitation. An REU Supplement request is handled by the NSF program officer for the underlying research grant, and investigators should contact that program officer before submitting the request.