Undergraduate Students

MIT believes the best education occurs when students are self-motivated and engaged participants in a dynamic community of learners. Moreover, learning must take place in an environment where students cannot only find support for their academic success but can also attend to their well-being and cultivate their personal and intellectual growth. To that end, MIT’s Undergraduate Advising Center strives to help every undergraduate student reach their full potential with individualized, holistic advising, from matriculation to graduation.

One of the hallmarks of an MIT undergraduate education is the combination of rigorous academics with a “learning-by-doing” approach. MIT’s rich experiential learning ecosystem enables students to pursue a wide variety of educational opportunities in such areas as research, public service and social impact, and entrepreneurship, to name a few.

One avenue for student engagement is the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), pioneered at MIT in 1969 and now emulated in academic institutions around the world. UROP offers students the opportunity to join a faculty-led research team or to initiate their own research project.

Another unique feature of an MIT education is the Independent Activities Period, a special four-week term in January that enables students to set their own agenda within a creative and flexible environment.

Undergraduates are encouraged to add an international dimension to their education as well. Students may choose from Institute-wide or departmental study-abroad programs. They may also conduct research abroad, assist with building sustainable communities overseas, or venture out on fieldwork or internships arranged through MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives.

Leadership training opportunities include the Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program, the Bernard M. Gordon–MIT Engineering Leadership Program, and ROTC programs in the United States Army, Navy/Marine Corps, and Air Force. In addition, Career Advising and Professional Development guides all students as they explore and prepare for careers, graduate study, and life after MIT.