STEP-UP Eligibility Requirements
Eligibility Requirements for High School & Undergraduate Students
NIH encourages institutions to increase diversity in their student and faculty populations. To promote diversity and equity for students, and access to science, STEP-UP strives to increase research and educational opportunities for individuals regardless of economic background or zip code.
General Requirements
- Be a U.S. Citizen, non-citizen national, or legal permanent resident
- Be 16 years of age or older
- Give proof of personal medical/health insurance coverage throughout the duration of the program. Exceptions will be made for students residing in the following U.S. territories: Marshall Island, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Saipan, and Guam.
- Commit to completing the program
Academic Requirements
- Be enrolled in a high school or an accredited U.S. college or university, or plan to be enrolled in the fall
- High school students should be in their junior or senior year of high school during the application period
- Undergraduate students should currently be enrolled as a full-time student at a U.S. accredited two-year or four-year college or university. Graduating college seniors are not eligible for the program.
Diversity and Equity
STEP-UP encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds, including individuals from underrepresented populations, those living with disabilities, or from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply. Consistent with applicable law, an individual candidate’s race, ethnicity, or sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, or transgender status) may not be considered as a factor for purposes of program eligibility or in selecting participants.
For additional questions regarding the eligibility requirements, please visit the STEP-UP FAQs or contact the NIDDK STEP-UP Program Staff.
FAQs
General
No. Only citizens, permanent residents, and non-citizen nationals of the U.S. are eligible to apply to this program.
Non-citizen nationals are persons born in American Samoa, Guam, Saipan certain former citizens of the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and certain children of non-citizen nationals born abroad (view Certificates of Non-Citizen Nationality).
Yes. All students are required to submit a copy of a U.S. passport, U.S. birth certificate, or a government-issued photo identification document to their coordinating center once accepted into the program.
Yes. High school students who are currently in their senior year of school are eligible to participate in the program. If you are a graduating high school student, please apply to the high school STEP-UP Program. Graduating college seniors are not eligible for the program.
Yes. Students must have an overall GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
Yes. All students are required to submit a copy of their health/medical insurance policy to their coordinating center. If you do not have insurance prior to the start date of the program, you can inquire from your coordinating center on how you can obtain a short-term insurance policy. Exceptions will be made for students residing in the following U.S. territories: Marshall Island, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Saipan, and Guam.