Western Libraries Undergraduate Research Awards
Western Libraries Undergraduate Research Awards (WLURAs) recognize the outstanding research that undergraduates perform during their course work at Western University. These awards are given to students who demonstrate an impressive use of library/archives sources, a thoughtful reflection on their research process, and proper citation practices.
Five cash prizes of $1000 each will be awarded for research projects completed between May 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026. Students nominate themselves and then apply for a WLURA in four easy steps:
- STEP 1: Review the eligibility requirements.
- STEP 2: Understand how the evaluation process works.
- STEP 3: Read through the application tips.
- STEP 4: Complete the following online application form by April 30, 2026 (11:59PM).
If you have any questions, please contact WLURA@uwo.ca.
Application details
Eligibility requirements
Applicants
Applicants must be full- or part-time undergraduate students in any year of study at Western or one of our affiliate university colleges (Huron and King’s). The following students are ineligible:
- Holders of an undergraduate degree at Western or an equivalent institution.
- Recipients of two WLURAs.
Groups
Applicants submitting group projects must meet the same criteria for individual applicants outlined above. Members of these groups should be aware of the following:
- All group members must be listed in the application.
- All group members must be undergraduate students.
- Prize money will be divided equally among each group member.
Projects
Research projects must have been completed for a credit course or a recognized undergraduate program or initiative. Sample projects include, but are not limited to:
- Research papers
- Posters
- Presentations
- Literature reviews
- Creative writing assignments
- Webpages
- Videos
- Music recitals
- Podcasts
- Upper-level theses projects
Languages
Research projects in all languages will be considered, but all other application materials must be written in English. Students submitting projects in languages other than English should contact the WLURA Adjudication Committee before proceeding with their application. We encourage all students to contact the Writing Support Centre to improve their writing.
Evaluation process
Adjudication Committee
Applications will be judged by the WLURA Adjudication Committee made up of Western Libraries’ staff. Each application will be examined blindly and evaluated over three rounds.
Faculty Support
If a project is chosen as a finalist, the WLURA Adjudication Committee will request that the instructor or project advisor complete a recommendation form to aid in the committee’s evaluation of the project.
Rubrics
The WLURA Adjudication Committee will evaluate the research questions from the online application form, the research projects, and bibliographies according to the following rubrics.
Application tips
Research Questions
The online application form includes four questions related to your research process. Below are brief StoryMaps offering advice on how to craft effective responses for your application.
- Research Question 1: Writing Abstracts
- Research Question 2: Crafting Research Questions
- Research Question 3: Developing Search Strategies
- Research Question 4: Using Library/Archives Services and Sources
Research Worksheet
The following research worksheet is designed to help you reflect on the ways in which you perform your research. This exercise will prepare you to write the four research questions on your application.
Citations
Crafting proper citations means following the appropriate style guide assigned to you. Western Libraries provides you with a list of the most used Citation Guides with contact information for help.
Past recipients
Western University Open Repository
Research projects for previous winners can be viewed using the Western University Open Repository.
