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Real-World Experience

Research active volcanoes in the Cascades. Intern at a Portland biotech startup. Learning on the job gives you career-defining skills and confidence that sets you apart.

Students collect water samples on the Oregon coast.

More than 300 programs across nine schools and colleges. Find your path — from undergraduate degrees to advanced research.

Fall Classes Begin: September 28, 2026

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Your journey to the UO starts here. Submit an application, explore financial aid and scholarships, or schedule a campus visit.

Early Action Deadline: November 1, 2026

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A top-tier R1 research university where breakthroughs happen every day.

UO research expenditures: $267M annually

Explore the Latest Research

Life at the UO is more than classes. It's community, culture, and the kind of experiences that shape who you become.

Week of Welcome Begins: September 25, 2026

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Learning Beyond the Lecture Hall

From excavating medieval sites in Romania to conducting neuroscience research in Eugene, Ducks gather the skills, experiences, and relationships they need to jump-start their careers.

Nothing Beats Experience

  • 85% Of employers preferred candidates with experience in undergraduate research
  • 56% Of the class of ‘25 worked paid and unpaid internships
  • 3,000 Hours of workforce-ready experience in ecological restoration, agricultural management, and supply logistics

Three Experience Pathways

Start by exploring what’s open to you across these key categories. Mentors and advisors can help you land opportunities that fit your academic interests and future goals.

  • Students gather around a table during a collaborative workshop.

    Internships

    Paid or unpaid, on campus or off, internships turn classroom learning into resume-ready job skills, and most come with the option to earn academic credit. Explore the world through international internships.

    See the Options
  • Researchers collect samples near an active volcanic eruption.

    Research

    Some Ducks dig for lava rock. Others chase down artifacts or lose themselves in old manuscripts. Whatever the field, research at the UO starts with curiosity.

    Dig Into Research Opportunities
  • Students form a circle during an outdoor campus activity.

    Co-Curricular

    More than 400 student clubs and organizations, plus student government, Greek life, and on-campus jobs, build leadership skills that belong on any resume.

    Find Your Fit

How Ducks Get to Work

Take a closer look at how students gain resume-worthy experience, ranging from a working observatory in the high desert to meeting rooms of global sportswear brands.

Two students work together in a laboratory.

Knight Campus Undergraduate Scholars

Spend a full year in a Knight Campus lab researching bioengineering and biomedical science, mentored one-on-one by UO faculty.

A photographer works from a tree while wearing climbing gear.

Snowden Journalism Program

A paid, competitive 10-week internship in an Oregon newsroom. Interns have gone on to jobs at The Associated Press, CNN, and NPR.

A team works with solar-powered monitoring equipment.

Oregon Hazards Lab

Help operate Oregon's earthquake early-warning system and wildfire detection network, important fieldwork that’s crucial for public safety in the Pacific Northwest.

Two students use laptops beside a basketball court.

Warsaw Sports Business Center

Intern at Nike, Adidas, or the Portland Trail Blazers through the nation's first sports business program housed in a business school.

Students examine small plants at an outdoor event.

Student Government

Help direct a $17 million student budget, plan campus-wide events, and advocate for changes on campus.

Students use a telescope inside Pine Mountain Observatory.

Pine Mountain Observatory

UO undergrads run their own observatory in Oregon's high desert. In 2016, a student research team helped confirm a real supernova, 35 million light-years away.

Driving Discovery

Research at the UO is open to all students—first-years to seniors across the arts, humanities and sciences. No experience required.

Undergraduate Research
  • Researchers carry field equipment through a wetland.

    Research and Distinguished Scholarships (URDS)

    URDS serves as a centralized campus hub that connects undergraduates from all eight colleges to interesting research and creative projects that align with their career goals and interests.

  • A student discusses her research poster at the Undergraduate Research Symposium.

    Undergraduate Research Symposium

    Students at all stages of their academic journey can present research, creative work, and enterprising ideas at this campus-wide event. This is a great way to tap into the UO's active research culture and connect with peers and mentors in a supportive environment.

  • Provost Christopher Long talks with students at a PURA luncheon.

    Provost Undergraduate Research Assistantship

    This invite-only program awards grants to high-achieving incoming students who will work with a faculty mentor to research a range of subjects—from bioengineering to digital art. You’ll gain new skills while finding ways to grow human understanding and serve the public good.

  • Students work together around a library table.

    TRIO McNair Scholars Program

    Named in honor of astronaut and physicist Ronald McNair, the second African American to travel to space, this program pairs first-generation college students with faculty mentors to conduct undergraduate research in their chosen field in preparation for PhD-level studies.

A student talks with a career adviser beside a world map.

Join a Career Community

You’re more than just your major. Career Communities lets Ducks explore career paths based on interests, ideal work environment, and personal values. Tap into resources that offer a preview of your potential profession, including mentorships, field-specific internships, and research and volunteer gigs.

Explore the Communities

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