Present at MURC

Any UBC undergraduate student who is participating in or has completed their own UBC faculty-supervised research project can apply to present at the Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference (MURC). Students from all faculties and programs are welcome, and presentations can be made individually or in groups of up to five. Students who present at MURC 2026 cannot adjudicate.

Student presenters can participate in 1 of 3 ways: 

• In-person oral presentations
• In-person poster presentations
• Virtual presentations

Presentations will be adjudicated by a mix of senior undergraduate students with research communication experience, graduate students, and faculty members. Exemplary presentations will be recognized at the end of the conference.

The MURC conference will take place on Sat, Mar 21, 2026.

MURC 2026 applications will open in November 2025. Stay connected with us on Instagram and check out our MURC webpage for the latest updates and announcements.

Before applying

Talk to your research supervisor

Talk to your research supervisor and get permission to apply for the conference. As the nature of some research may be sensitive, this step is crucial and applications will not be accepted without supervisor approval.

Prepare your abstract

When writing your abstract, ensure it is kept under 250 words and accessible to a general audience. Use brief definitions, clear explanations, and concrete real-world examples to help readers understand the study’s focus and importance.

Reviewers of conference proposals read a large number of submissions to determine whether the proposed paper or poster meets the requirements of the conference. In order to support your learning, the MURC Review Committee provides feedback on each submitted abstract based on the following criteria:

• Clarity: Abstract is understandable to a non-expert audience.
• Quality of writing: Spelling, grammar, formatting, and general flow of the abstract.
• Methodology: Methods are clearly explained and justified.
• Findings: Findings, or expected findings, are explicitly linked back to the research question.
• Significance: The importance of research to the field and the value of addressing the knowledge gap is articulated.

Since MURC is not a specialized conference, reviewers will be assessing whether a general audience will be able to follow the abstract. Including brief definitions or explanations and using concrete “real world” examples helps non-specialists understand what your study is addressing and why.

You can also prepare by attending one of our Abstract Writing Workshops and/or Peer Review Sessions. 

For more guidance on writing abstracts, take a look at our tip sheet (pdf) and watch the abstract writing workshop recording, which shares key components of an abstract and how to develop it for an interdisciplinary audience.

Select a presentation format

Oral presentations 

You will discuss your research and findings, and you may accompany your verbal communication with slides. There will be a brief 5-minute Q&A session after your presentation. 

Poster presentations 

You’ll talk about your research for a brief period of time, followed by a few questions from the adjudicator. You are not required to do a formal poster presentation. The general poster dimensions are 36 inches by 48 inches, and you will be able to get your poster printed for free Check back for the final poster printing submission date in January 2026. Take a look at these poster examples.

Virtual presentations 

You’ll discuss your research and findings, you may accompany your verbal communication with slides. There will be a brief Q&A session after your presentation. As this will take place over Zoom, you must ensure you have a quiet space and a stable internet connection.

How to apply

Registration

Check back for registration information in Fall 2025.

MURC 2026 presenter applications will open in November 2025. Check out our MURC webpage for the latest updates and announcements.

If you have any questions regarding the application, contact undergraduate.research@ubc.ca at least 5 business days before the application closes.

After your application is approved

For Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference (MURC) presenters, preparing your proposal and presentation can be challenging. Attend oral and poster presentation workshops sessions to learn more about presenting your research in a multidisciplinary format and get feedback on your preliminary work.

Whether you are presenting a poster or doing an oral presentation, you are practising an important research skill by effectively communicating your findings or conclusions to an audience.

Workshop details will be shared closer to the application date.

Frequently asked questions