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 5. Students who present at MURC 2026 cannot adjudicate.
Student presenters can participate in 1 of 2 ways:
- In-person oral presentations
- In-person poster presentations
On the day of the conference, presentations will be adjudicated by a mix of senior undergraduate students with research communication experience, graduate students, and faculty members. After the conference, MURC presenters will receive individualized feedback on their research and presentation skills.
The MURC conference will take place on Sat, Mar 21, 2026 on the UBC Vancouver campus.
MURC 2026 applications are open from Nov 10, 2025 to Jan 11, 2026. Stay connected with us on Instagram and check out our MURC webpage for the latest updates and announcements.
Before applying
1. 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. Your research supervisor will be contacted via email to confirm their approval of your presentation at MURC.
2. Prepare your abstract
When writing your abstract, please ensure it is under 250 words and accessible to a generalist audience. Use brief definitions, clear explanations, and concrete real-world examples to help readers understand the study’s focus and importance.
Since MURC is not a specialized conference, the MURC review committee will be assessing whether a generalist audience will be able to follow the abstract. To support your learning, the MURC Review Committee will provide 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: Results, or expected outcomes, 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
To prepare your abstract that speaks to a generalist audience, you are encouraged to review the 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. You should also ask your research supervisor for feedback on your abstract before submission.
3. Select a presentation format
Oral presentations
During an oral presentation, you will discuss your research and findings, and you may support your presentation with slides. There will be a brief 5 to 7 minute Q&A session after your presentation.
Poster presentations
During a poster presentation, you’ll talk about your research for a brief period of time, then answer a few questions from an adjudicator. You are not required to do a formal poster presentation.
The general poster dimensions are 36 inches by 48 inches, and the conference will print your poster for you for free given you meet the free poster printing deadline. Check back for the final poster printing submission date in January 2026.
See poster examples from previous years.
How to apply
Applications are open from Nov 10, 2025 to Jan 11, 2026.
You must submit both your registration and abstract application form online to present at MURC.
- First, submit your registration form. If you’re presenting as a group, only one member must complete the form on behalf of the group.
- Once registered, the same member must submit the abstract before the deadline.
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 abstract 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 via email once your application is approved.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can submit your research project even if it is not completed.
Presenters are welcome to present up to two research topics. You are free to choose whether to present them both in one format, or split them between two formats. After completing the registration form, submit both your presentations through the “Submission” page.
If you wish to present on more than two topics, please email us at undergraduate.research@ubc.ca
Yes, you can present at MURC provided permission has been granted by the research supervisor. Your research supervisor will be contacted to confirm their consent, in order for you to present at the conference.
There’s no restrictions provided you have a research supervisor for the project who is aware that you want to present at MURC. Also, you (and the co-presenters if any) must be undergraduate students. Your research supervisor will be contacted to confirm their consent, in order for you to present at the conference.
After you submit your application, the MURC review committee will review and provide feedback on your abstract. You will be granted 2 to 3 weeks to submit your final abstract which will be featured in the MURC 2026 program guide.
You are encouraged to implement it. Please consult with your research supervisor when making edits and resubmitting your abstract.
MURC doesn’t prescribe a specific citation style. We advise you to follow the citation style used in your discipline.
Yes, citations are included in the 250-word count limit. We only require in-text citations, if applicable.