Nu Rho Psi is the only nationally-recognized honor society in the area of brain research. The study of the brain is one of the noblest of academic pursuits because a deep and true understanding of the principles by which the brain works contributes directly to the quality of our lives and the well-being of future generations.
| Membership Application: Students submit this to institution chapter of Nu Rho Psi (if your chapter uses the self-nomination process). | Membership Application (as of: Feb 2, 2026) |
| What is Nu Rho Psi?: A document outlining member eligibility and standards of the honors society (the same information below). | What is Nu Rho Psi? (as of: Feb 2, 2026) |
No Nu Rho Psi chapter at your institution?
Faculty and students interested in starting a chapter of Nu Rho Psi follow the link: here, to become a founding member! Faculty advisors are required to initiate a chapter, as all applications for Nu Rho Psi members filter through the institution chapters first, and later are approved by the national office. More details on starting a chapter are here.
What is Nu Rho Psi?
Nu Rho Psi is the National Honor Society in Neuroscience, founded in 2006 by the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience and now an independent honor society. We are a non-profit, grass-roots organization1 comprised of neuroscientists, like you. There are over 110 chapters of Nu Rho Psi, with chapters in all regions of the United States.
The purpose of Nu Rho Psi is to:
(1) encourage professional interest and excellence in scholarship, particularly in Neuroscience; (2) award recognition to students who have achieved such excellence in scholarship; (3) advance the discipline of Neuroscience; (4) encourage intellectual and social interaction between students, faculty, and professionals in Neuroscience and related fields; (5) promote career development in Neuroscience and related fields; (6) increase public awareness of Neuroscience and its benefits for the individual and society; and, (7) encourage service to the community.
How do I join?
Membership is by invitation and is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are making the study of Neuroscience one of their major interests and who meet the other academic qualifications. Nu Rho Psi is also open to qualifying Neuroscience faculty and alumni of Neuroscience programs.
Who may join?
If you are a neuroscience major/minor at an institution with an active chapter of Nu Rho Psi then you can apply to your local branch for induction. You can find the active chapters of Nu Rho Psi here. Some chapters specifically invite qualifying students, others operate through self-nomination. If you believe you meet the qualifications for being inducted (see below) to Nu Rho Psi, please reach out to the faculty advisor of your local chapter.
Alumni who qualified but who did not know about/join Nu Rho Psi while enrolled can still be inducted.
What is the cost?
Membership in Nu Rho Psi is for life and the induction fee ($50.00 for students; $60.00 for faculty) is the only payment to the National organization. Please contact your local branch about becoming inducted to Nu Rho Psi.
What are the qualifications required to join?
Membership in Nu Rho Psi is open to qualified candidates regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, race handicap or disability, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin.
Minimum Qualifications for Undergraduate Student Members
Listed below are the minimum standards for an undergraduate student to be inducted into Nu Rho Psi. These minimum standards are designed to ensure members have a solid foundation in neuroscience, supporting strong academic engagement, leadership continuity, and the mission of Nu Rho Psi.
To be sure if you qualify you need to check with your specific chapter, as Individual chapters may set higher—but not lower—requirements. Chapters may also add additional requirements (e.g. a service component).
Academic Standing
To be eligible for membership, students must meet the following academic criteria:
- Academic Progress: Students must have completed the equivalent of at least 3 semesters of college coursework at an accredited institution of higher education (equal to ~45 credit hours; ~12 units).
- Declared Program: Students must have officially declared a major, minor, or concentration/certificate in Neuroscience or a neuroscience-focused program (e.g. Neural Engineering).
- GPA
- Cumulative GPA: Minimum overall GPA of 3.0.
- Neuroscience GPA: Minimum GPA of 3.2 in neuroscience-related coursework.
- This includes any course that counts toward a declared Neuroscience major, minor, or concentration/certificate.
Credit Requirements
Eligible students must have completed:
- At least 9 credit hours (typically 3 courses) of neuroscience-related coursework.
- This includes any course required for the Neuroscience major, minor, or certificate/concentration.
- Transfer credits may count, provided they are accepted by the institution. AP courses should not be counted in this total.
- At least one course must be focused primarily on neuroscience, such as:
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Introduction to Neuroscience, or a similar core course.
- Additional qualifying courses may come from the student’s declared major if they are:
- Explicitly required for the major, as defined in the institution’s academic bulletin or degree requirements.
Additional Notes
- Courses from related fields may be considered on a case-by-case basis if they clearly align with neuroscience and the student’s academic path.
- Transfer credits are acceptable if they meet the above criteria and are recognized by the student’s college/university (AP classes are not acceptable).
Minimum Qualifications for Graduate Student Members
Listed below are the minimum standards for a graduate student to be inducted into Nu Rho Psi.
To be sure if you would qualify you need to check with your institution’s chapter, as Individual chapters may set higher—but not lower—requirements. Chapters may also add additional requirements (e.g. a service component).
To be eligible for membership, students must meet the following academic criteria:
- Declared Program: Candidates must be registered in a graduate-level program with a neuroscience emphasis. Students must have officially declared a major, minor, or concentration/certificate in Neuroscience.
- GPA
- Cumulative GPA: Minimum overall GPA of 3.5 in all graduate courses.
- Neuroscience GPA: Minimum GPA of 3.5 in neuroscience-related graduate coursework.
What are the benefits of membership?
Nu Rho Psi membership provides recognition of verified academic excellence in the interdisciplinary field of Neuroscience. Students who become members of Nu Rho Psi are selected based on their superior scholarly accomplishments as well as their interest and experience in research. Nu Rho Psi membership is for life and it is often a springboard for networking and research collaboration.
Nu Rho Psi chapters at our Colleges and Universities provide a structure for our member’s professional development and a co-curricular educational focus on the study of the nervous system. Nu Rho Psi sponsors and participates in both regional and national meetings where young neuroscientists from around the country gather to share scientific findings. Nu Rho Psi offers competitive travel awards for members to attend and present their research at the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting. Nu Rho Psi also offers competitive research grants to facilitate our member’s senior theses or other scholarly projects.
Our chapters may apply for Nu Rho Psi grants to promote their educational and community initiatives. We mentor our members through publications (e.g. The Nu Rho Psi Guide to Graduate School in Neuroscience) and provide support to foster other outreach activities of the Society. News and additional information about benefits are available to members via the Nu Rho Psi Newsletter. Members receive membership certificates and lapel pins as an indication of the honor they have earned.