116 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IJHER, Vol., 10 (2), 2020, 116-137. www.ijher.com IJHER (ISSN 2277 260X) CODEN:IJHER ORIGINAL ARTICLE STUDENTS CHALLENGES IN UNDERTAKING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Rejoice Madobi 1 & Constantino Pedzisai 2 1 Lecturer, Zimbabwe Open University, Mashonaland East Regional Campus, P O Box 758, Marondera, Zimbabwe, Email: remadobi@gmail.com 2 Senior, Lecturer, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Institute of Lifelong Learning and Development Studies, P Bag 7724, Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. Email: pedzisaic@gmail.com Abstract The purpose of the study was to examine the challenges faced by students in undergraduate research at the Zimbabwe Open University. While primary data were collected using questionnaires and interviews for students and research supervisors respectively, secondary data were collected through documentary analysis of research projects. The research findings showed that the main factors that influence the students’ challenges in undertaking research project work were a combination of student and institution related factors. These provided militated against the successful completion of the research project by students. This study also found out that the main causes of the students’ challenges are intertwined with the effects of the challenges on students’ progress in research projects. The study recommends that institutions of higher learning should time out those students who have taken longer than stipulated time in the academic regulations to help students take their studies seriously. This measure would force students to complete not just their research projects but also their studies. University departments should also make the presentation of students’ research proposals compulsory so that all students start their research projects on time. Key terms: Research project, Undergraduate student, Self-efficacy, Supervisor, Open and Distance Learning (ODL) [Madobi, R. and Pedzisai, C. Students Challenges in Undertaking Undergraduate Research. International Journal of Higher Education and Research 2020;10(2):116-137]. ISSN 2277 260X (online). http://www.ijher.com. doi:10.7755/ijher170720.06. 1.0 INTRODUCTION A research project is a compulsory or core course for almost all programmes offered by tertiary institutions globally. A research project is one of the requirements for undergraduate and post graduate students of Zimbabwe’s Higher Education institutions. The same is for the Geography and Environmental Studies (GES) Department at the Zimbabwe Open University (ZOU).