» National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship

Purpose:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is the country’s oldest fellowship program. The GRFP  is intended to provide support for those at the beginning of their graduate career and individuals seeking to reenter graduate studies following an interruption of at least two consecutive years. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in fields within NSF’s mission. The GRFP provides up to three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research. The GRFP supports over 100 sub disciplines, including social sciences and psychology as well as the hard sciences.

Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $34,000 along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees (paid to the institution), opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education they choose.

Requirements: 

  • US citizens or nationals or permanent resident aliens
  • College seniors, first year graduate students, and others who have completed a limited amount of graduate study in science, mathematics or engineering
  • Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply

Candidate Profile:

The application evaluation involves the review, rating, and ranking of applications by disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists and engineers, and other professional graduate education experts. The primary responsibility of each panel is to evaluate the merit of eligible GRFP applications by applying the National Science Board-approved Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, and to subsequently recommend applicants for NSF Graduate Research Fellowships. Panelists are instructed to review the applications holistically in the context of applying NSF's Merit Review Criteria and the GRFP emphasis on demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering. NSF determines the successful applicants from these recommendations, with Fellowships and Honorable Mention offered based on the GRFP portfolio within the context of NSF's mission.

Award:

Three years of support for graduate study leading to a research-based master's or doctoral degree in the fields noted above. Stipends are determined annually; currently the award is expected to be $42,000 annually: $30,000 stipend, $12,000 cost of education allowance per award for tuition and fees.

Number of Awards:

Approximately 1000

Deadlines:

Vary with proposed field of study – range from mid-October to early November.

Website:

http://www.nsfgrfp.org/