The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.
As the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the GRFP has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers. The reputation of the GRFP follows recipients and often helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching. Past fellows include numerous Nobel Prize winners, U.S. Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, Google founder, Sergey Brin and Freakonomics co-author, Steven Levitt.
Eligibility
There are three eligibility requirements for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program:
- U. S. citizenship
- Degree requirements
- Fields of study
Applicants may apply concurrent with applications to PhD programs or during the first or second year of their doctoral studies. Preference is given to the applicants who have not yet started their doctoral degree programs.
Detailed descriptions of these eligibility requirements are available in the NSF GRFP information document.
Period of Study
This award is available for three years.
Award
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.
Application
Application materials and additional information is available on the NSF website.
Deadline(s)
Deadlines vary depending upon the specific program you're interested in applying to. These dates can be found on the NSF website.
Details
Class Year
- Senior
- Recent Graduate
- Post-baccalaureate
- Graduate
- Doctorate
Discipline
- Social Sciences
- STEM
- Multiple
Language
- English
Duration
- Yearlong
- Other
Program Type
- Graduate Study
- Research
- Tuition Aid
Region
- North America