About the Fellowship (from NSF):
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.
Fellows share in the prestige and opportunities that become available when they are selected. Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $37,000 along with a $16,000 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.
NSF Fellows are anticipated to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals are crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation's technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society at large.
So that the nation can build fully upon the strength and creativity of a diverse society, the Foundation welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. Women, under-represented minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
- Intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in a research-based graduate degree program in an eligible Field of Study in STEM or STEM education
- Have never previously applied to GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program
- Have never earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field
- Have never earned a master's or professional degree (joint bachelor's-master's degree information below) in any field, unless
- (i) returning to graduate study after an interruption of two (2) or more consecutive years immediately preceding the deadline, and
- (ii) are not enrolled in a graduate degree program at the application deadline
- Have never previously accepted a GRFP award
- If previously offered a GRFP award, have declined by the deadline
- Not be a current NSF employee
Number of Times Individuals May Apply:
- Undergraduate seniors and bachelor's degree holders may apply before enrolling in a degree-granting graduate program.
- Graduate students enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program are limited to only one application to the GRFP, submitted in the first year or at the beginning of the second year of their degree program.
- Individuals pursuing a master's degree simultaneously with the bachelor's degree (joint bachelor's-master's degree) must have completed three (3) years in the joint program and are limited to one application to GRFP; they will not be eligible to apply again as a doctoral degree student.
- Individuals holding joint bachelor's-master's degrees currently enrolled as first-year doctoral students, who have not previously applied as graduate students and enrolled in the doctoral program the semester following award of the joint degree, may apply as first-year doctoral students only.
Please see the NSF GRFP website for detailed eligibility requirements.
Deadlines
Applications are typically due the third week of October (exact dates are usually announced in July of the application year).
Application Materials
- Application: Personal Information; Education, Work and Other Experience; Proposed Field(s) of Study; Proposed Graduate Study and Graduate School Information
- Electronic (unofficial) transcripts
- Names and email addresses of at least three reference letter writers
- Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement (3 pages)
- Graduate Research Plan Statement (2 pages)