National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Scholarship Sponsored by National Science Foundation

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is designed to bolster the strength, dynamism, and diversity of the United States' scientific and engineering workforce. The GRFP acknowledges and supports exceptional graduate students engaged in full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or STEM education. The program offers three years of support within a five-year fellowship period for graduate education of individuals who have shown potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. NSF strongly encourages applications from a broad range of diverse talent, including those from underrepresented and underserved communities.

The GRFP was created to attract and support individuals who show promise in making significant contributions to STEM. NSF particularly welcomes applications from undergraduate seniors and Bachelor's degree-holders who are interested in pursuing research-based graduate study in STEM. First- and second-year graduate students in eligible STEM fields and degree programs are also invited to apply.

Each Fellowship offers three years of support within a five-year fellowship period. For each of the three years of support, NSF provides a $37,000 stipend and a $16,000 Cost of Education allowance to the graduate degree-granting institution of higher education for each Fellow who uses the support in a fellowship year. The Fellowship is portable and can be transferred to a different institution of higher education if a Fellow decides to transfer after the first Fellowship year. Although the Fellowship is granted to the individual, the Fellowship funds are awarded to the institution of higher education where the Fellow is enrolled, and the institution is responsible for disbursing the stipend to the Fellow.

Projected Number of Awards

It is estimated that up to 2,300 new Graduate Research Fellowships will be supported each fiscal year under this program solicitation, subject to the availability of funds.

Eligibility for Applicants:

Refer to the Detailed Eligibility Requirements in Section IV for comprehensive information. Eligibility is determined based on the applicant's status at the time of application.

• Applicants must self-certify their eligibility for the Fellowship. To qualify, an applicant must meet all of the following eligibility criteria by the application deadline. All academic credentials must be verified with Registrar-issued transcripts.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
• Must intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in a research-based Master's or doctoral degree program in an eligible Field of Study in STEM or STEM education (Refer to Appendix and Section IV.3 for eligible Fields of Study)
• Must not have previously accepted a Graduate Research Fellowship
• Must have declined any previously offered Graduate Research Fellowship by the acceptance deadline
• Must not have previously applied to GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program
• Must not have earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field
• Must have completed no more than one academic year (according to institution's academic calendar) while enrolled in a graduate degree program (non-degree coursework must be clearly identified in the transcript and does not count toward this limit)
• Individuals holding joint Bachelor's-Master's degrees who did not apply while enrolled in the joint program, may apply as second-year graduate applicants if enrolled in an eligible doctoral program at the start of the academic year immediately following the academic award year of the joint degree
• Individuals with prior graduate enrollment who have: (i) completed more than one academic year in any graduate degree-granting program, (ii) earned a previous master's degree of any kind (see guidance for joint Bachelor's-Master's degree-holders above), or (iii) earned a professional degree must meet the following requirements:
  • Must not be enrolled in a graduate degree program at the application deadline
  • Must have two or more consecutive years past graduate degree enrollment or completion at the application deadline
• Must not be a current NSF employee.