Doctoral students play a critical role in advancing knowledge, research, and innovation across every academic discipline. To support their work, a wide range of scholarships, fellowships, and grants are available for students pursuing Ph.D., Ed.D., or other doctoral-level degrees. These awards are often based on academic merit, research impact, and professional goals, helping reduce the financial burden of tuition, research costs, and dissertation expenses.
Whether you’re conducting groundbreaking research or preparing for a career in academia, the following scholarships for doctoral students can help you secure the funding you need to complete your studies and make a lasting contribution to your field.
Doctoral students can access funding from a range of sources including institutional awards, private foundations, and government programs. Examples of top college-based scholarships for PhD students include:
Tip: Contact the graduate school or department at your chosen university to learn more about institutional awards and assistantship options.
Federal and national fellowships offer substantial support for U.S. doctoral students, especially those conducting research. Notable programs include:
Tip: Many of these programs are highly competitive and require detailed research proposals. Start applications early and seek mentorship from faculty.
There are several prestigious scholarships and fellowships designed to support women pursuing doctoral degrees across disciplines. Examples include:
Tip: Many of these programs value leadership, community impact, and academic excellence—highlight these in your personal statement.
Scholarships for underrepresented minority PhD students aim to increase diversity in academia, research, and professional leadership. Top programs include:
Tip: Many programs look for community involvement, mentoring, or a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion—make sure to highlight this in your application.
There are several competitive scholarships and fellowships designed to support Black doctoral students, particularly those pursuing careers in academia and research. Key programs include:
Tip: Highlight your research goals, commitment to diversity in higher education, and teaching aspirations in your application.
Doctoral students in Educational Leadership can access scholarships that support their advancement as administrators, policymakers, or education researchers. Notable programs include:
Tip: These awards often look for evidence of leadership experience, research potential, and a commitment to educational equity.
In addition to university funding, PhD students can apply for competitive external fellowships that provide full or partial support for tuition, research, and living expenses. Examples include:
Tip: Start early—external fellowships typically require research proposals, recommendation letters, and alignment with the funder’s mission.
PhD students studying in the United States can apply for a wide range of national and institutional scholarships. These include:
Tip: Check with your program’s graduate school office—many top U.S. universities offer full-ride funding packages automatically to admitted PhD students.
Reviewed by CollegeWhale Editorial Team on November, 2025. Content is updated regularly to reflect current scholarship deadlines and verified data from official sources.
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The Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship supports Ph.D. candidates in the humanities and social sciences whose dissertations address questions of religious understanding, ethics, or values. Applicants must be in the final stage of writing their dissertation and enrolled at
Award: $31,000 Deadline: November Est. Time: Med (~58 min)
NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project—also known as Space Grant—was initiated in 1989 to expand opportunities for Americans to engage in aeronautics and space-related research and education. It operates through 52 consortia across the 50 U.S. states, the
Award: Varies Deadline: Rolling Est. Time: Low (~13 min)
The APSA Public Scholarship Program is a remote, 12-month fellowship that trains political science graduate students to present academic research to the public. Fellows produce accessible summaries of new political science research under APSA staff supervision, with work featured on
Award: $2,000 Deadline: September Est. Time: Low (~13 min)
Name: APF Trauma Psychology Grant Award Amount: One grant of $3,000. Overview: The APF Trauma Psychology Grant provides funding for graduate...
Award: $3,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Time: Med (~48 min)
The IMA Doctoral Scholars Program provides financial support to doctoral students who are pursuing advanced studies in management accounting or financial management. This program aims to encourage academic research and the development of future educators and thought leaders in the
Award: $10,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Time: Med (~33 min)
The ASA Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), established in 1974, aims to ensure a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles and conduct research relevant to today's society. To date, the program has supported over 500 predoctoral
Award: $20,000 Deadline: January Est. Time: Med (~78 min)
The Minority Fellowship Program (MFP), funded by SAMHSA and administered by the American Nurses Association, supports minority nursing students pursuing advanced degrees in mental health and substance abuse services. This program prepares nurses to address the mental health needs of
Award: Varies Deadline: Rolling Est. Time: Med (~78 min)
The IBM PhD Fellowship Awards Program is a prestigious initiative aimed at supporting exceptional PhD students conducting cutting-edge research in fields aligned with IBM’s strategic priorities, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, cloud computing, and data science. This fellowship is
Award: $20,000 Deadline: October Est. Time: Med (~48 min)
This prestigious fellowship is open to young poets who demonstrate exceptional talent and potential. It provides financial support to help fellows focus on their craft and contribute to the field of poetry. Eligibility Requirements: Open to U.S. residents aged 21
Award: $27,000 Deadline: April Est. Time: Low (~13 min)
The Ethereum Foundation Academic Grants Program supports researchers, academics, and institutions working on cutting-edge studies and innovations in blockchain technology, Ethereum development, and decentralized systems. This program provides funding and resources to advance the academic understanding of Ethereum and related
Award: Varies Deadline: Rolling Est. Time: Low (~10 min)
The MSS (Meteorological Society of Japan) Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Research Awards are granted to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in meteorology and related fields. The award supports research that contributes to the advancement of meteorological sciences. Eligibility Requirements: Must be a
Award: $2,000 Deadline: March Est. Time: Med (~48 min)
The Guggenheim Fellowships are competitive three- to twelve-month in-residence fellowships for predoctoral or postdoctoral research in aviation and space history. Fellows are encouraged to produce scholarly works intended for publication, such as peer-reviewed articles or books (postdocs) or a doctoral
Award: $30,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Time: Low (~13 min)This comprehensive collection of Doctoral Studies scholarships and grants for the 2026 - 2027 school years, curated from our regularly updated databases. To explore all available scholarship matches, visit our Scholarship Database and Grant Database, which both offer easy-to-use filters, current deadlines, and detailed eligibility information to help you discover the best Doctoral Studies scholarship opportunities.
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