Back
Home / Grants and Fellowships / The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program


Name: The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Award Amount: $37,000 annual stipend plus $12,000 education allowance

Information And Eligibility:
The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) is one of the most prestigious and competitive fellowships available to graduate students in the United States. Established to support exceptional researchers in STEM fields, the program provides substantial financial assistance, mentorship opportunities, and professional development support to help fellows excel in advancing scientific innovation.

The fellowship is designed for students pursuing research-based master’s or doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. NSF aims to support individuals who show significant potential to make important contributions to their fields through pioneering research, teaching, and scientific leadership. Fellows gain access to a vast professional network and benefit from the flexibility to conduct research at any accredited U.S. institution of their choice.

The award includes a generous annual stipend of $37,000 and an additional $12,000 cost-of-education allowance paid directly to the institution. Fellows may also take advantage of international research opportunities, internships, and supercomputing resources through the NSF-funded XSEDE program.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents.
  • Must be pursuing or planning to pursue a research-based master’s or doctoral program in an NSF-supported STEM field or STEM education.
  • Applicants may apply either as graduating seniors, post-baccalaureate students before enrolling in graduate school, or first- or second-year graduate students (depending on the specific field and eligibility window).
  • Must demonstrate strong academic performance and documented research experience or potential.
  • Applicants must not have previously earned a graduate degree in a STEM field unless specific eligibility exceptions apply.

Application Requirements:

  • Personal Statement: A narrative outlining the applicant’s academic background, research experiences, career goals, and commitment to broadening participation in STEM fields.
  • Research Statement: A detailed, original research proposal demonstrating the applicant’s capability to conduct innovative research. This statement must include objectives, methods, timelines, and the broader impacts of the proposed work.
  • Academic Transcripts: Official or unofficial transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Three letters from faculty members or research supervisors who can verify the applicant’s research ability, academic strengths, and potential as a future STEM leader.
  • Online Application: Submission through the NSF GRFP portal, following all formatting requirements and field-specific deadlines.

Additional Details:

  • The fellowship provides three years of funding that can be used over a five-year period, allowing flexibility during graduate study.
  • Fellows gain access to professional development workshops, networking opportunities, and potential international research partnerships through the Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW) initiative.
  • Broader impacts—such as community outreach, science communication, and inclusivity efforts—are a critical part of the evaluation process.
  • The NSF GRFP is highly selective; strong applications emphasize both intellectual merit and societal impact.

Deadline: October

Apply Now

View Grant / Fellowship Data

Request to Update or Remove This Grant / Fellowship. The CollegeWhale ID number for this Grant / Fellowship is #14692. This Grant / Fellowship was added in December 2024 and last reviewed by a member of our staff on December, 2025.

We are a human curated site and want our Grant / Fellowship database as accurate and up-to-date as possible. We appreciate your help in notifying us of any incorrect or out of date information pertaining to this Grant / Fellowship!

This Grant / Fellowship is tagged with the following criteria: Computer Science / Doctoral Studies / Engineering / Graduate Level / Math / Science

Grant Categorization

Computer Science Grants Doctoral Studies Grants Engineering Grants Graduate Level Grants Math Grants Science Grants

Compare Top Grants (CollegeWhale FastFind™)

The CollegeWhale FastFind™ surfaces similar grants based on this grant’s criteria. Sort by award amount, deadline month, or estimated effort to quickly identify strong college funding opportunities.

1

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

The Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship is designed to increase the diversity of the U.S. academic faculty by supporting individuals pursuing research-based doctoral study (Ph.D. or Sc.D.) in eligible fields such as the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.

Award: $27,000 Deadline: December Est. Application Time: Med (48 min)
2

Charlotte W. Newcombe Dissertation Fellowships

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. Application Time: Med (58 min)
3

NASA Space Grant

The National Space Grant College and Fellowship Project—commonly known as NASA Space Grant—is a nationwide program established in 1989 to promote education, research, and public engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), with a particular emphasis on aerospace and

Award: Varies Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: Med (78 min)
4

American Political Science Association Scholarship

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. Application Time: Low (13 min)
5

Emma Bowen Foundation Fellows Program

The Emma Bowen Foundation (EBF) Fellows Program offers competitive, multi-year, paid summer internships for students of color in the media, technology, and business sectors. Fellows engage in immersive, hands-on training at leading companies in areas such as Business (e.g., marketing,

Award: Varies Deadline: May Est. Application Time: Low (10 min)
6

Roy Scrivner Memorial Research Grant

The Roy Scrivner Memorial Research Grant was established to support research that explores the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in the context of family life, relationships, and therapy. The purpose of this grant is to advance scientific understanding of the

Award: $10,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: Low (10 min)
7

APF Trauma Psychology Grant

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. Application Time: Med (48 min)
8

DOE Postdoctoral Fellowship

Name: DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Program Award Amount: Annual stipend of $90,000. Additional allowances for health...

Award: $90,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: Med (48 min)
9

IMA Doctoral Scholars Program

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. Application Time: Med (33 min)
10

ASA Minority Fellowship Program

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. Application Time: Med (78 min)
11

Forte Foundation Fellowship

The Forté Foundation Fellowship is awarded to exceptional MBA candidates who demonstrate exemplary leadership and a commitment to advancing gender equity in business. The fellowship is available at Forté partner schools, including Michigan State University Broad College of Business. Eligibility

Award: Varies Deadline: Rolling Est. Application Time: Low (13 min)
12

Minority Fellowship Program Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

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. Application Time: Med (78 min)

This comprehensive collection of grants is curated from our regularly updated databases. To explore all available scholarship matches, visit our Grant Database.

Powered by CollegeWhale Scholarship FastFind™.

Multi Million Dollar College Grant & Fellowship Database.

CollegeWhale offers one of the only true College Grant and Fellowship Databases online. Our College Grant and Fellowship Database is one of the largest databases, containing multi-millions of dollars in college Grant and Fellowship money. Unlike other online databases, ours is college Grant and Fellowship specific, it is not mixed with college scholarship opportunities. Get matched with TONS of college Grants and Fellowships in just a few simple clicks. Grant and Fellowship money for college made simple, period.


Find More Grants
Grant Database