Featured Funding Opportunities for Graduate Students
The National Science Foundation offers two major opportunities for graduate students. The Graduate Research Fellowship Program is open to students in research-based Master’s or doctoral programs in the natural sciences, mathematical sciences, social sciences and STEM education & learning. Fellows receive three years of support including a living stipend and education allowance. The application deadline falls in October annually. The Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants support dissertation research by doctoral students pursuing projects that enhance basic scientific knowledge in one of NSF’s disciplines. Deadlines and application instructions vary by discipline.
The National Institutes of Health Student Programs include the Ruth Kirschstein National Service Awards (F30/F31) that support promising predoctoral students conducting dissertation research, students enrolled in dual degree programs, and/or students from underrepresented backgrounds. NIH also offers a Dissertation Award (R36) to support dissertation research costs for students in accredited research doctoral programs in the United States. NIH holds three competitions each year and deadlines can be found on NIH’s Standard Due Dates site.
The Ford Foundation Fellowship Program offers two major awards for graduate students who are committed to post-secondary teaching careers and will use diversity as a resource to enrich students’ education. The Predoctoral Fellowship provides three years of stipend support for students that have at least three years remaining in the program, and the Dissertation Fellowship provides a stipend for your final dissertation completion year. The fellowships are awarded to students in a variety of disciplines and a complete list of eligible fields can be found on their website. The application deadline falls in December annually.
The American Council of Learned Societies offers the Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships open to advanced graduate students in the humanities and related social sciences in the last year of PhD writing. Fellows will receive a living stipend and additional funds for university fees and research support. The deadline falls in October annually.
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is open to undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students, and alumni, and is designed to give students and young professionals international experience. Projects may include English Teaching Assistantships, independent research, creative project, coursework or degree programs, and training in music conservatory or art school. UI’s internal deadline falls in early September each year and you may contact UI’s Fulbright Program Advisor for additional guidance about the application process.
These are just a few of the myriad of opportunities that students may pursue. For a more complete list, please see the Division of Sponsored Programs’ Grant Bulletin and the Graduate College’s pages for Internal Fellowships and External Fellowships and Grant Support.