Overview
The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship 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 U.S. institutions. As the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the GRFP has a long history of selecting recipients and often helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching.
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.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident
- Intend to pursue a research-based Master’s or Ph.D. program in a GRFP-supported field (STEM or STEM education)
- Be enrolled in an eligible program at an accredited U.S. graduate institution by the fall following selection
- Be at an early stage in their graduate career and have completed no more than one academic year of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent)
Award
Fellowships provide students with 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), as well as access to opportunities for professional development available to NSF-supported graduate students.
Key Components
Eligibility: Please see the official NSF GRFP , which has been recently revised. Briefly, eligibility is determined by discipline, degree program, citizenship, program stage, and research topic.
Application components are described more extensively at the . Briefly, the main components are:
- Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement (3 pages, single-spaced)
- Graduate Research Plan Statement (2 pages, single-spaced)
- Reference letters (3 minimum, 5 maximum)
- Transcripts
- Follow all formatting instructions in the exactly
Application Status
Closed
National Deadline (Deadline varies by degree)
November 10, 2025: Life Sciences
November 12, 2025: Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Materials Research; Psychology; Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences; STEM Education and Learning
November 13, 2025: Engineering
November 14, 2025: Chemistry; Geosciences; Mathematical Sciences; Physics and Astronomy