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What is GRFP?

  • Solicitation
  • Benefits

    Fellowship Benefits

    • Five year fellowship period with three years of financial support
    • Annual stipend of $37,000
    • Cost-of-education allowance of $16,000 to the institution
    • No post-graduate study service requirement
    • Access to supplemental funding to sustain research while on medical leave.

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and strength of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. Since 1952, the program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, including STEM education. NSF GRFP was established to recruit and support individuals who demonstrate the potential to make significant contributions in STEM, including STEM education. NSF encourages applications from the full spectrum of talent that the U.S. has to offer.

Learn More About GRFP.

Deadlines

Deadline Subject(s)
The reference letter acceptance period has closed.
The Life Sciences application period has closed.
Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Materials Research; Psychology; Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences; STEM Education and Learning application period has closed.
Engineering application period has closed.
Chemistry; Geosciences; Mathematical Sciences; Physics and Astronomy application periods have closed.
The application withdraw period has closed.

Applicants

  • Am I Eligible

    Am I Eligible

    To be eligible for the NSF GRFP, you must:

    • Must, at the time of submission, be a U.S. citizen, national, or a permanent resident (“green-card” holder)
    • Must intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in an eligible research-based master's or doctoral degree program in an eligible field of study in STEM, including STEM education (See Appendix and Section IV.3 for eligible Fields of Study);
    • Never have previously accepted a Graduate Research Fellowship;
    • Have declined any previously offered Graduate Research Fellowship by the deadline (if applicable);
    • Have completed less than one academic year in a graduate degree program (according to the institution’s academic calendar; non-degree coursework must be clearly identified in the transcript and does not count toward this limit). This means individuals in the following statuses at the time of application are eligible:
      • Level 1: Undergraduate in the final (senior) year of a bachelor’s degree program
      • Level 1: Bachelor’s degree-holder with NO enrollment in a graduate degree program (non-degree graduate coursework allowed)
      • Level 2: Individual enrolled in a joint bachelor’s-master’s degree program with at least three undergraduate years completed
      • Level 2: First-year graduate student in their first graduate degree program with less than one academic year completed in the degree program (according to institution’s academic calendar)
    • Individuals enrolled in joint bachelor’s-master’s degree programs are considered graduate students. For GRFP, joint bachelor’s-master’s degrees are defined as degrees concurrently pursued and awarded.
    • Not be a current NSF employee.
  • How do I Apply?
  • FAQs
  • Events

GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, including STEM education. NSF GRFP was established to recruit and support individuals who demonstrate the potential to make significant contributions in STEM, including STEM education.

Reviewers

NSF welcomes scientists and engineers to serve as reviewers of GRFP applications. Serving as a GRFP Reviewer is an excellent opportunity to apply your research and career expertise to help identify future science and engineering leaders.

Reference Writers

Reference letters are a key component of a strong GRFP application package. The most effective reference letters provide detailed and specific information about how an applicant meets the NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts.