On this site

• GRFP Overview
• How to Apply
• Comparison of the
  3 GRFP essays
• The Review Process
  & Review Criteria
• Personal Statement
• Previous Research Essay
• Proposed Research Plan From Outline to Essay
• Critiquing Your Drafts & Self-Assessment Rubric
• Broader Impacts Defined Ten BI Strategies
• Selecting References
• Reference Writers: FYI
• For Future Applicants The Year You Apply
• Advice from Reviewers
• Writing Resources

Key links

• GRFP Announcement (for reference only)
• Fastlane GRFP (apply here)
• NSF: GRFP Purpose
  and FAQs
• GRFP overview @ NSFGRFP.org
• About the National Science Foundation

GRFP Overview

The basics

The GRFP is a prestigious, nationally competitive fellowship offered by the National Science Foundation. It provides three years of financial support for beginning graduate study leading to a research-based degree in the STEM disciplines.

Financial support

The fellowship includes a $30,000-per-year stipend for three years. Additionally, each fellow's graduate institution receives a $12,000 annual cost-of-education allowance that covers tuition and fees during the fellowship period. After one year of graduate study, Fellows become eligible to apply for international research funding support through Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW).

Eligibility requirements*

*Always refer to the NSF-GRFP Solicitation for official eligibility information.

1. Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen, national, or a permanent US resident by the application deadline.
2. Degree requirement: Individuals are typically eligible to apply during the senior year of college, or after graduating from college and prior to entering graduate school, or during the first year of graduate school, or prior to completing the Fall term of the second year of graduate school. Not eligible: Those who have earned a graduate or professional degree (exception may be a joint BS/MS program).
3. Field of study (disciplines): Biological sciences, computer sciences, chemistry, engineering, geosciences, information science, social sciences, life sciences, mathematics, materials research, psychology, physics and astronomy, or STEM education and learning. Interdisciplinary research is also possible. Not eligible: professional practice degrees - see details in the GRFP solicitation.

Award cycle

The GRFP competition opens in August with deadlines in November. Awards are announced the following spring. Fellows must commence graduate study in the summer or fall after accepting the award. The next competition will open in August 2013 (for Academic Year 2014-15.) About 2,000 fellowships are offered.

Special Note

Whereas the National Science Foundation awards grants to investigators to fund their research, the Graduate Research Fellowship Program funds students who are training to become well-rounded researchers. It's a fine distinction, but an important one.

Social network discussions

• LinkedIn group: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
• Twitter: @NSFGRFP
• thegrad-
  cafeforums: NSF GRFP 2012-2013

Advice from Fellows

More...

About this site

Background, permissions & author