NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Resources for GRFP application preparation


About the Fellowship (from NSF):

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. The 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 United States institutions. 

As the oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the GRFP has a long history of selecting recipients who achieve high levels of success in their future academic and professional careers. The reputation of the GRFP follows recipients and often helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching. 

Fellows share in the prestige and opportunities that become available when they are selected. Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $34,000 along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees (paid to the institution), opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education they choose.

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.

So that the nation can build fully upon the strength and creativity of a diverse society, the Foundation welcomes applications from all qualified individuals. Women, under-represented minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.


Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following: 

  • Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
  • Intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in a research-based graduate degree program in an eligible Field of Study in STEM or STEM education 
  • Have never previously applied to GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program
  • Have never earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field
  • Have never earned a master's or professional degree (joint bachelor's-master's degree information below) in any field, unless
    • (i) returning to graduate study after an interruption of two (2) or more consecutive years immediately preceding the deadline, and
    • (ii) are not enrolled in a graduate degree program at the application deadline
  • Have never previously accepted a GRFP award
  • If previously offered a GRFP award, have declined by the deadline
  • Not be a current NSF employee

Number of Times Individuals May Apply:

  • Undergraduate seniors and bachelor's degree holders may apply before enrolling in a degree-granting graduate program.
  • Graduate students enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program are limited to only one application to the GRFP, submitted in the first year or at the beginning of the second year of their degree program.
  • Individuals pursuing a master's degree simultaneously with the bachelor's degree (joint bachelor's-master's degree) must have completed three (3) years in the joint program and are limited to one application to GRFP; they will not be eligible to apply again as a doctoral degree student.
  • Individuals holding joint bachelor's-master's degrees currently enrolled as first-year doctoral students, who have not previously applied as graduate students and enrolled in the doctoral program the semester following award of the joint degree, may apply as first-year doctoral students only.

Please see the Program Solicitation for detailed eligibility requirements. 


Deadlines

Applications are due at 5pm (local time of applicant's mailing address) on the following dates:

Monday, October 19 - Life Sciences

Tuesday, October 20 - Computer and Information Science & Engineering, Materials Research, Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education & Learning

Wednesday, October 21 - Engineering

Thursday, October 22 - Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy

All reference letters are due Friday, October 30 by 4pm Eastern Time.


Application Materials

  1. Fastlane Application:  Personal Information; Education, Work and Other Experience; Proposed Field(s) of Study; Proposed Graduate Study and Graduate School Information
  2. Electronic (unofficial) transcripts
  3. Names and email addresses of at least three reference letter writers
  4. Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement (3 pages)
  5. Graduate Research Plan Statement (2 pages)

All materials must be submitted through the GRFP Application Module (Fastlane).


Statement Formatting

Note:  these are different than in previous years.

The statements must be written using the following guidelines:

  • standard 8.5" x 11" page size
  • Times New Roman font for all text, Cambria Math font for equations, Symbol font for non-alphabetic characters (it is recommended that equations and symbols be inserted as an image), no smaller than 11-point, except text that is part of an image
  • 1" margins on all sides, no text inside 1" margins (no header, footer, name, or page number)
  • No less than single-spacing (approximately 6 lines per inch). Do not use line spacing options such as "exactly 11 point," that are less than single spaced.

Compliance with these guidelines will be automatically checked by the GRFP Application Module. Documents that are not compliant will not be accepted by the GRFP Application Module.


More information available here

Resources for GRFP application preparation