The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships offer graduate fellowships in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, and behavioral and social sciences (including the history of science and the philosophy of science) and in research-based PhD programs in science education. Specialized components are awards for Women in Engineering (WENG) and Women in Computer and Information Science (WICS).
Eligibility
- Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens.
- Applicants must intend to pursue research-based master's or doctoral degrees in fields of science, mathematics, and engineering that are supported by the NSF. (Go to the NSF Web site for information on fields not supported.) Applicants pursuing a research-based PhD in science education also may be eligible.
- Applicants must have a bachelor's degree prior to fall 2008.
- Applicants should be college seniors, recent graduates about to enter their first year of graduate school, or first- or second-year graduate students who have completed no more than 12 months of graduate study.
- Applicants are advised to take the general and subject GRE tests. (The NSF will pay subject test fees; see the application guidelines [PDF] for more information.)
- Applicants for the Women in Engineering and Computer and Information Science (WECS) award must be women who intend to pursue graduate research degrees in engineering or computer and information science and engineering.
How to apply
- The application is available online.
- Candidates must submit the completed application form electronically, transcripts, official GPA record to date, GRE test scores (strongly recommended), at least three references, a proposed plan of research, and a description of previous research experience.
- Applicants do not need to be nominated by Ball State. However, they are strongly advised to work with Barb Stedman, director of national and international scholarships, in preparing their application materials. At least six weeks before the deadline--preferably earlier--students should call 765-285-1024 to schedule an appointment, or e-mail scholarships@bsu.edu with questions.
Deadlines
The deadlines for the 2008 competition vary by discipline:
- November 3, 2008: Interdisciplinary fields of study
- November 5, 2008: Computer and information science and engineering
- November 5, 2008: Mathematical sciences
- November 6, 2008: Geosciences
- November 6, 2008: Psychology
- November 6, 2008: Social sciences
- November 7, 2008: Life sciences
- November 12, 2008: Engineering
- November 10, 2008: Chemistry
- November 10, 2008: Physics and astronomy
Other deadlines:
- November 5, 2008: Request for payment of GRE subject test fee forms are due
- December 1, 2008: Reference letters are due
- December 10, 2008: Undergraduate GPA form and transcripts are due
Duration and amount
- NSF Graduate Fellowships offer three years of support.
- Each fellowship provides a stipend of $30,000 for a 12-month tenure (prorated monthly for lesser periods) and an annual cost-of-education allowance of $10,500, paid to the fellow's institution in lieu of tuition and fees.
- The fellowship program offers a one-time international research travel allowance of $1,000 for fellows who plan to study or do research full-time at a foreign site for at least three continuous months.