The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) supports students pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM fields. The fellowship recognizes students with demonstrated potential for significant achievements in research and provides financial support for graduate study.
Undergraduate seniors are eligible to apply, making the GRFP an opportunity to pursue before beginning graduate school. Eligible first-year graduate students may also apply.
Although an institutional nomination is not required for the NSF GRFP, CWRU students are encouraged to connect with scholarshipsandfellowships@case.edu for application support and advising.
It is encouraged that students reach out early so there is sufficient time for applicants to develop and revise their statements and research plan. October 26, 2026 is the recommend campus support deadline.
What the Fellowship Provides
NSF GRFP provides:
- A $37,000 annual stipend
- A $16,000 cost-of-education allowance to the institution
- Three years of financial support over a five-year fellowship period
- The flexibility to use the fellowship at an eligible U.S. graduate institution
Eligibility
The NSF GRFP is open to individuals who meet NSF's eligibility requirements at the time of application. In general, applicants must:
- Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident at the time of application.
- Intend to enroll in, or be enrolled full-time in, an eligible research-based master's or doctoral degree program in an NSF-supported STEM field.
- Have completed less than one academic year in a graduate degree program.
- Have never previously accepted an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
- Not have previously applied to the GRFP while enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program.
- Not have earned a master's, doctoral, or other terminal degree in any field.
- Meet NSF's requirements regarding professional and joint professional/graduate degree programs.
For undergraduate students, this generally means that seniors in their final year of a bachelor's degree program may apply. Students who have completed a bachelor's degree but have not yet enrolled in a graduate degree program may also be eligible.
Eligibility rules are detailed and vary depending on your academic history and intended graduate program. Review the current NSF eligibility requirements carefully before applying.
Preparing Your Application: A Step-by-Step Guide
1. Determine if you are eligible
- Before beginning your application, review NSF's current eligibility requirements. Undergraduate seniors and eligible first-year graduate students may apply.
2. Start with your research experiences
- Think about the research, independent study, coursework, internships, or other experiences that have shaped your interests. Ask yourself:
- What questions or problems interest me?
- What have I learned through research?
- What skills have I developed?
- How have my experiences prepared me for graduate study?
- You do not need to have your future graduate research completely figured out. Focus on demonstrating your development and potential as a researcher.
3. Identify your future direction
- Consider the type of graduate study and research you hope to pursue.
- Your GRFP application should help reviewers understand the connection between your past experiences, current interests, and future goals.
4. Develop your research idea
- The Graduate Research Plan is an opportunity to propose an original research idea you might pursue in graduate school. Think about:
- What is the research question?
- Why is it important?
- How might you investigate it?
- What could your research contribute?
Your proposed research does not have to become your eventual graduate thesis or dissertation. NSF is evaluating your potential as a researcher, not asking you to commit to a specific project.
5. Address Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts
- NSF evaluates applications using two criteria:
- Intellectual Merit: How might your research advance knowledge and understanding?
- Broader Impacts: How might your work benefit society, education, communities, or STEM more broadly?
- Both criteria should be addressed in your Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement and your Graduate Research Plan Statement.
6. Ask for strong letters of reference
- Choose reference writers who know your academic and/or research work well and can speak specifically about your preparation and potential for graduate study and research.
7. Get feedback and revise
- Give yourself time to revise your statements multiple times. Ask your research mentor, faculty members, and other trusted readers for feedback.
- A reader who is not an expert in your specific research area can be especially helpful in determining whether your ideas are clear and compelling.
- Although an institutional nomination is not required for the NSF GRFP, CWRU students are encouraged to connect with scholarshipsandfellowships@case.edu for application support and advising.
8. Submit your application
- The NSF GRFP application is submitted directly through Research.gov. There is no institutional nomination requirement.
- Deadlines vary by field, so be sure to check the current NSF deadline for your Major Field of Study.
- October 19, 2026 - Deadline date: Life Science
- October 20, 2026 - Deadline date: Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Materials Research; Psychology; Social Sciences
- October 22, 2026 - Deadline date: Engineering
- October 23, 2026 - Deadline date: Chemistry; Geosciences; Mathematical Sciences; Physics and Astronomy
Application Deadline(s): received by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) for all applications on each deadline date.