dissertation grants for international students

External Fellowships for International Students

Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) A*STAR  Graduate Academy offers and awards scholarships and fellowships to young aspiring scientific talent at top global universities to enable them to pursue their passion in science and to prepare for a rewarding R&D career. Since 2001, A*STAR has supported and nurtured a pipeline of more than 1300 local PhD talent, ensuring a sustainable flow of capable and committed PhD students and early-career researchers at public research institutes, industry and universities, as part of Singapore's efforts to strengthen the growing community of scientific talent in Singapore.

Air and Waste Management Association (A&WMA) Graduate Scholarships The Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) provides several scholarships to outstanding students who are pursuing courses of study and research leading to careers in air quality, waste management, environmental management / policy / law, and sustainability.

Aker Scholarship The Aker Scholarship is for Norwegian students pursuing an advanced degree in all disciplines.  Scholarships are limited to students pursuing degrees at Caltech, MIT, Harvard, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the National University of Singapore.

Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Scholarship AG Bell offers several scholarship for full-time students who have a pre-lingual bilateral hearing loss in the moderately-severe to profound range, use listening and spoken language, and who are pursuing a bachelors, masters or doctorate (not law or public policy) degree at an accredited mainstream college or university.

American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Foundation Grants Grants are open to all geology graduate students.  Grants are based on merit, and in part, on the financial needs of the applicant. Although the focus of the program is the support of qualified candidates for Masters or equivalent degrees, qualified doctoral candidates are also encouraged to apply.

American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) - Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship for Dissertation Completion The Mellon/ACLS supports a year of research and writing to help advanced graduate students in the humanities and related social sciences  in the last year of PhD dissertation writing. The program encourages timely completion of the PhD. Applicants must be prepared to complete their dissertations within the period of their fellowship tenure.

American Council of the Blind Scholarship For blind individuals who plan to attend or are attending college, graduate school or vocational training.

American Foundation for the Blind Scholarships The AFB offers the Paul and Ellen Ruckes Scholarship of $1,000 to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in the field of engineering or in computer, physical, or life sciences.  The Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship offers one scholarship of $500 to a full-time graduate student.

American Geophysical Union (AGU) - Horton Research Grant in Hydrological Sciences Grants are awarded each year in support of Ph.D. candidates in hydrology or water resources research.

American Heart Association (AHA) Predoctoral Fellowship AHA's predoctoral fellowship helps students initiate careers in cardiovascular and stroke research by providing research assistance and training.  Proposals are encouraged from all basic science disiplines, bioengineering or biotechnology, public health, behavioral, epidemiological and community and clinical investigations that bear on cardiovascular and stroke problems.

American Society for Microbiology (ASM) - Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship The goal of the fellowship is to increase the number of underrepresented groups completing doctoral degrees in the microbiological sciences. The ASM Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship is aimed at highly competitive graduate students who are enrolled in a Ph.D. program and who have completed their graduate course work in the microbiological sciences. The fellowship encourages students to continue and complete their research project in the microbiological sciences.

American Water Works Association (AWWA) The AWWA offers scholarships for graduate students conducting research in the improvement of drinking water quality and supply.

Argonne National Laboratory - Graduate Student Programs Argonne National Laboratory offers several opportunities for qualified graduate students who are engaged in work related to Argonne Programs.

Autism Speaks - Dennis Weatherstone Predoctoral Fellowships Autism Speaks supports global biomedical research into the diagnosis, causes, prevention and treatment of autism.  Autism Speaks invites applications from predoctoral students interested in pursuing careers in autism research. 

Candidates must be an enrolled student in a program leading to a research doctorate such as a Ph.D. or Sc.D., or a combined degree such as an M.D./Ph.D., in an academic department of an accredited university or health/medical institution.  The selected pre-doctoral fellow must spend at least 80% of his/her professional time engaged exclusively in their Autism Speaks' autism research related activities for the duration of the award, and cannot simultaneously hold another named fellowship award during the support period. International applications are encouraged.

Chateaubriand Fellowships for Science & Technology Research in France The Chateaubriand Fellowship in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Health for doctoral students aims to initiate or reinforce collaborations, partnerships or joint projects between French and American research teams. The Chateaubriand Fellowship supports PhD students registered in an American university who wish to conduct part of their doctoral research in a French laboratory.

This fellowship is offered by the Office for Science & Technology (OST) of the Embassy of France in Washington in partnership with American universities and French research organizations such as Inserm and Inria. It is a partner of the National Science Foundation's GROW program .

Christine H. Eide Memorial Scholarship Award For full-time graduate or undergraduate students who are legally blind and who are entering or attending an accredited college or university.

Council of Graduate Schools (CGS)/Proquest Distinguished Dissertation Award Sponsored jointly by CGS and ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, a Division of ProQuest Information and Learning, and first presented in 1981, these awards are made annually to individuals who, in the opinion of the award committee, have completed dissertations representing original work that makes an unusually significant contribution to the discipline. 

Two awards are given annually in two different broad areas (biological sciences; social sciences; mathematics, physical sciences and engineering; and humanities and fine arts). Individuals must be nominated for these awards by a member institution.

Epilepsy Foundation of America - Research Training Fellowships The Epilepsy Foundation supports a series of grants and fellowships to advance the understanding of epilepsy that will lead to better treatment, more effective prevention, and ultimately to a cure. Funding is available to researchers at all professional levels including students, junior investigators and established investigators.

Facebook Graduate Fellowship Program Facebook offers fellowships to graduate students in computer science, electrical engineering, and related fields.

Fermilab Graduate Student Research Program in Theoretical Physics The Fermilab Graduate Student Research Program in Theoretical Physics is intended for graduate students at U.S. universities who are in the research phase of graduate study in theoretical particle physics or theoretical astrophysics.  Positions in this program will last for one year (12 months), generally starting in the Fall.  Graduate students in the Graduate Student Research Program will remain matriculated at their home universities but be in residence at Fermilab.

Fulbright Program for Foreign Students The Fulbright Program brings citizens of other countries to the United States for Master's degree or Ph.D. study at U.S. universities or other appropriate institutions.  Foreign students apply for Fulbright Fellowships through the Fulbright Commission/Foundation or U.S. Embassy in their home countries. The Institute of International Education (IIE) arranges academic placement for most Fulbright nominees and supervises participants during their stay in the United States.  See the Fulbright website for country specific information. 

Google Lime Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Google has partnered with Lime Connect , a nonprofit organization that supports students with disabilities while they pursue education and promising careers, to help university students with disabilities work toward their academic goals in the field of computer science.

Google US/Canada PhD Fellowship The Google U.S./Canada PhD Student Fellowship recognizes outstanding graduate students doing exceptional work in computer science and related disciplines.  Applicants must be nominated by their department and forwarded to the Graduate Studies Office for review.  Two finalists will then be forwarded to Google for consideration in the national competition.

The Grass Foundation Fellowship Program Grass Fellowships at the Marine Biological Laboratory  (MBL) in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA, support investigator-designed, independent research projects by scientists early in their career. Early investigators (late stage predoctoral trainees and beyond) are eligible to apply. This includes applicants with prior experience at MBL or with the Grass Foundation (MBL course alumni are encouraged to apply). Priority is given to applicants with a demonstrated commitment to pursuing a research career. Please see FAQ page on website or contact the Program Coordinator  for more information. International Fellows (i.e., not US citizens or resident aliens) must hold a valid visa (J-1, H-1B, F1 or F1-OPT) for the entire duration of the fellowship.

HENAAC Scholars Program All science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors qualify for the HENAAC scholarships.  Applicants must be of Hispanic descent and/or must significantly participate in and promote organizations and activities in the Hispanic community.

HHMI International Student Research Fellowships This fellowship program supports outstanding international predoctoral students studying in the United States who are ineligible for fellowships or training grants through U.S. federal agencies. Participation is by invitation only. Nominated students must be in their second or third year of study to apply for the fellowship. To activate the fellowship, students must be in the third or fourth year of a PhD program at one of the designated institutions. Students in the first, second, or fifth year of their PhD programs cannot activate the fellowship. In no case will support be provided past year five of a PhD program.

Students invited to participate in this program are eligible for a fellowship to support years three, four, and five of a PhD program. Eligible fields of study include biology, chemistry, physics, math, computer science, engineering, and plant biology—as well as interdisciplinary research. 

IBM Ph.D. Fellowship The IBM Ph.D. Fellowship Awards Program is an intensely competitive worldwide program, which honors exceptional Ph.D. students who have an interest in solving problems that are important to IBM and fundamental to innovation in many academic disciplines and areas of study. These include: computer science and engineering (including cyber security, cloud, and mobile computing), electrical and mechanical engineering, physical sciences (including chemistry, material sciences, and physics),  mathematical sciences (including analytics of massive scale data with uncertainty, operations research, and optimization), public sector and business sciences (including urban policy and analytics, social technologies, learning systems and cognitive computing), and Service Science, Management, and Engineering (SSME).

Indo-US Science and Technology Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) Provides unique opportunities for science, technology, engineering and medical students from the United States to undertake internships in national laboratories, federal research centers, academic research institutes, and private R&D laboratories in India. Objective of the internships are to provide students exposure to Indian S&T milieu, gain practical skills and develop collaborative networks. Internships are envisaged as a source of mutual cultural and professional enrichment for both the interns and their host institutions.

Intel PhD Fellowship Program The Intel PhD Fellowship Program awards fellowships to exceptional PhD candidates pursuing leading-edge innovation in fields related to Intel's business and research interests.

Josephine de Karman Fellowship Trust The Josephine De Karman Fellowship Trust was established in 1954 by the late Dr. Theodore Von Karman, world renowned aeronautics expert and teacher and first director of the Guggenheim Aeronautical Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology, in memory of his sister, Josephine, who passed away in 1951.  The purpose of this Fellowship program is to recognize and assist students whose scholastic achievements reflect Professor Von Karman's high standards. 

DeKarman fellowships are open to students in any discipline, including international students, who are currently enrolled in a university or college located within the United States.  Only candidates for the PhD who will defend their dissertation within two years and undergraduates entering their senior year are eligible for consideration.  Postdoctoral and masters degree students are not eligible for consideration.  Special consideration will be given to applicants in the Humanities. 

Korea Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS) Scholarship This program was established in 1974 to support talented young students in social sciences, natural sciences, computer science, and information technology-related fields. The program enables the students to pursue and successfully complete their doctorates at leading overseas research universities.

Latin American Scholarship Program of American Universities (LASPAU) Laspau administers a part of the Fulbright Program which provides grants to individuals from Latin America and the Caribbean for graduate study in the United States.  Grants are awarded for Master's and PhD programs in a variety of fields of study.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - Livermore Graduate Scholar Program The Livermore Graduate Scholar Program (LGSP) and its predecessor programs have played a critical role for many years  in helping to recruit new scientific and engineering talent to Lawrence  Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Top Ph.D. students are granted appointments of up to four years to conduct research of interest to the Laboratory while completing their thesis.

Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering and Technology Fellowship Resident fellowships for the duration of a minimum of 1 month to a maximum of 9 months are offered in support of research projects in science, engineering, and technology; in the history of science, engineering and technology; or in interdisciplinary topics that link science or technology to the broader culture.

Recipients of fellowships are expected to work full time on their research projects while at the Library, to engage with other resident scholars, and to offer a presentation on their work to the general public. 

Link Foundation - Energy Fellowships In an effort to foster education and innovation in the area of societal production and utilization of energy, the Link Foundation invites applications for 2-year fellowships for students working toward a Ph.D. degree.

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) - Graduate Research Assistantship The Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) Program is a year-round educational program that provides students with relevant research experience while they are pursuing a graduate degree. In some cases, students can arrange to conduct master's or doctoral thesis research at the Laboratory.

Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship Microsoft Research is committed to advancing the state of computer science. Our fellowship program provides financial support for students and early-career faculty, allowing them to focus on their research. Fellowships build lasting relationships between Microsoft Research and academic institutions.  Applicants must be nominated by their department and forwarded to the Graduate Studies Office for review.  Finalists will then be forwarded to Microsoft for consideration in the national competition.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) - Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) NASA is seeking fellowship proposals from accredited U.S. universities on behalf of individuals pursuing Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in Earth and space sciences, or related disciplines.  The purpose of NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA's scientific goals.  Awards resulting from the competitive selection will be made in the form of training grants to the respective universities. 

National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) - Soffen Grants for Travel to Conferences The travel grants are awarded to students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in aerospace-related sciences or engineering fields (astrobiology, astronomy, earth and space science, engineering, etc.) to attend a meeting at which they will present their research. Students of all nationalities are welcome to apply; however, applicants must be enrolled full time in an accredited undergraduate or graduate institution of higher learning in the United States.

National Federation of the Blind Scholarship For students residing in the United States who are legally blind in both eyes and who plan to pursue a full-time degree program at a U.S. college or university.

National Science Foundation (NSF) Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants in the Directorate for Biological Sciences The National Science Foundation awards Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants in selected areas of the biological sciences. Proposals must fall within the scope of any of the clusters in the Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) or the Behavioral Systems Cluster in the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS). These grants provide partial support of doctoral dissertation research for improvement beyond the already existing project. Allowed are costs for doctoral candidates to participate in scientific meetings, to conduct research in specialized facilities or field settings, and to expand an existing body of dissertation research.

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Scholarships The Alexander Graham  Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships-Doctoral Program (CGS D) and NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships-Doctoral Program (PGS D) provide  financial support to high calibre scholars who are engaged in a doctoral program in  the natural sciences or engineering.  NSERC encourages interested and qualified Aboriginal  students to apply.

Qualcomm Innovation Fellowships in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science The QInF program is open to teams of two students from a preselected variety of top US based and international schools. Students are encouraged to apply and submit a proposal on any innovative idea of their choice. Qualcomm Research's top engineers carefully review submitted proposals and select the QInF finalists, who are then invited to present their proposals to a panel of executive judges. Winning students earn a one year fellowship and are mentored by our engineers to facilitate the success of the proposed research.

Roberto Rocca Education Program Fellowship The Roberto Rocca Fellowship provides Ph.D. support for exceptional university graduates from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Mexico, Romania, and Venezuela in specific fields of study that include, but are not limited to, Materials Science, Mechanical and Petroleum Engineering.

Scholarships for Undocumented Students The Educators for Fair Consideration (E4FC) maintain a list of scholarships and fellowships available for immigrant students attending graduate and professional schools.  

Society of Exploration Geophysics (SEG) Foundation Scholarships SEG Foundation Scholarships encourage the study of geophysics and related geosciences. The SEG Foundation offers a range of different scholarship opportunities. Funds provided may be applied to tuition, books, and fees. 

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Foundation Dissertation Scholarships Merit-based scholarships awarded to doctoral candidates, who demonstrate both significant motivation and aptitude for a career in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and have completed All But Dissertation.

Symantec Graduate Fellowship Program Symantec will award Symantec Research Labs (SRL) Graduate Fellowships to outstanding Ph.D. students. Preference will be given to students with a desire to work in an industrial research lab and those working on innovative research projects in areas related to Symantec's businesses such as security, data mining, storage, backup, machine learning, virtualization, cloud computing, big data infrastructure, etc.  

Taiwan/Caltech Ministry of Education Fellowship The Ministry of Education (MOE), Taiwan and Caltech jointly administer Taiwan-Caltech Graduate Scholarships to support new graduate students from Taiwan of outstanding talents who are pursuing a Ph.D. degree at Caltech. Scholarships are tenable in all fields of study. Applicants should be ROC citizens preferably residing in Taiwan, although those currently studying outside Taiwan are not excluded. Applicants must gain admission to Caltech and are subject to Caltech's standard procedures and requirements. Each scholarship will normally be of three (3) years' duration and will cover stipend, tuition and mandatory fees. Applicants must apply directly to MOE using the application portal by the posted deadline.

The Whitaker Foundation The Whitaker International Program sends emerging leaders in U.S. biomedical engineering (or bioengineering) overseas to undertake a self-designed project that will enhance their careers within the field.  The goal of the program is to assist the development of professional leaders who are not only superb scientists, but who also will advance the profession through an international outlook. Along with supporting grant projects in an academic setting, the Whitaker International Program encourages grantees to engage in policy work and propose projects in an industry setting.

Woods Hold Oceanographic Institution - Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (GFD) Fellowship Graduate students and researchers from a variety of fields who share a common interest in the nonlinear dynamics of rotating, stratified fluids share an intense ten-week research experience, and vigorous discussions of concepts that span different disciplines. Fellows pursue a research project under the supervision of the staff and present a lecture and a written report for a proceedings volume. Fellows are expected to be in residence for the full ten weeks of the program.

20 Great PhD Scholarships for International Students

• Published March 10, 2024
• Last Updated March 14, 2024

Getting your PhD can be expensive, especially for international students. Scholarships specific to international PhD students can help ease the financial burden. The United States is home to many top-notch colleges and universities. This makes the U.S. a popular choice for those seeking to earn a PhD. However , education in the U.S. is not cheap. And it tends to be even more expensive for international students. There are many ways to mitigate the costs, however. Third-party PhD scholarships are one of those ways.

The PhD is the highest possible degree you can achieve, known as a terminal degree. Graduates are recognized as experts in their field. PhD students can expect careers in:

• administration
• supervision
• higher education

Since doctoral studies are rigorous, it’s difficult to work full-time and earn a salary. International students also have the challenge of currency changes and traveling expenses. Scholarships, grants, and fellowships provide free aid to make a doctorate more attainable. If you’re studying in the United States, consider these 20 great PhD scholarships for international students .

PhD Scholarships in USA for International Students

1. aauw international fellowships.

Deadline: December 1st

The American Association of University Women international fellowships are available to female graduate students. The $18,000-$30,000 fellowships can go a long way to paying for an expensive PhD program. The fellowships have been awarded to students from over 140 different nations. To be eligible, women must have a bachelor’s degree. They may not hold U.S. citizenship. They must be engaged in full-time study or research. They must also be proficient in English and have an outstanding academic record. Finally, candidates must intend to return to their home countries after they finish their studies .

AAUW International Fellowships 1111 Sixteenth Street NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 785-7700 [email protected] Scholarship Link

2. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarships

Deadline: March 31st

The Aga Khan Foundation provides scholarships to international students from:

• the Middle East

Not all countries in all those regions are included, though. Check the website for details. Applicants must be under 30 years old. They must demonstrate financial need. And they must be admitted into a reputable program of study. A history of academic excellence is also a must.

Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarships 1825 K Street NW Suite 901 Washington, DC 20006 (202) 293-2537 [email protected] Scholarship Link

3. American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships

Deadline: February 15th

The American-Scandinavian Foundation grants one-year fellowships for up to $23,000 to Scandinavians. Students must be Scandinavian citizens undertaking master’s or PhD programs in the United States . Qualified candidates must legally reside in:

The also must have at least basic proficiency in the English language. For consideration, applicants must submit three letters of recommendation. Also required are:

• undergraduate transcripts
• a CV or resume
• a biographical essay

American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships 58 Park Avenue New York, NY 10016 (212) 779-3587 [email protected] Scholarship Link

4. Asian Cultural Council Fellowship Program

Deadline: November 1st

The Asian Cultural Council Fellowship Program provides financial support to Asian graduate students. Most Asian countries are included . Check the website for more details. Eligible recipients must be pursuing a master’s or PhD in the visual arts or humanities. Submitting a professional portfolio of at least 15 work samples is required .

Asian Cultural Council Fellowship Program 6 West 48th Street 12th Floor New York, NY 10036 (212) 843-0403 [email protected] Scholarship Link

5. Campbell Fellowships for Transformative Research

Deadline: November 7th

The Campbell Fellowships for Transformative Research offer a $4,500 per month stipend for selected candidates . These scholarships go to women who are researching the circumstances of women in global developing nations . The most commonly awarded areas of study are:

• anthropology
• political science

Also among preferred fields are:

The scholarship is available to any female international PhD student enrolled in a U.S. graduate school . English Fluency is required .

Campbell Fellowships for Transformative Research 660 Garcia Street Santa Fe, NM 87505 (505) 954-7200 [email protected] Scholarship Link

6. East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship

The East-West Center’s Graduate Degree Fellowship provides 24 months of full tuition funding. This is available to advanced students from Asia and the Pacific. This includes Russia. Students must be earning a master’s or PhD degree at the University of Hawaii. Eligible applicants must:

• be enrolling at UH full-time
• pass the TOEFL or IELTS exam
• fulfill the J-1 visa requirements
• submit two letters of reference

Chosen fellows are expected to complete at least 90 hours of community service and file monthly reports .

East-West Center Graduate Degree Fellowship 1601 East-West Road Honolulu, HI 96848 (808) 944-7111 [email protected] Scholarship Link

7. Franklin Mosher Baldwin Memorial Fellowship

The Franklin Mosher Baldwin Memorial Fellowship is sponsored by the Leakey Foundation. The foundation awards $15,000 every year to students from developing countries. These students must have been accepted into accredited MA or PhD programs in the United States. Eligible are students studying:

• paleoanthropology
• primatology
• related majors

Students must intend to return to their home country upon graduation.

Franklin Mosher Baldwin Memorial Fellowship 1003B O’Reilly Avenue San Francisco, CA 94129 (415) 561-4646 [email protected] Scholarship Link

8. Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Deadline: October 15th

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is administered by the U.S. Department of State. The program awards up to 1,800 doctoral scholarships for international students in the U.S. each year. Qualified candidates must possess a first, or upper second, class honors bachelor’s degree. They must:

• accepted at an accredited graduate school
• display academic merit
• pass the GRE or GMAT exam
• attach a curriculum vitae

Fulbright fellows must return to their home country for at least two years after funding.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program 530 Bush St. Suite 1000 San Francisco, CA 94108 (415) 362-6520 [email protected] Scholarship Link

9. HHMI International Student Research Fellowships

Deadline: February 11th

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute offers significant fellowships to international students. The $43,000 International Student Research Fellowships are available to international predoctoral students. These students must be studying at an accredited American institution. Eligible candidates must be entering their third, fourth, or fifth year of PhD study. Eligible are students in these majors:

• plant biology
• biomedical engineering
• computer science

Nominees must show exceptional talent and innovation in research for the biomedical sciences.

HHMI International Student Research Fellowships 4000 Jones Bridge Road Chevy Chase, MD 20815 (301) 215-8977 [email protected] Scholarship Link

10. IBM PhD Fellowship Awards Program

Deadline: October 27th

The IBM PhD Fellowship Awards Program is a competitive program. It attracts exceptional doctoral students from around the globe. Students in these majors are eligible:

• electrical engineering
• cyber security
• data analytics
• material sciences

Candidates must have completed at least one year of their PhD programs. They must reside in any nation except U.S. embargoed countries. And they must meet visa requirements.

IBM PhD Fellowship Awards Program 1 New Orchard Road Armonk, NY 10504 (914) 499-1900 [email protected] Scholarship Link

11. Japan-IMF Scholarship for Advanced Studies

Deadline: January 31st

The Japan-IMF Scholarship for Advanced Studies is funded by the International Monetary Fund. It is a two-year financial aid program offered to Japanese citizens enrolled in a PhD program. Eligible programs include:

• macroeconomics
• international economics
• econometrics
• international trade

Eligible applicants must be entering the first, second, or third year of the PhD program. They must be under 34 years old. Scholars receive full-time tuition coverage at a U.S. university. This also includes:

• medical insurance
• textbook allowance
• paid summer internship.

Japan-IMF Scholarship for Advanced Studies 700 19th Street NW Washington, DC 20431 (202) 623-7000 [email protected] Scholarship Link

12. Josephine de Karman Fellowship Trust

The Josephine de Karman Fellowship Trust was established in 1954 by her brother. The trust provides $22,000 every year to eight PhD students. These students must be studying at an accredited university in the United States. Students in the humanities are given special consideration. Applicants should submit:

• letters of recommendation
• published articles
• dissertation research
• transcripts

Josephine de Karman Fellowship Trust P.O. Box 3389 San Dimas, CA 91773 (909) 592-0607 [email protected] Scholarship Link

13. Kala Singh Memorial Scholarships

Deadline: May 22nd

The Kala Singh Memorial Scholarships were established in memory of 36-year old Kala Singh . Singh died in an attempted plane hijacking in Pakistan. He was an accomplished audiologist. The $5,000 scholarships are administered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation. Three scholarships are awarded every year. The scholarships go to students in full-time graduate programs in communication sciences & disorders. Applicants should submit:

• a letter of acceptance
• 3 letters of recommendation

Kala Singh Memorial Scholarships 2200 Research Blvd. Rockville, MD 20850 (301) 296-8703 [email protected] Scholarship Link

14. Kosciuszko Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study

Ranging from $7,650 to $25,500, the Kosciuszko Foundation’s Fellowships for Advanced Study are available to Polish citizens . They must be studying at an accredited university in the U.S. in a PhD or post-doctoral program. Eligible applicants must:

• be permanent residents of Poland
• already hold a master’s degree
• be proficient in the English language
• pass an interview in Warsaw
• submit three letters of reference 
• submit a 500-word essay outlining their study plans .

Kosciuszko Foundation Fellowship for Advanced Study 15 East 65th Street New York, NY 10065 (212) 734-2130 [email protected] Scholarship Link

15. Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund

Deadline: January 16th

The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund has been maintained by the World Bank Family Network since 1981 . The fund awards 24 annual PhD scholarships for students from developing countries. These women will study in one of these:

• South Africa

Applicants must:

• exhibit financial need
• be at least 25 years old
• enroll at an accredited institution full-time 
• display satisfactory academic merit

Recipients must be committed to returning to their home country and empowering women and girls .

Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund 1818 H Street NW Washington, DC 20433 [email protected] Scholarship Link

16. NCITD International Trade Scholarships

Deadline: May 31st

The National Council on International Trade Development awards scholarships to select international students. These $1,000 awards are for PhD students studying subjects related to global trade. Eligible are subjects like:

• international affairs
• international business
• international relations

In order to qualify, applicants must:

• attend a U.S. university
• be NCITD members
• have a 3.0 GPA
• provide two letters of recommendation
• write a 2,500 word personal narrative

NCITD International Trade Scholarships 1901 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite 804 Washington, DC 20006 (202) 872-9280 [email protected] Scholarship Link

17. PEO International Peace Scholarships

Deadline: March 1st

The PEO International Peace Scholarships provide a maximum of $10,000 each year to select women . Candidates must hail from other nations. They must also plan to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in the United States or Canada. Eligibility requires that applicants:

• be enrolled full-time at an accredited college
• not hold U.S. citizenship
• have a full year of coursework remaining
• apply before starting their dissertation research

Scholarships can be applied to:

• living expenses

PEO International Peace Scholarships 3700 Grand Avenue Des Moines, IA 50312 (515) 255-3153 [email protected] Scholarship Link

18. Robert Gordon Menzies Scholarship

Deadline: February 5th

The Robert Gordon Menzies Scholarship was created to honor the former Prime Minister of Australia . The annual scholarship of $60,000 is awarded to Australian college students pursuing a PhD, EdD, or ScD at Harvard University . Applicants must:

• possess leadership qualities
• display high academic achievement
• demonstrate financial need
• intend to return to Australia after graduation

Robert Gordon Menzies Scholarship 48 Quincy Street Cambridge, MA 02138 (617) 495-1581 [email protected] Scholarship Link

19. Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Awards

Deadline: November 13th

Every year, the Schlumberger Foundation selects 155 women from developing countries for the Faculty for the Future Awards . The award is designed to finance their doctoral degree or post-doctoral research in the United States. Eligible female candidates must be admitted at an accredited host university with an approved major . Qualifying majors include:

• physical sciences
• chemical engineering
• mechanical engineering

Recipients must commit to teaching at university in their home countries after graduation.

Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Awards 300 Schlumberger Drive Sugar Land, TX 77478 (713) 375-3494 Scholarship Link

20. William and Flora Hewlett Dissertation Fellowship

Deadline: April 1st

The Institute for International Education administers the William and Flora Hewlett Dissertation Fellowship. This fellowship is worth $20,000 over two years. Public health is a major focus of this fellowship. It is available only to students who aren’t U.S. citizens. Candidates are eligible as they begin their dissertation research. Eligible topics include:

• epidemiology
• public health
• social justice

Applicants should submit:

• a current CV
• statement of intent
• budget plan
• personal essay

William and Flora Hewlett Dissertation Fellowship 809 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 (212) 984-5342 [email protected] Scholarship Link

Can I get health insurance as an international college student?

Health insurance is a major concern for higher education students in the United States. Most colleges provide some form of health insurance through the university. Some colleges extend employee health insurance to PhD students who teach. Joining the faculty is one of the best ways to get health insurance. If that’s not an option, there should be other ways to acquire affordable health insurance. Research assistantships can also provide insurance.

What colleges have the most international students?

What majors are popular with students of other nationalities.

• aerospace engineering
• petroleum engineering
• environmental engineering.
• social sciences
• biological sciences
• data science,
• fine and applied arts .

Psychology, including clinical psychology, and developmental psychology are also popular.

What is the best way to find financial aid for my degree?

While the scholarships we featured here are outstanding, there are many other scholarships out there. Check with any organizations you’re part of. They include:

• a religious organization
• a political organization
• a corporation

Many offer financial aid opportunities. Additionally, if you are already a student, see if there are any programs in the U.S. that have a partnership with your school. With this article we tried to focus on generally available third party scholarships. Many colleges have specific financial aid only for students at their school. You should check with all the colleges you are interested in, especially those with high percentages of foreign students.

Check with your professional organization, if you have one, for scholarships available through your organization. They may also know of very niche scholarships that you might qualify for. The scholarships we featured here are mostly available through U.S. and international organizations. If you live in a developing country, your government may have scholarships designed to help future leaders study abroad. Regardless of your country’s economic development status, you should check with your government if your field is rare or has a shortage. Governments will often use scholarships as incentives to get people to major in sectors short on labor.

Another thing to keep in mind is that PhD fellowships and scholarships can be incredibly granular. Sometimes requirements become so narrow as to specify specific research topics, like artificial intelligence or human origins, to name a couple we’ve seen researching this article. Keep in mind that a great research proposal can go a long way toward securing you grants and fellowships.

Is it feasible for the average person to study abroad?

It’s easier and more common for graduate students to study abroad. This is because graduate students tend to either have more money, or their programs are shorter than those of undergraduate students. Whether or not it’s a good option for you to study abroad will depend on several factors.

First and foremost is money. It’s just more expensive to study abroad than it is at home. Even if you earn full scholarships or fellowships, it can still be financially taxing to study abroad.

You also have to be careful about your visa. Student visas might limit your ability to work and pay for living expenses while studying abroad. While the international scholarships we feature here are incredible, they are the best of the best and competition is fierce.

The ongoing public health crisis isn’t helping people who want to study abroad either.

So there are many challenges if you want to earn your PhD degree in another country. However, if you really feel your best choice is to study abroad, and you can get the aid you need to make it happen, it can be the experience of a lifetime and great for your career.

And here’s a tip. If you want the best weather, pick a California school.

Related to PhD scholarships for international students:

Great PhD Scholarships

Great PhD Scholarships for Minorities

Great Doctoral Grants for Psychology

Great Doctoral Scholarships for African American Females and Males

Great Doctoral Scholarships in Education

• Undergraduate Student Education Research Training
• Minority Dissertation Fellowship Program
• AERA Fellowship Program on the Study of Deeper Learning
• Funded Dissertation Grants
• Funded Research Grants
• Professional Development Courses
• External Fellowship and Funding Opportunities
• AERA Online Job Board
• Virtual Research Learning Center
• Voices from the Field

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Call for Dissertation Grant Proposals AERA Grants Program Seeks Proposals for Dissertation Grants

The next proposal deadline for the Dissertation and Research Grants will be announced in February 2024.

With support from the National Science Foundation, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Grants Program seeks proposals for Dissertation Grants. The AERA Grants Program provides advanced graduate students with research funding and professional development and training. The program supports highly competitive dissertation research using rigorous quantitative methods to examine large-scale, education-related data. The aim of the program is to advance fundamental knowledge of relevance to STEM education policy, foster significant science using education data, promote equity in STEM, and build research capacity in education and learning. Since 1991, this AERA Program has been vital to both research and training at early career stages.   

The Grants Program encourages the use of major data sets from multiple and diverse sources. It emphasizes the advanced statistical analysis of data sets from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and other federal agencies. The program also supports studies using large-scale international data systems (e.g., PISA, PIRLS, or TIMMS) that benefit from U.S. federal government support. In addition, statewide longitudinal administrative data systems (SLDS) enhanced through federal grants are also eligible for consideration. The inclusion of federal or state administrative information that further expands the analytic capacity of the research is permissible. The thrust of the analysis needs to be generalizable to a national, state, or population or a subgroup within the sample that the dataset represents.

The Grants Program is open to field-initiated research and welcomes proposals that:

• develop or benefit from advanced statistical or innovative quantitative methods or measures;
• analyze more than one large-scale national or international federally funded data set, or more than one statewide longitudinal data system (SLDS) or incorporate other data enhancements;
• integrate, link, or blend multiple large-scale data sources; or
• undertake replication research of major findings or major studies using large-scale, federally supported or enhanced data.

The Grants Program encourages proposals across the life span and contexts of education and learning of relevance to STEM policy and practice. The research may focus on a wide range of topics, including but not limited to such issues as student achievement in STEM, analysis of STEM education policies, contextual factors in education, educational participation and persistence (pre-kindergarten through graduate school), early childhood education and development, postsecondary education, and the STEM workforce and transitions. Studies that examine issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion across STEM topics and/or for specific racial and ethnic groups, social classes, genders, or persons with disabilities are encouraged.

Applicant Eligibility Dissertation Grants are available for advanced doctoral students and are intended to support the student while analyzing data and writing the doctoral dissertation. Proposals are encouraged from the full range of education research fields and other fields and disciplines engaged in education-related research, including economics, political science, psychology, sociology, demography, statistics, public policy, and psychometrics. Applicants for this one-year, non-renewable award should be advanced doctoral students at the dissertation writing stage, usually the last year of study. Applicants may be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents enrolled in a doctoral program. Non­U.S. citizens enrolled in a doctoral program at an U.S. institution are also eligible to apply. Underrepresented racial and ethnic minority researchers as well as women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

Data Set Eligibility The dissertation research project must include the analysis of large-scale data. The data set can originate from one or multiple sources, including (1) federal data bases, (2) federally supported national studies, (3) international data sets supported by federal funds, or (4) statewide longitudinal administrative data systems (SLDS) enhanced through federal grants. Although the emphasis is on large-scale education data sets and systems, other social science and health-related databases that can advance knowledge about education and learning are eligible for consideration.

Many national data resources, including important longitudinal data sets, have been developed or funded by NCES, NSF, the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Institutes of Health, or other federal agencies. International datasets such as PISA, PIAAC, TIMMS, and others are supported. If international data sets are used, the study must include U.S. education.

NCES has enhanced and improved SLDS through grants to nearly every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and America Samoa. This federal investment has produced state-level data from pre-K to grade 12, through higher education, and into the workforce. Many SLDS are available for analysis and can be used to address salient issues in education research or linked with other data sets.

Data Set Access The data set(s) of interest must be available for analysis at the time of application. Use of public or restricted-data files is permissible. Prior to receiving funding, students must provide documentation that they have permission to use the data for the research project. In many cases, graduate students will gain access to restricted files through a faculty member or senior scholar.

Data Sharing All data or data-related products produced under the AERA Grants Program must be shared and made available consonant with ethical standards for the conduct of research. Grantees are expected to place article-related data, [1] codebook or coding procedures, algorithms, code, and so forth in an accessible archive at the time of publication. Also, at a reasonable time after completion of the dissertation research, all data or data-related products must be archived at the AERA-ICPSR Data Sharing Repository supported by NSF and located at the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan. AERA provides guidance to facilitate the data sharing and archiving process.

Dissertation Grant Award

Award Component 1, $27,500 Stipend . AERA will award each grantee up to a $27,500 stipend to study education, teaching, learning, or other education research topics using one or multiple large-scale databases. The funds can be used for research-related expenses such as tuition, living expenses, travel to secure data enclaves or scholarly conferences, books, computer equipment, and other expenses directly related to conducting this research. As part of the proposal, applicants provide a budget that outlines anticipated research-related expenses. AERA encourages cost sharing from universities in the form of tuition assistance, office space, university fees, and other expenses. In accordance with AERA's agreement with NSF, institutions cannot charge overhead or indirect costs to administer the grant funds. In addition to the funding, grantees will be paired with a Governing Board member who will serve as a resource and provide advice and feedback to grantees and monitor grantees’ progress.

Award Component 2, AERA Research Conference. Grantees will participate in an AERA research conference held in Washington, DC. During this 2-day conference grantees will participate in seminar-type sessions on substantive, methodological, and professional issues. Also, they will have the opportunity to network and interact with the Grants Program Governing Board, senior scholars and researchers, other graduate students who use large-scale datasets in their research, and representatives from key federal agencies such as the National Center for Educational Statistics, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education. The award will cover all travel and lodging expenses for grantees to participate in the conference.

Award Component 3, AERA Annual Meeting Capstone Research Institute. Each spring AERA holds its Annual Meeting which brings together over 15,000 researchers, scholars, and policy leaders to present their research, share knowledge, and build research capacity through over 2,000 substantive sessions. Grantees will take a data analysis or appropriate methods course while attending the AERA Annual Meeting. The grantees will present their research in an invited poster session along with other graduate students who received dissertation support from AERA and other prestigious fellowship programs. Finally, grantees will participate in a Capstone conference directly after the Annual Meeting that will address issues such as building a research agenda, searching for a faculty appointment, and publishing research. Grantees must include travel and lodging expenses to the Annual Meeting in their budget.

Informational Webinar Applicants are encouraged to watch the informational webinar to learn more about the AERA Grants Program and discuss the application process..

Project Dates AERA is flexible on research project start dates, depending on what is best for the applicant. The earliest date a grant may start is approximately three months following the application deadline. Alternatively, an award start date several months or more after that may be requested.

Funding Restrictions Dissertation Grantees may not accept concurrent grant or fellowship awards from another agency, foundation, institution or the like for the same dissertation project that is funded by the AERA Grants Program. If the awardee is offered more than one major grant or fellowship for the same project for the same time period, in order to accept the AERA Grants Program Dissertation Grant, the other award(s) must be declined. Awardees may accept Research Assistant or Teaching Assistant appointments at their doctoral institutions and may have additional employment.

If the applicant is employed by a contractor of NCES, NSF, other federal agency, state agency, or other entity that provides the dataset proposed for the project, the dissertation research must not be considered part of the applicant's work responsibilities. An additional letter from the applicant's employer is required as part of the application submission, stating that the dissertation project is separate from the applicant's job duties. This letter must be sent electronically by the deadline to [email protected] .

Evaluation Criteria Evaluation criteria include the significance of the research question, the conceptual clarity and potential contribution of the proposal, the relevance to an important STEM education policy issue, the strength of the methodological model and proposed statistical analysis, and the applicant’s relevant research and academic experience. Additionally, the review criteria include the following: What is already known on the issue? How might this project inform STEM education policy? How does the methodology relate specifically to the research question? Does the applicant know the data set? Does the analytic plan fit the question and the data? How does this project promote equity in STEM education and learning? Is the applicant qualified to carry out the proposed study? Reviewers will be members of the AERA Grants Program Governing Board. Due to the large volume of applications received, the AERA Grants Program is unable to provide individual feedback on unfunded proposals.

Reporting Requirements Dissertation Grantees will be required to submit a brief (3-6 pages) progress report midway through the grant period. A final report will be submitted at the end of the grant period. The final report consists of an extended dissertation abstract (3-6 pages), a statement of research dissemination and communication activities and plans (1-3 pages), and the complete approved dissertation. It should be submitted electronically to [email protected] . All reporting requirements and deadlines are outlined in the award letter.

Funding Disbursement Funding will be linked to the approval of the progress report and final report. Grantees will receive one-half of the total award at the beginning of the grant period, one-quarter upon approval of the progress report, and one-quarter upon approval of the final report. Grants are awarded through the grantee’s institution. In accordance with AERA's agreement with NSF, institutions cannot charge overhead or indirect costs to administer the grant funds.

Considerations in the Development of the Proposal Applicants are strongly encouraged to read Estimating Causal Effects: Using Experimental and Observational Designs , by Barbara Schneider, Martin Carnoy, Jeremy Kilpatrick, William H. Schmidt, and Richard J. Shavelson prior to submitting a dissertation grant proposal. Selection bias is a recurring issue during the review process and should be addressed in the proposal.

Applicants should choose research topics that can be supported by the samples and variables contained in the proposed data set(s). Applicants should also be familiar with the User Guides and/or Manuals (e.g., use of design weights and design effects) of the specific data sets. Applicants should be familiar with statistical methods and available computer programs that allow for sophisticated analyses of the selected data.

Applicants should explicitly address the curricular content when it applies. Applicants are encouraged to capitalize on the capacity of large-scale data sets to examine diverse populations, including racial, ethnic, social class, and gender groups. Studies are encouraged that promote or inform diversity, equity, and inclusion for underrepresented population as well as across STEM topics. The proposed topic must have education policy relevance, and the models to be tested must include predictor variables that are manipulable (e.g., course work in mathematics, instructional practices used by teachers, parental involvement). Studies focusing on STEM education policy are strongly encouraged. Studies that model achievement test data should clearly define the achievement construct and identify the kinds of items to be used to operationalize the topic of interest. Also, when planning to use existing sub-scales, the applicant should describe why these sub-scales are appropriate and how they will be applied. Existing sub-scales provided by NCES or other agencies may not be appropriate for the proposed construct.

Dissertation Grant Application Guidelines AERA Grants Program

Application Deadline All applications for the AERA Grants Program must be completed using the AERA online application portal by 11:59pm Pacific time on November 20, 2023 . An applicant may submit only one proposal to the AERA Grants Program for review at any one time. Due to the large volume of applications received, the AERA Program is unable to provide individual feedback on unfunded proposals.

Submission Information Please enter the background information requested in the proposal submission portal. This includes the applicant’s contact and background demographic information. Also, enter the proposal title, amount of funding requested, and the start and end dates of the project.

Dataset(s) used: Name data set(s) used (e.g., ECLS­K, ELS:2002, IPEDS, CCD, AddHealth, SLDS-State, PISA, and so forth). Proposals must include the analysis of at least one large-scale federal, international, or state administrative data system.

Dissertation abstract Enter the abstract of your proposed research project (250 words maximum).

Contribution to the field Briefly describe the potential contributions this research will make to the field of education (250 words maximum). You may cut and paste or type into the text box.

• Statement of how this research advances the current state of knowledge in the field, substantively and/or methodologically
• Theoretical or conceptual framework for the research
• Brief review of relevant research/policy literature
• Research questions, hypotheses to be tested
• Description of methodology including the data set(s) and justification for selecting data file to address research question; any additional or supplemental data sample (e.g., groups used, exclusions to sample, and estimated sample sizes); rationale for variables used; and specification and clarification of variables and analytic techniques
• Data analysis plan and/or statistical model or formulas, appropriately defined
• Brief dissemination plan for this research including proposed conferences to present the findings and potential scholarly journals to publish the research  
• Variables list: A categorized list of the variables from the NCES, NSF, or other data set(s) that will be used in this research project. (2 single-spaced pages maximum)  
• References cited (not part of page limit)  
• Budget . Awards for Dissertation Grants are up to $27,500 for 1­year projects. The budget must include funds to attend the AERA Annual Meeting. The funds can be used for research-related expenses such as tuition, living expenses, travel to secure data enclaves or scholarly conferences, books, computer equipment, and other expenses directly related to conducting this research. AERA encourages cost sharing from universities in the form of tuition assistance, office space, university fees, and other expenses. In accordance with AERA's agreement with NSF, institutions cannot charge overhead or indirect costs to administer the grant funds. There is no specific template for the budget. It may be a simple 2­column format or a more complex spreadsheet. (no page limit)  
• Research and academic employment history
• Relevant graduate courses in statistics and methodology
• Relevant publications and presentations
• Relevant professional affiliations and/or memberships

Please combine items 1-5 as one PDF document and upload on online application.

Letter(s) of support: The letter(s) must be sent separately, by the faculty member. One substantive letter of support is required from the applicant's primary faculty dissertation advisor that includes an indication of the applicant's current progress toward the degree and expected date of completion, and of the student's potential for success in his or her anticipated career path.

If the applicant is from a discipline other than education, a second letter of support from a faculty advisor who has an education research background is also required if the primary faculty advisory does not specialize in education research. Although this second letter should focus mainly on the applicant's qualifications, research experience, and potential, it should also include a brief paragraph on the advisor's own education research experience.

Further Questions Contact George L. Wimberly, Co-Principal Investigator, AERA Grants Program ( [email protected]) or 202-238-3200 if you have questions regarding the application or submission process. NOTE: All awards are contingent upon AERA's receiving continued federal funding.

Visit the AERA Grants Program Website at http://www.aera.net/grantsprogram .

[1] Awardees with access to data under restricted access provisions are expected to archive a detailed specification of the data set so that others can request the same data under the same or similar restricted conditions. 

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Funding for Graduate Students

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From research experiences across the world to internships at its headquarters, the U.S. National Science Foundation offers graduate students and recent Ph.D.s paid opportunities to expand their skills and knowledge in science and engineering.

On this page

Information for principal investigators

This page highlights opportunities that graduate students and recent Ph.D.s can directly apply to.

If you're interested in supporting graduate students with NSF funding, explore NSF's  Funding Search  page. Most of NSF's funding opportunities allow proposers to include graduate student researchers in their project budget.

Some NSF opportunities focus explicitly on supporting graduate student training through  internships  and other activities, like NSF's  Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) program.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

The prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's or doctoral degrees in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or in STEM education.

The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support that can be used at accredited U.S. institutions. This support includes an annual stipend and a cost-of-education allowance covering tuition and fees.

Eligibility

Applicants must be citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States. Applicants must be pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM or in STEM education at accredited U.S. institutions.

How to apply

Applications are due in the fall of each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply at  nsfgrfp.org .

International Research Experiences for Students (IRES)

NSF's IRES program offers international research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students.

Participants are mentored by researchers at a foreign lab, allowing them to build their professional network. IRES opportunities usually involve small groups of students who travel to a host institution for a summer-length research project.

Undergraduate or graduate students who are citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States are eligible to apply.

Students must contact researchers with IRES funding for information and application materials. Application materials for different IRES opportunities can vary: they may require a statement of purpose, transcripts, reference letters or additional materials.

To find active IRES projects, visit the  NSF IRES Project Search . Each project lists the name and contact information of the principal investigator, or lead, of that project.

You can also find many (but not all) IRES opportunities on the  NSF Education and Training Application  website, where you can prepare and submit applications for IRES and other NSF education and training opportunities.

Computer and Information Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships (CSGrad4US)

The CSGrad4US program helps bachelor's degree holders return to academia and pursue their research interests in computer and information science and engineering fields.

The three-year fellowship includes a stipend and cost-of-education allowance. 

Applicants must be citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States who are not currently enrolled in any degree-granting program and have never enrolled in a doctoral program. Applicants must intend to apply for full-time enrollment in a research-based doctoral degree program in a computer and information science and engineering field within two years.

Applications are typically due in the spring or early summer of each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply on the CISE Graduate Fellowships page.

Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIG)

Some of NSF's programs offer grants to doctoral students, allowing them to undertake significant data-gathering projects and conduct field research in settings away from their campus.

The award amounts of these grants vary across programs but typically fall between $15,000 to $40,000 (excluding indirect costs).

Doctoral students enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education who are conducting scientific research are eligible to apply. Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens.

These proposals are submitted to NSF through regular organizational channels by the doctoral student's dissertation advisor, with the student serving as the co-principal investigator on the proposal.

Visit NSF's  Funding Search  to see the list of programs that currently accept DDRIG proposals. Deadlines vary by program: some accept proposals at any time while others have annual or semi-annual deadlines.

Note: Information on the NSF-funded Law and Science Dissertation Grant (LSDG) can be found on the LSDG website .

NSF Research Traineeship Program (NRT)

The NSF Research Traineeship Program gives graduate students opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a range of STEM careers.

Graduate students funded by the program receive, at minimum, 12-month-long stipends that support their participation in the program's training activities, which can include courses, workshops and research projects.

Graduate students who are citizens, nationals and permanent residents of the United States are eligible to participate as funded trainees in the NRT program. International students can participate as unfunded trainees. Participants must be enrolled in research-based master's or doctoral degree programs.

Students must contact researchers with NRT funding for information and application materials.

To find active NRT projects, visit the  NSF NRT Project Search . Each project lists the name and contact information of the Principal Investigator, or lead, of that project.

For more information about the NSF Research Traineeship Program, please contact  [email protected] .

Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship

NSF's Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship program supports summer research internships for doctoral students in the mathematical sciences. These internships are primarily at national laboratories and focus on introducing students to applications of mathematical or statistical theories outside of academia.

Current graduate students pursuing doctoral degrees in mathematics, statistics or applied mathematics are eligible to apply. Participants do not need to be U.S. citizens.

Applications are due in the fall or winter each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply on the internship website .

Presidential Management Fellowship Program

The Presidential Management Fellows Program is a two-year paid fellowship designed to prepare current or recent graduate students for a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. At NSF, fellows serve as program and management analysts and a variety of other positions requiring a scientific degree.

Current or recent graduate students are eligible to apply.

Applications are due in the fall of each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply at  pmf.gov .

Summer Scholars Internship Program

NSF's Summer Scholars Internship Program is a 10-week-long summer internship for undergraduate and graduate students. Students participating in the program work in NSF offices that align with their academic interests. Through the program, interns learn about science administration and how federal policies affect the science and engineering community.

Graduate students and undergraduates who are citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States are eligible to apply.

Students interested in the NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program can apply through the following organizations:

• QEM Network
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National Internship Program

For more information on the NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program, please contact  [email protected] .

Applying for a postdoc?

NSF's Postdoctoral Research Fellowships support independent postdoctoral research, allowing fellows to perform work that will broaden their perspectives, facilitate interdisciplinary interactions, and help establish them in leadership positions.

These two- or three-year fellowships provide a stipend and a research and training allowance.

Citizens, nationals and permanent residents of the United States who have recently earned a Ph.D. or will have earned their Ph.D. before beginning the fellowship are eligible to apply.

Current postdoctoral fellowship opportunities can be found on NSF's  Funding Search .

Deadlines vary by program: some accept proposals at any time while others have annual deadlines.

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Funders and Partners

The International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) program supports the next generation of scholars in the humanities and humanistic social sciences pursuing research that advances knowledge about US Indigenous or non-US cultures and societies. Since its inception in 1997, the IDRF program has funded more than sixteen hundred projects, with research spanning the globe. The IDRF program is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

This class of fellows, the program’s final cohort, will include 60 graduate students conducting research across 13 disciplines—from political science and area studies to geography, education, and Native American studies—in 12 regions worldwide.

Opportunities

The Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) offers six to twelve months of support to graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who are enrolled in PhD programs in the United States and conducting dissertation research on Native American or non-US topics.

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Log in or create an account to manage and submit your application.

A hub of resources for IDRF fellows and alumni, including the fellow directory, forums, information on workshops, and more.

Read essays and interviews on emerging research in the social sciences by recipients of SSRC funding.

Adam Pzreworski and Frank Salomon provide suggestions for applicants to SSRC competitions in this 1995 article.

Learn more about the IDRF application process in this webinar with IDRF program director Dr. Daniella Sarnoff.

Applications to the International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) program undergo four review stages, each with their own evaluation criteria.

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At this time, we recommend all  Penn-affiliated  travel to Israel, West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon be deferred.  If you are planning travel to any of these locations, please reach out to [email protected] for the most up to date risk assessment and insurance exclusions. As a reminder, it is required that all Penn-affiliated trips are registered in  MyTrips .  If you have questions, please contact  [email protected] . 

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Penn Global Dissertation Grants

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The Penn Global Dissertation Grants program is a competitive grant source that provides support of up to $8,000 per award to Penn Ph.D. students who wish to add and/or enhance global components in their dissertation research. The program serves Penn Global's strategic framework and our twin goals to 1) provide every Penn student with a meaningful global experience, and 2) to produce research with global impact.

Things to Know Before You Apply

Our priorities.

This program is intended to harness the power of Penn’s graduate student community to enhance the University’s global engagement. It is designed specifically to support two types of PhD student research:

1. Global exploration: these applicants will still be in the development stages of their dissertation and will use this program’s resources to explore and engage global components for their dissertation research.

2. Global enhancement: these applicants already include a core global focus to their dissertation, and will use this program’s resources to broaden and deepen their research, ideally leveraging their dissertation towards future career opportunities in global leadership.

Funded applicants commit to taking part in activities to enhance Penn’s global engagement, which may include participating in conferences or workshops, mentoring undergraduate students, or other activities to be agreed with Penn Global. 

Currently-enrolled Penn Ph.D. students from all Penn Schools and disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields, are welcome to apply.

Eligibility and Minimum Requirements

Applicants must be currently enrolled Ph.D. students at the University of Pennsylvania. Applicants must submit a narrative of their international research plans, including information about nature and mode of research, relevance to focus of doctoral study, ways in which their proposed global experience will be transformative for their PhD research, and how the proposed use of funding will add or enhance a global component to the applicant’s research. Applicants must also submit a budget proposal including line-item expenses such as travel, per diem, fees associated with data collection, etc.; and must secure a Letter of Support from their faculty advisor who pledges to mentor the applicant in integrating their research as well as a Letter of Support from their department business administrator who pledges to manage the applicant’s award finances. If selected for funding, applicants must secure a Letter of Acknowledgment from their School Dean prior to being awarded funding.

Please note: When necessary, proposals will be evaluated by risk management and grants will be contingent on compliance with risk assessment.

Types of Support, Term, and Budget

Funded research/travel duration: Minimum 3 weeks; normally summer though exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Maximum Funding Amount: $8,000 per award. Applicants are encouraged to source additional/matching funding from other Penn and/or external funding entities. F unding must be used during the period requested and cannot be carried over or deferred to the next year.

Allowable expenses: Travel, living support, and costs related to global research, such as visa fees, required immunizations, data collection, interviews, field or site visits, scholarly exchange in a lab or clinical setting, archival work and language or other course work particularly for things that are not readily taught at Penn.

Unallowable expenses: Conference participation, dissertation or publication writing, and internship-related expenses (though travel to/from international internships may coincide with program research travel.*) *For example, if a funded applicant secures a 5-week international summer internship for June through early July, with 3 weeks of dissertation research in the same community/region to follow during the rest of July, this program may support one round-trip airfare towards the full 8-week program.

Post-Award Commitment

Funded applicants will, in consultation with Penn Global, identify ways to leverage their work to enhance Penn’s global engagement. This may take the form of participating in conferences or workshops; producing blog posts, podcasts, etc.; mentoring undergraduate students; or other activities. Funded applicants also agree to take part in potential media engagements. 

Application Process

Applications to the Penn Global Dissertation Grant program are accepted October 1 through December 1 .

Proposals should include information about their proposed international research; its outputs, objectives, and planned approach; and budget details along with a description of any plans to contribute or solicit matching funding. Proposals will be evaluated against the Penn Global Dissertation Grant program’s priorities (see Our Priorities above.) Proposals will be reviewed by a team of peer reviewers sourced by Penn Global and the Office of the Vice Provost for Education. Decisions will be announced in early spring after the application cycle, with selected applicants’ awards journaled in time to support their international research as early as summer.

Applicants are required to provide a Letter of Support (LOS) from their faculty advisor as well as a LOS from a Business Administrator from their faculty advisor’s School or Center confirming the Business Administrator will fulfill the applicant's purchasing needs, account reconciliation/reporting, and account set-up needs.

Requirement for Applicants from the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM):  Applications from applicants affiliated with PSOM additionally require a Letter of Support (LOS) from the Center of Global Health (CGH). The LOS should be requested at least two weeks in advance of your planned application submission. Kindly contact Megan Doherty, CGH Director of Operations and Programming, to initiate this process:  [email protected] .

Apply for a Penn Global Dissertation Grant

Penn Global Dissertation Grant applications are accepted from October 1 through December 1. Applications are accepted through our grant application platform on Interfolio.

Please note: Applicants with any questions about the Penn Global Dissertation Grants program are welcome to contact us at [email protected]

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Top Ten Fellowship and Scholarship Opportunities for International Students

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Top 10 Fellowship and Scholarship Opportunities for International Students

American Association for University Women – International Fellowships http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/educational-funding-and-awards/international-fellowships/international-fellowships-application/ International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research in the United States to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate studies at accredited U.S. institutions are supported. Applicants must have earned the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree by September 30, 2013, and must have applied to their proposed institutions of study by the time of the application. Up to five fellowships are renewable for a second year. Recipients are selected for academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to women and girls. Recipients return to their home countries to become leaders in business, government, academia, community activism, the arts, and sciences.

Application due December 1 st .

American Scandinavian Foundation http://www.amscan.org/study_scandinavia_details.html

The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) offers fellowships (up to $23,000) and grants (up to $5,000) to individuals to pursue research, study or creative arts projects in one or more Scandinavian country for up to one year. The number of awards varies each year according to total funds available. Awards are made in all fields. Applicants must have a well-defined research, study or creative arts project that makes a stay in Scandinavia essential. Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents and have completed their undergraduate education by the start of their project in Scandinavia. Team projects are eligible, but each member must apply as an individual, submitting a separate, fully-documented application. First priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received an ASF award. Only in exceptional cases will a third award be considered

Application due November 1 st .

Asian Development Bank (ADB) – Japan Scholarship Program http://www.adb.org/site/careers/japan-scholarship-program/main For citizens of ADB’s developing member countries to pursue postgraduate studies in economics, management, science and technology, and other development-related fields at participating academic institutions in the Asian and Pacific Region. The ADB-JSP provides full scholarships for one to two years.

Association for Women in Science Educational Foundation http://www.bibsocamer.org/fellows.htm

Several fellowships available, all of which support bibliographical inquiry and research in the history of the book trades and in publishing history. Eligible topics may concentrate on books and documents in any field, but should focus on the book or manuscript (the physical object) as historical evidence.

Applications due December 15 th .

National Academies Fellowships http://www.nationalacademies.org/grantprograms/index.html

The National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council offer several fellowships in science, engineering, and medicine. Information on eligibility guidelines and application deadlines is available on specific programs’ websites. The Fellowships Office (FO) of the National Academies administers predoctoral, postdoctoral, and senior fellowship awards on behalf of government and private/foundation sponsors; these fellowship awards play an important role in the career development of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and scholars for the academic, federal, industrial and international workforce. Current opportunities can be found on the above listed website.

Deadlines vary.

Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/policyfellows/index.htm

This fellowship is designed to engage graduate science, engineering, medical, veterinary, business, and law students in the analysis that informs the creation of science and technology policy and to familiarize them with the interactions of science, technology and government.

Applications are due the fall before the session begins.

International Dissertation Field Research Fellowships http://www.ssrc.org/fellowships/idrf-fellowship/

The Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship (IDRF) offers nine to twelve months of support to graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who are enrolled in PhD programs in the United States and conducting dissertation research on non-US topics. Eighty fellowships are awarded annually.

Applications due November 5 th .

Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarships http://www.jkcf.org/scholarships/graduate-scholarships/

The Foundation’s  Dissertation Fellowship  is for up to $25,000 for advanced doctoral students who are completing dissertations that inform the Foundation’s mission: advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. To be eligible, candidates must demonstrate superior academic achievement, have successfully defended their dissertation proposals, and be enrolled full-time in a US graduate degree program.

Application deadline is February 4 th .

Josephine de Karman Scholarships http://www.dekarman.org/

$16,000 scholarship to support either the final year of study for juniors or for Ph.D. candidates with ABD status. DeKarman fellowships are open to students in any discipline, including international students, who are currently enrolled in a university or college located within the United States.  Only candidates for the PhD who will defend their dissertation by June 2015 and undergraduates entering their senior year (will receive bachelors degree in June 2015) are eligible for consideration .  Postdoctoral and masters degree students are not eligible for consideration.  Special consideration will be given to applicants in the Humanities.

Application due January 31 st .

Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowship http://www.spencer.org/content.cfm/fellowship-awards

Candidates for the doctoral degree at a graduate school within the United States are eligible.

Call for Applications

• " alt="dissertation grants for international students" target="_self"> Committee on Dissertation Completion Fellowships

isa Dissertation Completion Fellowship

The International Studies Association (ISA) invites applications for a new graduate student fellowship for 2024-2025. This award is targeted at students in the later stages of their PhD program (typically the final 2 years). The fellowship is intended help students offset the costs incurred as a result of research and writing activities necessary for the successful completion of the dissertation. The ISA Dissertation Completion Fellowship is open to applicants from across the social sciences and humanities working in the broad field of International Studies.

While the fellowship is open to all eligible graduate student members of ISA, the committee particularly encourages applications from groups, genders, and nationalities that have been historically under-represented in the field of International Studies. Applicants may request up to $5000 to cover expenses related to the costs of carrying out the final stages of dissertation research and writing. It is the committee’s sole discretion to award lesser amounts than requested, as they deem appropriate. Preference will be given to students without access to other sources of funding to assist with dissertation completion.

Funds may be used only to support dissertation completion; however, the committee takes a broad interpretation of such expenses. Examples of activities that could receive funding include (but are not limited to): transcription, short-term travel for additional field research, archival research costs, survey costs, interview costs, translation costs, copy-editing or proofreading. Living expenses, such as rent and child-care may be considered acceptable expenses, particularly if they can reduce the need to teach or take on other work to allow the proposer concentrated time for dissertation completion. The funds may not be used for payment of tuition. The applicant should make clear in their proposal how the specified activity or resource for which funding is sought will assist in the successful completion of their dissertation.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be members of ISA to apply and must maintain their membership during their fellowship year.
• Applicants must be doctoral candidates or the equivalent by the time the award is received. Applicants may apply before achieving candidacy, but they cannot receive funds without proof of candidacy or equivalent confirmation of permission to proceed to PhD thesis/dissertation.
• Applicants must be working on a topic in the international studies field.
• Preference will be given to applicants from underrepresented groups within ISA.
• The committee will prioritize proposals from applicants who are unable to acquire resources to complete their project from other sources. Applicants should identify all current sources of funding and clearly identify funding shortfalls.
• All funds must be expended in a single fiscal year (running July 1 to June 30).
• Awardees must submit a 500-word final report to the committee chair that details how the funding supported their dissertation completion by 60 days after the end of the fiscal year (September 1).
• The committee reserves the right to redistribute funds to other applicants at their sole discretion in such cases where additional funding has been received since acceptance.

Application Materials

Students must submit the following for consideration:

• A 1000-1500 word proposal laying out the dissertation project.
• A one-page statement detailing all financial support received through the PhD program, including institutional and other sources, such as granting agencies. This should also include a statement of financial need. At the time of disbursement of funds, a student must disclose any further funding received after the time of acceptance.
• A one-page narrative budget detailing the different kinds of expenses foreseen, and justifying how funding for these expenses will advance dissertation completion.
• A current CV.
• A letter of recommendation from the student’s dissertation major advisor, which should be submitted separately with the applicant's name in the subject line. Advisors are asked to comment on the student’s financial need in their letters.
• Proposals are due by September 1 each year and awards start on July 1 of the following year.

Submission Process & Deadline

Applications open on July 1, 2023 and should be submitted directly to the ISA Dissertation Completion Fellowship Committee at [email protected] by September 1, 2023 . The applicant's last name should be clearly specified in the subject heading. Do not submit any application materials before July 1st .

Any questions about the application process, or the Fellowship more broadly, should be directed to [email protected] .

Committee Members

Melody Fonseca (University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras) - Chair Jessica Auchter (Université Laval) Arjun Chowdhury (University of British Columbia) Stéphanie Martel (Queen's University) Ida Bastiaens (Fordham University)

ISA Membership Required

You are not an ISA member or are not logged in to your ISAnet account. Your ISA membership must be current and in good standing to apply for this fellowship.

Join or Renew

All application materials must be submitted electronically to [email protected] on or before September 1, 2023 .

Questions? Contact Committee Chair Melody Fonseca .

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Pre- and Mid-Dissertation Grants

For harvard graduate students only..

Pre-dissertation grants are awarded to doctoral students who are pre-prospectus, have recently passed preliminary exams, and who are exploring or beginning to launch research on a project related to the core research interests of the Center. These interests are broadly defined to encompass research on international, transnational, global, and comparative national issues and may address contemporary or historical topics, including rigorous policy analysis, as well as the study of specific countries and regions outside the United States.

Mid-dissertation grants are awarded to doctoral students who are post-prospectus, are conducting research relating to the core research interests of the Center, and who have not yet reached their final year of dissertation completion.

NEW: Herbert C. Kelman Fellowships  of $3,000–4,000 are awarded for research focusing upon the causes, prevention, or resolution of international or ethnic conflicts, especially the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and/or reconciliation between communities within and across states with a history of protracted violent conflict. Funding has been provided by the family of Professor Herbert C. Kelman, a beloved longtime member of the Weatherhead Center, who devoted much of his career to peacebuilding and conflict resolution. These grants will be awarded to strong and qualified applicants of our pre- and mid-dissertation grants.

Grants of $3,000–$4,000 each will be awarded.

Who Is Eligible

Pre-dissertation grants are available to doctoral students who are in the early stages of dissertation research, that is, who are exploring or beginning to launch a project.

Mid-dissertation grants are available to doctoral students who have been conducting dissertation research and are midway in the process of completing their dissertations, but who have not yet reached the final year of completion.

The grants may be used at any time during the summer or academic year for dissertation-related travel, training, or for the compilation of data sets relevant to the student's research. The mid-dissertation grants are intended for specific research projects, research trips, or special needs that arise for students rather than for general dissertation-writing support.

For those focusing on Canadian topics, please visit the Canada Program Fellowships for Dissertation Research page.

How to Apply

The Weatherhead Center uses an electronic application platform, the Centralized Application for Research and Travel ( CARAT ). Please read all the instructions on this page as well as in CARAT before beginning your application. Once in CARAT, applicants must choose to apply for either a pre-dissertation grant or a mid-dissertation grant (see above for distinction). Recommenders must upload their letters of recommendation for your application to CARAT. Applicants are encouraged to visit the GSAS Fellowships Office website for information on these grants and similar grants offered by other Harvard funding sources as well as helpful information on writing grant proposals and preparing applications.

February 12, 2024

• Opportunities for Faculty
• Opportunities for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars
• Opportunities for Undergraduates

Clare Putnam Coordinator, Student Programs and Fellowships. [email protected] 1737 Cambridge Street, Room K221 [  Map ] t: (617) 495-9899 f: (617) 495-8292

• Sign up for the CISSR Digest

• Calls for Proposals
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• Faculty Book Workshop and Monograph Enhancement Awards

Dissertation Completion Grants

• Lloyd & Susanne Rudolph Field Research Grants

The CISSR Dissertation Completion Grant provides funding and office space for doctoral students in the final year of the dissertation. CISSR supports doctoral research on international, transnational, and global questions. Dissertation fellows are expected to engage with others at CISSR and contribute to intellectual life of the Center. Fellows are asked to acknowledge CISSR support in all related publications and submit an end-of-year report.

• Eligibility: University of Chicago doctoral candidates in the Division of Social Sciences who plan to defend the dissertation in the coming academic year are eligible.
• Support: the award is a residential fellowship, in which fellows are provided shared office space in Pick Hall 102 and a $5,000 research allowance that can be used for travel, computing, books, or conference costs.

The application portal will open  February 6, 2024  and close on  March 31, 2024 . 

Requirements

• Candidate’s CV
• Cover Letter (maximum of 1000 words)
• Dissertation Précis (maximum 2000 words)

Applications

Apply for the CISSR Dissertation Fellowship

Deadline to submit applications:  March 31, 2024 at 11:59 PM (CT)

For questions, please contact CISSR at [email protected] .

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United States Institute of Peace

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Peace Scholar Fellowship Program

USIP's Peace Scholar Fellowship program awards non-residential fellowships to PhD candidates enrolled at U.S. universities who are writing doctoral dissertations on topics related to conflict management, peacebuilding and security studies. Since 1988, the program has supported the dissertations of 408 scholars, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in research, higher education, and policy making.

Download the Call for Applications

This program partners with the Minerva Research Initiative to support additional fellowships. Currently, the program awards up to 18 fellowships per year, and awards support both research and writing stages of work on dissertations.

Applications from members of groups traditionally under-represented in the field of international relations, peace and conflict studies, security studies, and other related academic disciplines, as well as diplomacy and international policymaking, are strongly encouraged.

2024-2025 Request for Applications

USIP seeks applications from Ph.D. candidates with high-quality, policy relevant research that will deepen understanding about conflict management, peacebuilding and other applicable security-related studies. USIP strongly prefers applications closely related to the USIP Issue Areas and/or research priorities of the Minerva Research Initiative .

Special consideration will be given to proposed research in the following areas*:

• Strategic rivalry
• Global shocks and fragility
• The American approach to peacebuilding

*See the USIP FY’24 Congressional Budget Justification for more information about the Institute’s key priorities and initiatives.

Registration and Application Process

Applying for the Peace Scholar Fellowship competition is a two-step process.

REGISTRATION:  All applicants must have registered for this competition even if you have registered previously for another USIP competition.

APPLICATION: After completing the registration, applicants must prepare and submit a complete application. USIP does not provide status updates on submitted applications at any time.

Important Dates

• Registration opened: Thursday, September 7, 2023
• Registration closed: Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 4:00PM EDT
• Application deadline: Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 4:00PM EDT
• Letters of reference due: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 4:00PM EDT

Application Requirements

Applications will be selected based on the strength of the proposed research and its potential to make original contributions to the field by addressing one of the key initiatives or research priorities listed in the links above.

Applications that are not relevant to the priorities or issue areas of USIP or the Minerva Research Initiative will not be considered for the competition.

Peace Scholar Fellowship Details

USIP funds up to 18 Peace Scholars for a 10-month, non-residential fellowship. Peace Scholars receive stipends of up to $20,000 paid directly to the individual in three tranches. Peace Scholar awards may not be deferred.

Peace Scholars are required to participate in an annual workshop, in-person in Washington, D.C. in Fall 2024. The Peace Scholar is required to submit a copy of their completed and committee approved dissertation to USIP at [email protected] .

For more information, see the Peace Scholar Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Please direct questions about usage of USIP’s online application system to [email protected] .

Online Application

All application materials must be submitted on FLUXX.

The application includes the following sections:

• A confirmation of your eligibility, must be a Ph.D. candidate enrolled at a U.S. university.
• Your personal and contact information
• Letters of recommendation
• Bibliography
• Curriculum Vitae
• Optional links to publications

Questions for the 2024-2025 USIP Peace Scholar Fellowship application

Applicants are required to complete the four sections below.

Contribution. What is innovative about the research? What unique contribution will the project make towards advancing the fields of conflict management, peacebuilding and related security studies? How does your research enhance USIP’s and/or Minerva’s understandings of the social, cultural, behavioral and/or political forces that shape the issues and dynamics of conflict? (2,500 characters)

Relevance. State how your dissertation intersects with the USIP mission, and/or the Minerva Research Initiative mission. Describe the relevance of your project to the theory, policy or practice of the fields of conflict management, peacebuilding and related security studies. Applications that are not relevant to the priorities or issue areas of USIP or the Minerva Research Initiative will not be considered for the competition. (2,500 characters)

Research Integrity. Explain how you will analyze the research evidence to test your hypotheses or answer your projects’ defining questions. Describe your methodologies. Describe how your research findings will be generalizable across time, geopolitical regions, and/or other socio-cultural domains. Will your findings have predictive value? What is the broader significance of your project and what will be the likely lessons learned? (2,500 characters)

Work Plan. Provide a timetable indicating the schedule of completion for your dissertation. Indicate which portions of your work (research, data collection, analysis, writing, etc.) are already finished, and which tasks remain to be completed. Please be as realistic as possible, considering the work that can be completed during the course of the fellowship. The Institute expects scholars to complete work described in the timetable or as agreed in subsequent consultation with the program staff. (2,500 characters)

Additionally, applicants must complete the following sections.

Personal Statement. Why are you applying to the USIP-Minerva Peace Scholar Fellowship? Tell us who you are and why you are a great candidate for this fellowship. What do you expect to accomplish after this fellowship? (2,000 characters)

Project Summary.  Clearly and concisely state your dissertation’s hypothesis. Explain its potential contribution to the field of conflict management, peacebuilding and related security studies. Include the specific focus of countries or regions. The summary is a critical part of the application as it is the first item that most reviewers will read to determine the substance and relevance of the project. Avoid jargon. (2,000 characters)

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have additional questions, please email [email protected].

Who may apply for the Peace Scholar fellowship?

The competition is open to Ph.D. candidates enrolled at U.S. universities who have successfully completed all required classwork and comprehensive exams.

Are non-U.S. citizens eligible to be Peace Scholars?

Yes, non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply. They must be Ph.D. candidates currently enrolled at a U.S. university. Students at international and satellite universities are not eligible.

I am not a Ph.D. candidate, but I would like to apply for the Peace Scholars Fellowship. Am I eligible?

All applicants must be Ph.D. candidates at the time of application. Master’s students or other students pursuing graduate coursework are not eligible to apply.

Is there an age requirement for the Peace Scholar competition?

There is no age requirement for Peace Scholars.

What research topics are eligible for the Peace Scholar Award?

This fellowship supports research that deepens our understanding of conflict management, peacebuilding and security studies. USIP strongly prefers applications closely related to the USIP mission and/or research priorities of the Minerva Research Initiative . Applicants are encouraged to consult USIP’s budget justification to Congress (PDF) where the Institute describes its key priorities and initiatives.

The fellowships cannot support research focused on U.S. domestic issues, however, research on U.S. foreign policy may be eligible for support. Fellowships will not be awarded for dissertation projects that constitute policymaking for a government agency or private organization, focus to any substantial degree on conflicts within U.S. domestic society, or adopt a partisan, advocacy, or activist stance.

For examples of Peace Scholar research that USIP has supported in the past, please see the list of Former Peace Scholars .

What are the requirements of the Peace Scholar Fellowship?

Peace Scholar fellows carry out their fellowship work at their universities or other sites appropriate to their research. Peace Scholars are expected to devote full attention to their work and provide the following:

• Participate in-person at the annual Peace Scholar workshop in Washington, D.C. in the fall;
• Submit quarterly dissertation progress reports to be signed by the dissertation advisor;
• Submit updates for the USIP Peace Scholar seasonal newsletter;
• Participate in two virtual roundtable discussions;
• Submit a copy of your  completed and committee approved dissertation to USIP;
• Submit copies of any other publications, including articles and books, resulting from the fellowship.

What is the timeline for the 2023-24 Peace Scholar Fellowship competition?

• Registration for the Peace Scholar competition opened on Thursday, September 7, 2023, and closed at 4:00 PM EDT on Thursday, November 16, 2023.
• Completed applications are due by 4:00 PM EDT on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.
• Letters of recommendation are due by 4:00 PM EDT Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
• Awards are announced by spring 2024.

How do I apply for the Peace Scholar Fellowship competition?

All applications and documents related to this competition must be submitted in FLUXX. USIP uses the FLUXX Award Application System to manage the Peace Scholar Fellowship competition.

Applying to the Peace Scholar competition is a two-step process.

1. Registering for a FLUXX account

Applicants must first register for a FLUXX account in order to access the application system.

• Open the FLUXX registration page.
• Click "Register for an account" on the right side of the page.
• Select "Peace Scholars" as the competition type.
• Indicate whether you would like to be considered for either a USIP-funded Peace Scholar fellowship or a Minerva-funded Peace and Security Fellowship, or no preference.
• After completing the form, select "Submit Request."

Within two business days, applicants will receive a FLUXX confirmation email containing a username and password.

If you do not receive login credentials within two business days, please email [email protected] .

2. Starting and submitting an application

Once an applicant receives login credentials, they may begin the Peace Scholar application.

• Open the FLUXX application page.
• Enter the username and password sent in the FLUXX confirmation email.
• Click "Draft Applications" in the left toolbar to create a blank draft application.
• Begin entering information in the draft application.
• FLUXX does not auto-save so be sure to save your work often.
• Check your work before submitting your application. Once an application has been submitted, it cannot be edited or changed.

How do I reset my password?

Click the "reset or create password" button on the FLUXX login page.

How many recommendation letters are required?

Two letters of recommendation must be attached to your application in the FLUXX system. One letter must be from your dissertation advisor, and one from a current professor.

When are letters of recommendation due?

Letters of recommendation are due within one week of the application deadline. All letters of recommendation for the 2024-25 Peace Scholar competition must be submitted by 4:00 PM EDT Tuesday, December 5, 2023.

How are letters of recommendation submitted?

Letters of recommendation must be uploaded directly by the applicant’s advisor and professor (recommenders). However, the applicant must send a letter of recommendation request to their references through the FLUXX system. See instructions below.

To send a FLUXX link to thereferences, click the green "+" under the "Reference Letters/Letters of Recommendation" section of the application. Enter the name and email address of each reference. An email with an upload link and instructions on how to submit the letters of recommendation will be sent to the refecerences.

If you or your references experience technical difficulties with FLUXX, please email the Fellowship team at [email protected] .

Is there a deadline to send the letter of recommendation link to my recommenders?

Applicants should send the letter of recommendation link to their dissertation advisor and professor as soon as they begin their application.

Does the link to submit recommendation letters expire?

No, the link does not expire. We recommend contacting your recommenders as soon as you enter their names and email addresses in your application in FLUXX. 

If my references encounters difficulty while submitting their recommendation letter, who should they contact?

If your reference is not able to upload their recommendation letter to the application, they may email the letter, in PDF format, to [email protected] . The name of the applicant should be included in the subject line of the email.

Can I submit my application before my advisor or professor has submitted the recommendation letter?

Yes, applications may be submitted before the recommendation letters are submitted.

How many Peace Scholar Fellowships are awarded each year?

USIP awards up to 18 Peace Scholar Fellowships each year.

What is the duration of the Peace Scholars fellowship?

The Peace Scholar Fellowship last for 10 months, starting on September 1 of each year, and ending on June 30 of the following year.

What is the amount of the award?

Peace Scholar fellows receive a stipend of up to $20,000, paid directly to the fellow in three tranches.

Can this award be combined with other fellowship awards?

A combined amount of $50,000 is the maximum total that a Peace Scholar can receive in fellowship funding from USIP and other funders during the 10-month USIP Peace Scholar Fellowship period. The intent of the fellowship award is for the Peace Scholar fellow to work on their dissertation.

Is it possible to defer the Peace Scholar Fellowship to another year?

No. The fellowship cannot be deferred. It must be used for the year it is awarded.

What is the difference between the USIP Peace Scholar Fellowship and the Minerva Research Initiative Peace and Security Fellowship?

The fellowship requirements, timeline and stipend amount are the same. The only difference is the source of the funding. On your application form please indicate the funding source for which you would like to be considered:

• The USIP Peace Scholar Fellowship,
• Minerva Research Initiative Peace and Security Fellowship, or,
• No preference.  

Where can I find more information on the Minerva Research Initiative?

More information about the Minerva Research Initiative can be found at https://minerva.defense.gov .

What is the difference between the Peace Scholar Fellowship program and the Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship?

USIP's Peace Scholar Fellowship program awards non-residential fellowships to PhD candidates enrolled at U.S. universities who are writing doctoral dissertations on topics related to conflict management, peacebuilding and security studies. The Jennings Randolph Senior Fellowship is an eight-month residential fellowship for senior experts across various disciplines.

Current Peace Scholars

Visit the list of current Peace Scholars .

Former Peace Scholars

Visit the list of former Peace Scholars .

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There are many, many opportunities that students can apply for, and each has its own application requirements and procedures. Institutional support and resources will vary depending on the type and details of the award. 

• Limited Submission & Institutional Endorsement Some external awards require submission or endorsement through Penn departments or centers.   
• Internal Award Competitions   Fellowships and awards for current and graduating Penn students.    
• Programs of Interest  Additional major awards and opportunities that may be of particular interest to many Penn students.

See our monthly listing of upcoming deadlines in our Penn Grad News feed for even more opportunities. 

Prestigious awards requiring university interview, nomination, or submission. 

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There are a number of competitive fellowships and awards to support Penn graduate students. In many cases, students must be nominated by their department and cannot apply directly to these awards. Students wishing to be nominated should contact their department’s graduate chair for details. 

Many awards are designed for students to apply to the foundation or granting agency directly, without a campus endorsement process. Of these, several programs stand out as particularly interesting to Penn graduate & professional students. Although you apply for these awards directly, we strongly encourage you to seek feedback and guidance from the fellowships team at  CURF , your faculty advisor(s), and peer advisors or mentors. 

American Academy in Rome: Rome Prize  Rome Prize fellows reside at the Academy's eleven-acre center in Rome and receive room and board, and a stipend for periods ranging from 6-months to two years. Preference is given to applicants for whom research time in Italy, and especially in the city of Rome, is essential, and who have not had extensive prior experience there.  

American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) Fellowships & Grants Awards to support study, research, or creative projects in one or more Scandinavian country for up to one year. Preference is given to candidates conducting dissertation-related study or research, who have at least some ability in the host country language.  

Center for Engaged Scholarship (CES) Dissertation Fellowships Supports 9-months of full time dissertation research and/or writing for Ph.D. students in academic departments and programs in the social sciences, including: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, social psychology, and sociology.  

Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship Completion fellowship for 12-months of full-time dissertation writing on topics related to ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences.   

DAAD -- The German Academic Exchange Service Scholarships funding study, research, and/or internships in Germany for one semester to one year. Preference will be given to students whose projects or programs are based at and organized by a German university. Programs include: 

• DAAD RISE Pro  for graduate students and undergraduate DAAD RISE alumni to carry out summer internships with German companies.
• Graduate Study Scholarship  for one full year of study in any subject for a master’s degree or an independent research project at an institution in Germany. 
• and more!   

Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF) Renewable fellowships for outstanding students pursuing doctoral degrees in fields of study that use high performance computing to solve complex science and engineering problems. Provides a yearly stipend, tuition, a research allowance, and more. Applicants must be in the first year of graduate study in engineering, mathematics, or the physical, computer, or life sciences.  

Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program Provides supplemental awards to outstanding U.S. graduate students conducting research in areas that address scientific challenges central to the Office of Science mission. Recipients conduct 3-12 months of research at a participating host DOE laboratory/facility in collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist within a defined award period.   

Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship Support the final year of dissertation writing and defense for individuals completing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree. Fellows have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.  

Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship Predoctoral fellowships provide three years of support for individuals engaged in graduate study leading to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Science (Sc.D.) degree. Fellows have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students.  

Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity Formerly known as the National Physical Science Consortium, Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity is a partnership between government agencies and laboratories, industry, and higher education. Fellowships are awarded to doctoral students in the physical sciences and related engineering fields. The competition is open to all qualified U.S. citizens, with an emphasis on recruiting a diverse applicant pool. NPSC Fellows receive one or two paid summers internships at their NPSC-sponsoring employer’s research facility, as well as tuition, fees, and stipends for up to six years.  

Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship Highly selective fellowship supporting the nation's most remarkable PhD students in the physical, biological and engineering sciences. Applicants must be students of the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and engineering who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States of America, and who are willing to morally commit to make their skills available to the United States in time of national emergency  

Insight Data Fellows Programs  Funded, intensive seven (7) week post-doctoral training fellowship programs bridging the gap between academia & data science in several areas:data science, data engineering, health data, decentralized consensus, AI, and more.  

Josephine De Karman Fellowship Completion fellowships for PhD students entering their final year who will defend their dissertation by June of the following academic year. All disciplines are eligible. Special consideration is given to applicants in the humanities.   

Microsoft Research Dissertation Grant Program Research funding  research funding opportunity for doctoral students from groups underrepresented in computing (women, African-Americans/Blacks, Latinos, American Indians/Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, and/or people with disabilities). PhD students must be conducting dissertation work that relates to computing topics in which Microsoft Research has expertise. PhD students must be in their fourth year or beyond in a PhD program when they apply for this grant.    

National GEM Consortium Fellowship Program GEM offers MS and Ph.D. level students an outstanding opportunity and access to dozens of the top Engineering and Science firms and Universities in the nation. The GEM Fellowship was designed to focus on promoting opportunities for individuals to enter industry at the graduate level in areas such as research and development, product development, and other high level technical careers. GEM also offers exposure to a number of opportunities in academia.  

NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP)  The National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academies administers competitive graduate, postdoctoral, and senior research awards on behalf of 26 U.S. government research agencies and affiliated institutions with facilities at over 100 locations throughout the U.S. and abroad. Research Associates receive annual stipends ranging from $30,000 to $80,000 by degree level and  proportionally higher for Senior Associates. The NRC also provides health insurance, relocation benefits and an allowance for professional travel. The host laboratory provides research facilities, equipment and funding for supplies to support the Associate’s research. Citizenship requirements vary by host institution.   

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides 3 years of support to outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are at or near the beginning of graduate study. Fellows benefit from a three-year annual stipend, 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 their chosen accredited U.S. institution of graduate education.  

National Science Foundation (NSF) Special Programs for Graduate Students Listing of various programs provide either direct (i.e., from NSF) or indirect (i.e., from an awardee institution) funding for graduate students at this level or identify programs that focus on educational developments for this group such as curricula development, training or retention.  

Soros Fellowship for New Americans The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship supports the graduate education of New Americans (immigrants or the children of immigrants),  who are poised to make significant contributions to U.S. society, culture, or their academic field. Fellows receive up to $90,000 in financial support over two years and join a lifelong community of New American Fellows.   

Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Mellon International Dissertation Research Fellowship Supports up to 12 months of support to PhD students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences who are conducting dissertation research on non-US topics. Fellowship amounts vary depending on the research plan, with a per-fellowship average of $23,000. The fellowship includes participation in an SSRC-funded interdisciplinary workshop upon the completion of IDRF-funded research.  

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Add an international dimension to your IU education

At the heart of our mission is a commitment to bring IU to the world and the world to IU.

To make that possible, we support internationally focused academic programs and help IU students access quality opportunities abroad for study and research that will enhance your international awareness and understanding.

Resources for graduate students

Primary partner graduate student grant.

Funding to doctorate level students interested in participating in research, creative activity, or career development projects with one of IU’s primary partner institutions.

UN SDG Opportunities

Learn how you can engage with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Summer pre-dissertation grants

Support for research-related summer travel abroad prior to conducting dissertation research there.

International enhancement grants

Support for academic training that adds or enhances an international component of a graduate degree program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find the answers for the most common graduate student funding questions.

Add a global flavor to your undergraduate experience

Did you know that one in four graduating seniors at IU has studied abroad? The Office of Overseas Study can help you find a program that fits your interests and provide information on academic planning and funding.

Students travel all over the world, including Morocco, Spain, and Greece.

International student resources

Learn about our services.

Whether you’re just starting the admissions process or you’re already a student at IU, we offer a number of services to help you through your academic journey.

Patrick O’Meara Global Engagement Scholarship

This scholarship supports international undergraduate students on any IU campus who demonstrate academic excellence, an interest in global engagement, and financial need.

Take your high school foreign language studies to the next level

Our Honors Program in Foreign Languages provides Indiana high school language learners the opportunity to experience language and cultural immersion through summer study abroad opportunities in countries around the world.

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Dissertation award, program purpose.

Although not technically fellowships, these grants support dissertation research costs of students in accredited research doctoral programs in the United States (including Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories or possessions).

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International Research Travel Grants

The buffett institute offers international research travel grants to doctoral students in years 3-6 who are conducting research outside the contiguous united states and/or within tribal nations..

• Award Details
• Eligibility
• Application Details

The maximum award is $9,000, and students are limited to one research award over the course of their graduate career. All awards will be made as scholarship awards and will be paid out through the University's payroll system.

Funds are also available for projects on modern Turkey through the Keyman Modern Turkish Studies Program and for projects on the Middle East through the Crown Family Middle East Research Travel fund. Interdisciplinary projects and collaborative projects with institutions and researchers in the regions will be given priority. Only graduate students who have not received a Keyman or Crown grant in the last two years are eligible. To be considered, simply indicate in your application that you would like to be considered for a Keyman and/or Crown grant.

Graduate students traveling to any international location: By accepting this award, you agree to follow all health and safety requirements as outlined by the Office of Global Safety and Security for the location(s) where you will be traveling. As a reminder, all students undertaking university-related travel abroad—except for undergraduate study abroad—must register their trip in the International Travel Registry to ensure our Office of Global Safety and Security can provide support in the event of a health or safety emergency.

If planned travel becomes impossible, award recipients may send Harrington Weihl an updated budget proposal requesting use of the award funds for other research expenses.

Applicants who have received a previous grant from the Buffett Institute must have submitted a post-award report before applying for a new award. 

These awards may  not  be used for:

• Language study programs or other coursework
• Expenses in the United States
• Special equipment such as tape recorders
• Fees for transcription or translation

Deadline: March 24, 2024

The application portal can be accessed via SOAP . The application will require the following :

• A project narrative of no more than five double-spaced pages that explains your dissertation research and its significance for a general scholarly audience. In addition to clearly articulating the questions your dissertation asks, this narrative should describe the state of current debates on this topic and your intervention in these debates, indicating the global and international dimensions of your work. It should also include a plan of work for the research that this funding will support; this plan should outline what research site visits and related activities that will be undertaken. The five-page limit does not include notes and bibliography, which should be limited to two additional pages.
• Two letters of reference: one from your advisor and another from a committee member or someone else who knows your work well

APply VIA SOAP

*New* Apply for the Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship Program (Due 4/23/24)

Posted: 3/1/2024 ()

The  Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad (FRA) Fellowship Program provides opportunities for faculty to engage in full-time research abroad in modern foreign languages and area studies. The program is designed to deepen research knowledge and increase the study of modern foreign languages, cultural engagement, and area studies not generally included in U.S. curricula. Faculty may request funding for 3-12 months. FY24 applications will be accepted until 4/23/24.

Program features

Faculty may request funding to support overseas research for no less than three months and no more than 12 months. Funds support travel expenses to and from the residence of the fellow and the country or countries of research; maintenance allowances based on the salary of the fellow; and an allowance for research-related expenses overseas. Projects may focus on one or more of the following geographic areas: Africa, East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, South Asia, the Near East, Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia, and the Western Hemisphere (excluding the United States and its territories).

Eligible applicants

Institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the United States are eligible to apply for grants under this program. As part of the application process, eligible faculty submit their individual research narratives and application forms to their home IHE. The IHE compiles all eligible individual faculty applications for inclusion in the institutional application that is submitted to the U.S. Department of Education. Faculty scholars are eligible to receive an FRA fellowship from their IHE if they

• are a citizen or national of the United States or a permanent resident of the United States.
• are employed by an institution of higher education.
• have been engaged in teaching relevant to his or her foreign language or area studies specialization for the two years immediately preceding the date of the award.
• propose research relevant to the faculty scholar’s modern foreign language or area studies specialization, which is not dissertation research for a doctoral degree.
• possess sufficient foreign language skills to carry out the research project.

How to apply

The U.S. Department of Education’s International and Foreign Language Education office (IFLE) expects to make 25 new awards, totaling approximately $750,000, under the fiscal year (FY) 2024 FRA program competition. The FY 2024 application is available online through the  U.S. Department of Education’s G5 system  between Feb. 23 and April 23, 2024.

Please refer to the  official  Federal Register  notice  for detailed information about the FY 2024 competition.

NOW LIVE! Application technical assistance webinar

A prerecorded technical assistance (TA) webinar is now posted on IFLE’s YouTube channel to help faculty and institutions learn more about the 2024 FRA program and how to apply. Please subscribe to  IFLE’s YouTube channel  and  click here to access the webinar .

Coming soon: LIVE Question and Answer session

Faculty applicants and institutions may also attend a LIVE Question and Answer (Q&A) session on Microsoft Teams on March 20 from 3 to 4:15 p.m. ET to answer questions.  Join the March 20th technical assistance webinar.

Q&A session attendees should ensure they have viewed the prerecorded webinar ahead of the live web chat session.

If you have questions about the program or application process, please email them to  [email protected] .

Global Offices Texas Global partners with faculty, departments, colleges and schools across the university to advance UT Austin’s mission and enhance its international reputation.

Global Connections on Campus The depth and scope of UT’s global academics are evident in the vast network of centers, programs and organizations dedicated to international scholarship, research, creative activity and teaching.

Global Research and Creative Activity UT faculty engage in research and creative activities on every continent, advancing UT Austin’s academic mission and global impact.

• Communications from Leadership
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Grants from Texas Global Awarded Across 14 Colleges and Schools

• Mar 21, 2024
• Ellen Stader

Texas Global supports faculty at The University of Texas at Austin by providing funding for international research, teaching, publishing, and event collaborations that advance the university’s mission of global engagement. For the Fall 2023 funding cycle, $96,320 was awarded to 14 faculty members across seven colleges and schools. 

To date, faculty across 17 colleges and schools have received a total of more than $850,000 in awards for global engagement initiatives. The Texas Global Funding Opportunities page offers complete information on the many grants and forms of financial support available.   

Faculty Research Seed Grant 

Texas Global’s Faculty Research Seed Grant provides financial support across all disciplines to UT Austin faculty and the international counterparts with whom they work and research to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The grant helps develop new partnerships and strengthen existing collaborations between UT Austin and higher education institutions and organizations around the world. Texas Global awards Faculty Research Seed Grants on a semiannual basis, once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester.  

Shanti Nulu  

Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School   “Optimizing Deep Learning Approaches for Enhanced Detection of Rheumatic Heart Disease from Portable Echocardiograms”   In partnership with Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya 

Allison Seeger  

Research Associate, Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering  “Characterization of the plasma and cellular antibody repertoires during canine L. infantum infection”  In partnership with Ahamdu Bello University, Nigeria 

Hannah Williamson  

Associate Professor, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, College of Natural Sciences  “Examining the relative importance of social relationships and socioeconomic status for health and well-being: A cross-national study”   In partnership with Universidad de Granada, Spain  

Global Virtual Exchange 

The Global Virtual Exchange (GVE) initiative contributes to the University’s mission of integrating global perspectives and innovative teaching practices into the curriculum. GVE funds support faculty in co-creating Collaborative Online International Learning courses with peers at universities around the world. The courses foster meaningful, sustainable and accessible international experiences for UT Austin students and those at partnering institutions, deepening students’ understanding of subject matter and expanding their global perspectives while they engage in project-based learning.   

Pramit Chaudhuri  

Associate Professor, Department of Classics, College of Liberal Arts  “Quantitative Criticism: Integrating Humanistic and Computational Approaches to the Study of Culture” In partnership with University of Macau, Macau  

Campus Internationalization Event Fund 

The Campus Internationalization Event Fund supports academic units that sponsor high-impact, globally oriented events intended to reach broad and diverse audiences of 200 or more attendees. The fund is open to colleges, schools and academic units for producing events that can include academic conferences, symposia, lectures, musical performances, art exhibitions, or other interactive events promoting internationalization. 

College of Liberal Arts, Department of Linguistics 

“10th Conference on Indigenous Languages of Latin America (CILLA-X)” 

College of Liberal Arts, Department of Sociology 

“Global Money Talks”  

School of Law 

“Disarming Toxic Empire Conference” with keynote by Beatrice Fihn  

Faculty Travel Planning Grant 

Texas Global’s Faculty Travel Planning Grants can benefit UT Austin faculty members working to establish connections abroad to satisfy eligibility requirements for Texas Global funding opportunities. These grants afford faculty the unique opportunity to explore possibilities, develop connections and seek potential initiatives within their international networks in order to produce other high-quality Texas Global funding proposals.  

Mercedes Hernandez  

Associate Professor, School of Social Work  “Cultural Factors in Mental Illness Assessment and Diagnosis Using Classification Systems”  In partnership with Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM), Mexico 

Luisa Nardini 

Professor, Butler School of Music, College of Fine Arts, and

Guido Olivieri  

Professor of Instruction, Butler School of Music, College of Fine Arts  “Cataloging, Indexing, and Digitizing Musical Archives in the Americas: A Collaborative Project with the University of Guadalajara”  In partnership with University of Guadalajara, Mexico 

Franco Pestilli 

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts  “Crafting a Maymester Experience for Psychology Scholars”   In partnership with La Sapienza University, Italy, and University of Geneva, Switzerland 

Global Career Launch 

The Global Career Launch (GCL) initiative serves both faculty and students in an innovative global internship framework, allowing faculty to lead undergraduate and graduate students in high-impact work and research experiences abroad. The GCL award comes with a stipend and travel grant for faculty recipients, and each student selected for the internship receives a scholarship to defray the costs of interning abroad. Faculty members with a new or established relationship at a university, research center, corporation or other industry partner abroad serve as program directors, leading and supporting cohorts of up to 10 students. 

David Eaton  

Professor, Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs   “Global Career Launch: Brazil”  In partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services, Brazil, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 

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International Programs

How you can go abroad for free: all about u.s. government-sponsored programs.

During summer 2023, I had the privilege to spend two months in Japan as a recipient of a Critical Language Scholarship. My experience was exceedingly positive, and I want all Hawkeyes to be aware of the great exchange opportunities offered by the U.S. government. Read on to find out how you can have the experience of a lifetime for nearly or totally free!

Why a U.S. government-sponsored program?

• Full funding : These scholarships are meant to cover all or most of study abroad expenses, from travel to tuition and learning materials.
• Become an ExchangeAlumni : Successful completion of these programs makes you part of an alumni community with exclusive access to certain grants and resources.
• Non-competitive eligibility (NCE) for federal employment : For up to 12 months after successful program completion (with some opportunities for extension), alumni of these programs can receive job offers from U.S. federal agencies outside of the formal competitive hiring process, given that they have the necessary experience. Alumni can also compete for jobs only open to federal employees.
• Great on a resume : Not only are these programs competitive and prestigious, but you can also leverage your international experiences and connections.

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)

About : CLS is an intensive and immersive language institute abroad for any students interested in or already studying Arabic, Azerbaijani, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, or Urdu (language offerings are subject to change. See current languages: https://clscholarship.org/languages ). Most languages do not require prior study. For 8-10 weeks during the summer, students live with host families or in university dormitories and receive formal classroom training designed to cover a full academic year of coursework. Students also attend extracurricular activities, including cultural excursions and activities, and one-on-one meetings with a language partner. Academic credit is available through Bryn Mawr College.

Funding : Fully funded, including travel and airfare, lodging, and textbooks. Students also receive a stipend for food and additional study materials. Students can apply for additional passport funding.

Requirements :

• Must be an 18+ year old U.S. citizen or national.
• Must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate. (associate, bachelor's) or graduate (master's, doctoral, professional degree) level at the time of application. You can also apply to participate the summer after you graduate.
• Undergraduate students must have completed at least one year of college coursework by program start date.
• Some languages require prior study (at least one academic year of study for Arabic, Chinese, Korean, and Russian, and at least two academic years of study for Japanese).

Application Timeline : Applications typically open in September/October and are due in November. Applicants are contacted in December/January and notified if their applications have passed the first round. Final decisions typically come out between late February and early March.

Learn more about the Critical Language Scholarship

Boren Scholarships (undergraduate) and Fellowships (graduate)

About : Boren Awards are an initiative of the National Security Education Program (NSEP). They provide funding for U.S. students to study less commonly taught languages in regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Boren Scholarships and Fellowships can be used to fund study abroad programs in any country outside of the United States, Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Students can choose to either work with the UI Study Abroad office and the Boren Campus Representative to identify a study abroad program or attend a Regional Flagship Language Initiative, which are credit-bearing language courses. Languages that can be studied through these initiatives include French, Swahili, Akan/Twi, Wolof, Zulu, Indonesia, Thai, Vietnamese, Hindi, Urdu, and Turkish (language offerings are subject to change. See current languages here: https://www.borenawards.org/initiatives ).

Boren Scholarships and Fellowships are awarded with preference for countries, languages, and fields of study (social sciences) critical to U.S. national security (See current preferences: https://www.borenawards.org/selection-criteria ). Preference is also given to proposals to study abroad for longer periods (over 25 weeks) and for those motivated to work in the U.S. federal government. In exchange for funding, awardees must commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.  Awardees are given access to the NSEP job board after the language study period, to view and apply for internships and jobs that are set aside only for people in the NSEP program.  

Funding : Up to $25,000 for 25-52 weeks, up to $12,500 for 12-24 weeks, up to $8,000 for 8-11 weeks (undergraduate STEM majors only ), or up to $12,000 for domestic language study (optional, graduate students only).

• Must be an 18+ year old U.S. citizen or national at the time of the application deadline.
• Must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate (associate, bachelor's) or graduate (master's, doctoral, professional degree) level for the duration of the program.
• Must be planning to participate in an overseas program in a country outside of the United States, Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.
• Must be planning to study in a country of which you are not a citizen.

Application Timeline : Applications for both awards are due in late January or early February. Applicants are typically notified of selection in April. The award funding can be used for programs that start between June of that year or March of the following year.

Learn more about the Boren Awards

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships

About : This scholarship enables undergraduate students with financial need to attend a study/intern abroad program of their choosing. Students are encouraged to study or intern in a diverse array of countries or areas and world regions, especially those deemed critical to national security.

Funding : Up to $5,000, with up to $3,000 available for students studying critical languages and an additional $1,000 for students conducting STEM-related research when abroad.

• Must be a U.S. citizen or national.
• Must be an undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States (including both two-year and four-year institutions).
• Must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application or provide proof that you will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of your abroad program or internship.
• Must be in the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program.
• Selected program must not be in a country or location designated as either a Level 3 (“Reconsider travel to”) or Level 4 (“Do not travel to”) travel advisory.

Application Timeline : There are two rounds of applications every year, one in March (for programs or internships starting between May 1 of that year and April 30 of the following year) and one in October (for programs or internships starting between December 1 of that year to October 31 of the following year). The application opens two months before the deadline.

Learn more about the Gilman Scholarship

U.S. Fulbright Student Program

About : This program allows students to design their own study/research projects in approximately 140 countries, with opportunities to earn graduate degrees. The details of each award (grant period, graduate degree opportunities, and fields of study) vary by country. Special study programs and grants are also offered by certain countries. See the specifics here .

Fulbright also offers English Teaching Assistant Awards for awardees to assist with language instruction.

Funding : Funding varies by country, but most are fully funded.

Requirements :  

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent before the start of the grant period (many people apply their junior to senior undergraduate year).
• Must meet language and other eligibility requirements of the award they are applying for.

Application Timeline : The application opens in April and is due in October. Applicants typically will learn if they are a semi-finalist in January and are notified of selection between March and May, depending on the award.

Learn more about the U.S. Fulbright Student Program

General application tips and resources

• If possible, start early! These awards are essay-intensive and thus require a lot of time and thought.
• If your program requires letters of recommendations, select and contact your recommenders as soon as you can. See advice for working with your recommenders here .
• Know the ins and outs of the program you are applying for, especially the selection criteria. Do a deep dive into the award’s website to learn everything you need to know.
• These programs seek to represent the diversity of the United States in the broadest sense. This ranges from race, sexuality, and gender to region and personal background. Think, what parts of you and your personal history are underrepresented on the global stage?
• Have a clear plan for how you want to leverage the skills you gain from the experience in both the near and far future and write about this in your essays.
• These programs offer webinars or pages on their website that discuss what goes into a great application. Take advantage of them!
• Reach out to program alumni to hear more about the program and ask for more specific application advice.

Critical Language Scholarship, Fulbright, and Boren applicants are highly encouraged, if not required, to make an appointment with Dr. Karen Wachsmuth . Dr. Wachsmuth is very experienced at helping students refine their application essays. Submit your preliminary application form far before the deadline to start your application process.

Gilman applicants should contact Teresa Kout with any questions.

Learn about all student funding options

Abby Fowler is a senior undergraduate double majoring in international studies with a business focus and Japanese language and literature. As a recipient of the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS), Abby studied Japanese language and culture in Okayama, Japan, during the summer of 2023 and is a CLS Alumni Ambassador for 2024. She works as the communications coordinator at Global Ties Iowa, a communications assistant at the University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums, is an International Studies and Japanese Ambassador, and a member of the 2024 Global Ties U.S. Emerging Leaders Program.

International Programs  (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.

• Critical Language Scholarship
• international fellowships
• student funding
• study abroad

International Programs at the University of Iowa supports the right of all individuals to live freely and to live in peace. We condemn all acts of violence based on race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, and perceived national or cultural origin. In affirming its commitment to human dignity, International Programs strongly upholds the values expressed in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights .