Applicant Eligibility
The NSF GRF Program Solicitation contains the official eligibility guidelines for the upcoming competition. All applicants are expected to read the NSF GRF Program Solicitation and understand the eligibility guidelines.
Applicants are expected to self-certify that they are eligible to receive the Fellowship by taking Eligibility questionnaire.
To be eligible, an applicant must meet all of the following eligibility criteria by the application deadline:
- Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident
- Intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in a research-based master’s or doctoral program in an eligible field of study in STEM or STEM education
- Never previously accepted a Graduate Research Fellowship
- Declined any previously offered Graduate Research Fellowship by the acceptance deadline
- Never previously applied to GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program. Graduate students are limited to only one application to the GRFP, submitted either in the first year or in the second year of graduate school
- Never have earned a doctoral degree or terminal degree in any field
- Be enrolled full-time at a nonprofit university, college, or institution of higher education accredited in, and having a campus located in, the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that offers advanced degrees in STEM and STEM education no later than fall of the year following award selection
- Not be a current NSF employee
The GRF Program Solicitation contains the official eligibility criteria for the GRFP competition. All applicants should read the program solicitation carefully before applying.
If you are in one of the following categories, please closely review the eligibility requirements:
- Students Currently Enrolled in Graduate Studies
- Students with Prior Enrollment in Graduate Studies
- Joint Bachelor’s-Master’s Students