Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Program Solicitation

Document History

• Posted: August 25, 2026
• Replaces: NSF 25-547
• U.S. National Science Foundation
• Directorate for STEM Education
  • Division of Graduate Education
• Directorate for Biological Sciences
• Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering
• Directorate for Engineering
• Directorate for Geosciences
• Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
• Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships
  • Office of Integrative Activities
  • Office of International Science and Engineering

Application Deadline(s) (received by 8 p.m. Eastern time):

• October 19, 2026
  • Life Sciences
• October 20, 2026
  • Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Materials Research; Psychology; Social Sciences
• October 22, 2026
  • Engineering
• October 23, 2026
  • Chemistry; Geosciences; Mathematical Sciences; Physics and Astronomy

For more information and guidelines please visit the NSF 26-526: GRFP program solicitation webpage.

Goals

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is a U.S. National Science Foundation-wide program that provides Fellowships to individuals selected early in their graduate careers based on their demonstrated potential for significant research achievements in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. Three years of support over a five-year period are provided for graduate study that leads to a research-based master's or doctoral degree in STEM or STEM education (see eligible Fields of Study in Appendix).

The program goals are: (1) to select, recognize, and financially support early-career individuals with the demonstrated potential to be high achieving scientists and engineers; and (2) to increase participation in science and engineering of the full spectrum of U.S. talent.

Applicant Eligibility:

• Must, at the time of submission, be a U.S. citizen, national, or a permanent resident (“green-card” holder)
• Must intend to enroll or be enrolled in an eligible research-based master's or doctoral degree program in an eligible field of study in STEM, including STEM education (See Appendix and Section IV.3 for eligible Fields of Study);
• Never have previously accepted a Graduate Research Fellowship;
• Have declined any previously offered Graduate Research Fellowship by the declination deadline (if applicable);
• Have completed less than one academic year in a graduate degree program (according to the institution’s academic calendar; non-degree coursework must be clearly identified in the transcript and does not count toward this limit).

This means individuals in the following statuses at the time of application are eligible:

• Undergraduate in the final (senior) year of a bachelor’s degree program
• Bachelor’s degree-holder with NO enrollment in a graduate degree program (non-degree graduate coursework allowed)
• Individual enrolled in a joint bachelor’s-master’s degree program with at least three undergraduate years completed
• First-year graduate student in their first graduate degree program with less than one academic year completed in the degree program (according to institution’s academic calendar)
  • Individuals enrolled in joint bachelor’s-master’s degree programs are considered graduate students. For GRFP, joint bachelor’s-master’s degrees are defined as degrees concurrently pursued and awarded.