NSF 26-526: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Program Solicitation

Document Information

Document History

• Posted: August 25, 2026
• Replaces: NSF 25-547

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Program Solicitation NSF 26-526

		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 the Director      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

Important Information and Revision Notes

1. This solicitation covers the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 competition.
2. Applications must be prepared and submitted through Research.gov (Research.gov - Graduate Research Fellowship Program). Only materials submitted through Research.gov/GRFP will be accepted. Review revised application preparation instructions (Section V) and Detailed Eligibility Requirements (Section IV) on Ineligible Degree Programs, Ineligible Areas of Study, and Ineligible Proposed Research thoroughly.
3. Applications are due by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the deadline date for the selected field of study in the applications. Applications will not be accepted after 8:00 p.m. ET.
4. Applicants must submit transcripts with their most recent academic status. Official undergraduate academic transcripts are required. Graduate transcripts may be unofficial if the institution of higher education (IHE) does not provide official transcripts for first year, first academic term graduate students.
5. While Fellowships will be supported in all NSF-eligible fields as listed in the Appendix, NSF will continue to emphasize high priority research areas aligned with Administration priorities as stated in the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request to Congress.
6. Reference letters are due Friday, October 16 by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Reference letters must be submitted through the NSF Reference Letter System in Research.gov and will not be accepted after 8:00 p.m. ET.
7. Applicants and reference letter writers requiring accessibility accommodation are asked to notify the GRF Operations Center at least three weeks before the relevant deadline to coordinate assistance for submitting the application or reference letter.

Summary of Program Requirements

General Information

Program Title:

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Synopsis of Program:

The purpose of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and strength of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. Since 1952, the program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. GRFP was established to recruit and support individuals who demonstrate the potential to make significant contributions in STEM. NSF encourages applications from all eligible candidates in the U.S.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

• If you require assistance with the GRFP module, please contact the NSF Service Desk.

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): 47. 076 - STEM Education 47. 074 - Biological Sciences 47. 070 - Computer and Information Science and Engineering 47. 041 - Engineering 47. 050 - Geosciences 47. 049 - Mathematical and Physical Sciences 47. 084 - NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships 47. 083 - Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) 47. 079 - Office of International Science and Engineering

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award: Fellowship

Estimated Number of Awards: 1,500

NSF will support new Graduate Research Fellowships under this program solicitation pending availability of funds.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $159,000

Per award (Fellowship), pending the availability of funds.

Each Fellowship provides three years of support over a five-year Fellowship period. For each of the three years of support, NSF provides a $37,000 stipend and a $16,000 Cost of Education allowance provided to the institution of higher education (IHE) in lieu of all tuition and mandatory fees for each Fellow using the support in a Fellowship year. While the Fellowship is offered to the individual, the Fellowship funds are awarded to the IHE at which a Fellow is enrolled, and the IHE is responsible for disbursement of the stipend to the Fellow. The Fellowship is portable and can be transferred to a different IHE. Fellows can transfer to another institution after completion of the first Fellowship year.

Application Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Application Preparation Instructions

• Letters of Intent: Not applicable
• Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not applicable
• Application Instructions: This solicitation contains information that deviates from the standard NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

B. Budgetary Information

• Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.
• Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: No indirect costs are allowed.
• Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

C. Due Dates

• 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

Application Review Information Criteria Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved Merit Review Criteria (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts) apply. Additional Solicitation-Specific Review Criteria also apply (see Section VI.A below).

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions: NSF GRFP awards are made to the institution of higher education at which a Fellow is or will be enrolled. The awardee institution is responsible for financial management of the award and disbursement of Fellowship funds to the individual Fellow. The institution will administer the awards, including any amendments, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials. All Fellowships are subject to the provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials.

Reporting Requirements: See reporting requirements in full text of solicitation and the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials. Fellows are required to submit annual activity reports and to declare fellowship status by the deadline specified in the notification sent by email each year. Additional reporting requirements are presented in Section VII.C of this solicitation.

I. Introduction

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is a U.S. National Science Foundation-wide program managed in the Directorate for STEM Education 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).

GRFP is a critical program in NSF's overall strategy to develop the globally competitive workforce necessary to ensure the Nation's leadership in advancing science and engineering research and innovation. See NSF FY2026-2030 Strategic Plan p. 8. Awards made by the program advance measures of success related to STEM Education and Workforce by increasing the number of graduate students supported. NSF has supported more than 70,000 Fellows who have made fundamental contributions to U.S. leadership in science and engineering throughout their careers. NSF Graduate Research Fellows have made transformative breakthrough discoveries, become leaders in their fields, and been honored as Nobel laureates.

II. Program Description

The purpose of GRFP is to recruit talented individuals into science and engineering and provide support for graduate education and training to allow Fellows freedom to pursue their own research ideas. This ability to explore and pursue new ideas has made GRFP a globally recognized program for STEM workforce development. Fellows have transformed science, engineering, and society through their creativity, discovery, and innovation.

NSF will continue in its original statutory and programmatic intent to affect students at the beginning of their graduate training and award Fellowships "to the applicants in such a manner as will tend to result in a wide distribution of scholarships and fellowships throughout the United States." 42 USC §1869(a). NSF will focus on recruitment and support of individuals who demonstrate outstanding potential in STEM graduate study.

The program goals are: (1) to identify, 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 all eligible candidates in the U.S.

GRFP awards Fellowships for graduate study leading to research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM. GRFP supports individuals who propose a comprehensive plan for graduate education incorporating individual interests and competencies and describes academic achievements, accomplishments, and experiences that illustrate the applicant's demonstrated potential for significant research achievements and contributions to the field. Applicants provide a detailed profile of their relevant education, research experience, and plans for graduate education to demonstrate their potential.

In keeping with goals to develop a robust domestic STEM workforce, applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. To recruit and advance talented individuals early in their careers, applicants are limited to senior undergraduates, bachelor's degree-holders with no graduate study, and beginning graduate students. Joint bachelor's-master's degree students in the final undergraduate or first graduate year of the joint degree program and first year graduate students in their first graduate degree program are eligible.

By submitting an application, individuals indicate their intent to pursue graduate study in a research-based program in STEM at an accredited, non-profit institution having a campus located in the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. All applicants are expected to have adequate preparation to enroll in a research-based master's or doctoral program by fall of the year the Fellowship is accepted. From the date of Fellowship Start through Completion or Termination of the Fellowship, applicants accepting the award (Fellows) must be enrolled in an accredited non-profit graduate degree-granting IHE having a campus located in the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Applications are reviewed and selected using the NSF Merit Review criteria. NSF takes into consideration applicants' academic level and geographic distribution of the awards. Three years of support are provided over a five-year fellowship period.

NSF will continue to fund Graduate Research Fellowships in all areas of science and engineering supported by NSF while emphasizing high-priority research areas in alignment with Administration priorities described in the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request to Congress. The high-priority research areas are listed under the Major Fields of Study in the Appendix.

While the Fellowship is designated for the student, NSF funds are awarded to the institution where the Fellow is enrolled for financial management and disbursement. There is no cost to the Fellow, no service or payback requirement. The Fellowship awards no indirect costs to the awardee institution.

42 USC §1869(a)

III. Award Information

NSF will support new Graduate Research Fellowships under this program solicitation pending availability of funds.

Fellowships will provide a maximum of three years of financial support (in 12-month allocations starting in the fall of the award year) usable over a five-year Fellowship period. The anticipated announcement for the Fellowship awards is early April each year.

The Fellowship is portable and can be transferred to a different IHE if a Fellow chooses to transfer after completion of the first Fellowship year. While the Fellowship is offered to the individual, the Fellowship funds are awarded to the institution at which a Fellow is enrolled and is considered the official NSF awardee institution. The awardee institution receives up to a $53,000 award per Fellow who uses the support in a Fellowship year. The awardee institution is responsible for disbursement of Fellowship funds to the Fellow. The Graduate Research Fellowship stipend is $37,000 for a 12-month tenure period, disbursed according to the awardee institution's disbursement schedule. The Cost of Education allowance provides $16,000 to the institution in lieu of all tuition and mandatory fees.

During receipt of the Fellowship support, the institution is required to exempt Fellows from paying tuition and fees normally charged to students of similar academic standing, unless such charges are optional or are refundable. The awardee institution is responsible for tuition and required fees in excess of the Cost of Education allowance. Acceptance of Fellowship funds by the awardee institution indicates acceptance of and adherence to all terms and conditions of the NSF GRFP award as indicated in the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials.

GRFP awards are eligible for two types of supplemental funding as described in Chapter VI of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

• Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects as described in Chapter II.F of the PAPPG. Fellows with disabilities may apply for assistance after consulting the instructions in the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials.
• Career-Life Balance Supplemental Funding Requests (as described in the PAPPG) can be requested by the awardee institution to provide additional personnel (e.g., technician) to sustain the research of Fellows on approved medical leave due to family leave situations as indicated in Chapter II.F of the PAPPG.

Honorable Mention The NSF accords Honorable Mention to meritorious applicants who do not receive Fellowship offers. This is considered a significant national academic achievement.

IV. Eligibility Information

Who May Submit Applications:

The NSF GRFP is awarded to individuals, and applications are submitted directly by the individual to NSF. Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria at the time of application, and at the time of acceptance if offered a Fellowship. Confirmation of acceptance in an eligible graduate degree program in STEM is required at the time of Fellowship acceptance, no later than the deadline indicated in the Fellowship offer letter. Fellows must enroll in a non-profit university, college, or institution of higher education (IHE) that is accredited in, and has a campus located in, the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The IHE must offer advanced degrees in STEM and enrollment must begin no later than the fall academic term of the calendar year the Fellowship is accepted. From the date the Fellowship starts through its Completion or Termination, all Fellows must be enrolled full-time in a graduate degree-granting non-profit IHE accredited in, and having a campus located in, the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Limit on Number of Applications per Applicant: 1 An eligible applicant may submit only one application per annual competition.

Applicant Eligibility:

Applicants should carefully and thoroughly review all the Eligibility information below. Only individuals who meet the following criteria both at time of application and acceptance if offered a fellowship are eligible to apply for and receive GRFP support:

1. Citizenship Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents ("green card" holders) by the application deadline, and if offered a fellowship, at the time of acceptance. The term "national" designates a native resident of a commonwealth or territory of the United States. It does not refer to a citizen of another country who has applied for U.S. citizenship and who has not received U.S. citizenship by the application deadline, nor does it refer to an individual present in the U.S. on any type of visa.

2. Academic Requirements Applicants must intend to enroll or be enrolled in an eligible research-based (with thesis) master's or doctoral degree program in an eligible field of study in STEM (See Appendix and Section IV.3 for eligible Fields of study) by fall of the award year, and currently in one of academic levels:

   • Level 1: Undergraduate
     1. current undergraduate seniors (final year of bachelor's degree)
     2. bachelor's degree holders with no prior graduate degree enrollment
   • Undergraduate students on track to receive a bachelor's degree before fall of the year following the application (e.g., senior or final year of a bachelor's degree program) and bachelor's degree holders who have never enrolled in a graduate degree program can apply unlimited times before enrolling in a graduate degree program. They must be prepared to enroll full-time in an eligible graduate degree program by the fall term of the calendar year during which they are offered an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
   • Level 2: Graduate
     1. current joint bachelor's-master's degree students in final undergraduate or first graduate year of joint degree program Joint bachelor's-master's degree students are considered graduate students and can apply only once in the final undergraduate OR first graduate year of the joint program.
     2. current first-year graduate students in their first graduate degree program with less than one academic year completed according to the institution's academic calendar. Graduate students in the first year of their first graduate degree program with less than one academic year of graduate study as indicated in the Registrar-issued academic transcript of the enrolled institution, at the application deadline.
        • Graduate status is determined by the Registrar-issued transcript
        • Summer research activities that are part of the graduate degree program (e.g., research credits) will be counted as graduate activities
        • Graduate coursework taken without being enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program is not counted in this limit. Second-year graduate students are not eligible to apply.

3. Field of Study, Degree Programs, and Proposed Research Fellowships are awarded for graduate study leading to eligible research-based master's and doctoral degrees in the following science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) Major Fields of Study:

   • Chemistry
   • Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering
   • Engineering
   • Geosciences
   • Life Sciences
   • Materials Research
   • Mathematical Sciences
   • Physics & Astronomy
   • Psychology
   • Social Sciences The eligible Major Fields of Study and their associated subfields, which include the high-priority research areas, are listed in the Appendix. Only the Major Fields of Study and the listed subfields are eligible. Applicants should first select the Major Field of Study, then a subfield to align their proposed graduate program and research. If awarded, Fellows must enroll in a graduate degree program that corresponds most closely with the proposed graduate program of study and research plan proposed in their application. Only eligible research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM that include a thesis will be supported by GRFP. Professional degree programs and graduate programs that are primarily course-based without a thesis are ineligible for GRFP support. Within eligible fields of study, there are ineligible degree programs, ineligible areas of study, and ineligible areas of proposed research, as detailed below.
   • Ineligible degree programs Professional degree programs, Business Administration, Public Health, Social Work, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Practice-oriented, clinical, counseling, patient-oriented degree programs that include professional training requirements. Joint or combined professional degree-science programs (e.g., MD/PhD or JD/PhD) and dual professional degree-science programs are ineligible. Individuals enrolled in a graduate degree program while on leave of absence from a professional degree program or professional degree-graduate degree joint program are also ineligible.
   • Ineligible areas of study Public health, global health, clinical practice, counseling, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, social work, patient-oriented research, epidemiological and medical behavioral studies, outcomes research (interventions, treatment, or therapies), health services research, pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and behavioral interventions for physical or mental disease or disorder, prophylaxis, diagnosis, therapy or treatment, drug and pharmaceutical development and testing. Graduate study to provide evidence leading to a scientific basis for consideration of a change in health policy or standard of care is also ineligible.
   • Ineligible proposed research
     1. Research for which the goals are directly human disease- or health-related, including the etiology and diagnosis of and treatment and/or interventions for physical or mental disease or disorder is not eligible for support. Research activities using animal models of disease for developing or testing of drugs, procedures, or interventions for treatment of physical or mental disease or disorder are ineligible. Research on drug and pharmaceutical development and testing are also ineligible. Population-based research including medical intervention trials is also ineligible.
     2. Research focused on basic questions in plant pathology are eligible, however, applied studies focused on maximizing production in agricultural plants or impacts on food safety are not eligible.
     3. Research with implications that inform STEM policy is eligible. Research with the expressed intent to influence, advocate for, or effect specific policies and outcomes is not eligible.
     4. Research on conservation practice or implementation, wildlife and/or natural resource management, planning or decision support (e.g., habitat restoration, species recovery actions, management interventions) is not eligible for support.
   • Limited exceptions to ineligible proposed research
     1. Certain areas of bioengineering and biomedical engineering research directed at medical use are eligible. These include research projects in bioengineering to aid persons with disabilities, or to diagnose or treat human disease or disorder, provided they apply engineering principles to problems in medicine while primarily advancing engineering knowledge. Applicants planning to study and conduct research in these areas of bioengineering should select Engineering as the Major Field of Study, and Bioengineering or Biomedical Engineering as the subfield. These exceptions apply solely to applications that indicate Engineering as the Major Field of Study.
     2. Certain areas of materials research directed at development of materials for use in biological or biomedical systems are eligible, provided they are focused on furthering fundamental materials research.
     3. Certain areas of research with etiology-, diagnosis-, or treatment-related goals that advance fundamental knowledge in engineering, mathematical, physical, computer, or information sciences are eligible for support. Applicants are advised to consult a faculty member, academic advisor, mentor, or other knowledgeable source for guidance on preparation of their research plans, selection of Major Fields of Study, and identification of subfields to ensure they are consistent with those included in the Appendix.

4. Never previously accepted a Graduate Research Fellowship;

5. Declined any previously offered Graduate Research Fellowship by the declination deadline (if applicable);

6. Not be a current NSF employee.

By signing and submitting the application, the applicant certifies meeting the GRF