Getting Started: Graduate Opportunities

Graduate Opportunities

Are you a graduate student seeking funding to advance your academic journey? Whether you’re looking for awards to cover tuition and stipends, support for dissertation completion, or grants for your research endeavors, you’ve come to the right place. External fellowships offer prestigious, merit-based funding opportunities that can greatly enhance your educational experience.

Start planning early to maximize your chances of success! Explore the various opportunities available to you as an undergraduate student and take the first step towards securing the funding you need to thrive.

If you are seeking information on need-based financial aid (i.e. grants and loans that require submission of a FAFSA), please visit the Financial Aid Office.

Learn More

Funding Opportunities by Career Stage

Early: Training and Preparation

Funding is available through pre-dissertation or early-career fellowships, training grants, and small grants.

Middle: Research

Funding is available through research grants.

Late: Analysis and Writing

Funding is available through dissertation writing fellowships.

Evaluating Funding Fit: Key Considerations

Before diving into applications, it’s crucial to evaluate how well each funding opportunity aligns with your goals and circumstances. Consider the following questions to determine if an award is the right match for you:

Does the funder support the work I do?

Am I eligible in terms of citizenship, discipline, career stage, etc?

Can I complete the application requirements by the deadline?

Will the funding cover what I need, when I need it?

External Awards Opportunities

The opportunities on this page are those with which we work most closely and many require an on-campus nomination process.

Campus Nomination: Applicants must read and familiarize with the Campus Nomination Details fully. If applicable, Campus Deadlines are earlier than the National Deadlines listed on the individual program websites in order to allow adequate time for applicant interviews (if required) and review by campus selection committees.

Advising: Applicants seeking advising on any of the awards below should first attend any relevant information session on the award.

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)

Funding provided by the U.S. Government for immersive summer programs for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students. Participants receive the equivalent of one year of language study in eight weeks, through intensive language instruction and cultural activities that reinforce both language learning and intercultural competence.

Eligibility	Campus Nomination Details
For detailed eligibility requirements, check their website.	Campus nomination not required.

Department of Energy (DOE) Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSFG)

Funding for up to four years of Ph.D.-level study for students using computational modeling or simulation to advance their primary field of study in engineering and the physical, computer, mathematical, or life sciences.

Eligibility

Campus Nomination Details

U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Graduating seniors and first-year graduate students
Engineering and the physical, computer, mathematical or life sciences

See program website for details. A campus nomination is not required, but prospective applicants are encouraged to consult with External Fellowships Advising well in advance of the deadline if seeking assistance.

Hertz Graduate Fellowship

Five years of funding for students pursuing a PhD in the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, and engineering with demonstrated potential to be future leaders and innovators.

Eligibility	Campus Nomination Details
Graduating seniors or students in their first year of graduate studies U.S. citizen or permanent resident Applied Physical and Biological Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering fields Students willing to morally commit to make their skills available to the United States in time of national emergency.	See program website for details. A campus nomination is not required, but prospective applicants are encouraged to consult with External Fellowships Advising well in advance of the deadline if seeking assistance.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Funding for up to three years of graduate study in research-based master's and doctoral programs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and STEM education.

Eligibility	Campus Nomination Details
Graduating seniors (accepted to grad school by May 1 of award year) or first and second year graduate students Current grad students may apply only once, during first or second year Graduate applicants who have experienced a career break may be eligible (see solicitation) Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and STEM education U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident	See program website for details. A campus nomination is not required, but prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to participate in SBU's NSF GRFP Application Accelerator.

Boren Awards

Funding to study outside the U.S., Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand for an academic year while learning a less commonly taught language. Shorter periods of study will be considered for STEM students.

Eligibility	Campus Nomination Details
Matriculated undergraduate or graduate students All disciplines U.S. citizens Must demonstrate interest in a career in public service	Campus nomination suggested, late applications will not be considered. Please email fellowships@stonybrook.eduto express your interest.

Chateaubriand Fellowship

Support for research in France for a period of four to nine months.

Eligibility

Campus Nomination Details

U.S. citizens and foreign nationals
Current PhD students
Humanities, social sciences, and STEM disciplines
French proficiency not required

Usually due mid-January.

Critical Language Scholarship

Eligibility

Campus Nomination Details

For detailed eligibility requirements, check their website.

Campus nomination not required.

DAAD Awards

Funding for DAAD graduate study or DAAD independent research in Germany.

Eligibility	Campus Nomination Details
Graduating seniors or graduate students All disciplines Open to U.S. citizens and many foreign nationals Language proficiency not required for matriculation in participating master's programs Independent research projects in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences typically require good command of German	Campus nomination required, late applications will not be considered. Contact fellowships@stonybrook.edu for more information.

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Funding to teach English, attend graduate school, or conduct independent research overseas in over 140 different countries for an academic year.

Eligibility

Campus Nomination Details

Graduating seniors, recent alumni, or graduate students from all disciplines
U.S. citizens
Prospective applicants should be aware of country-specific requirements, such as whether or not foreign language proficiency is required.
Must have obtained a Bachelor’s degree by the start of the program, but have not yet earned a PhD

Already have a PhD? Check out the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Campus nomination required, late applications will not be considered. Applicants MUST participate in SBU's Fulbright Application Accelerator.

Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship

Funding to conduct doctoral dissertation research in select countries overseas (see program website for details).

Eligibility	Campus Nomination Details
PhD students who have advanced to candidacy Language and/or area studies U.S. citizens or permanent residents	Campus nomination required, late applications will not be considered.

American Association of University Women (AAUW) American Fellowships

Funding for women pursuing full-time study to complete dissertations.

Eligibility	Campus Nomination Details
Juniors Arts, Humanities, or Social Science fields U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals from American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands History of receiving need-based aid	Campus nomination required, late applications will not be considered. Please email fellowships@stonybrook.edu to express your interest.

ACLS Dissertation Fellowships

ACLS has supported individual scholars and scholarly teams around the world in their pursuit of research with the potential to advance knowledge in the humanities and interpretive social sciences.
Their current focus includes providing more pathways for those who have traditionally had less access to external research support and scholarly resources. Please review the available awards to determine if one fits your research project and dissertation stage.
NOTE: Dissertation innovation fellowships require at least 2 years of study remaining after this year.

Eligibility	Campus Nomination Details
Terms vary by award.	See program website for details. A campus nomination is not required, but prospective applicants are encouraged to consult with External Fellowships Advising well in advance of the deadline if seeking assistance.

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)

Eligibility

Campus Nomination Details

For detailed eligibility requirements, check their website.

Campus nomination not required.

OTHER SOURCES

Check out some other funding databases we recommend and consult with us on your strategy.

Need - Based Aid ?

The awards we work with are merit-based opportunities. For information on need-based aid programs, please contact Financial Aid and Scholarship Services.