Graduate students have many opportunities to pursue externally-funded scholarships that can be used to fund their academic work. The list below shows but a few of such scholarships. Click on the associated link for more information on each one.
American Association for University Women (AAUW) Fellowships support women scholars who are completing dissertations, planning research leave from accredited institutions, or preparing research for publication. Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents. Candidates are evaluated on the basis of scholarly excellence; quality and originality of project design; and active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research.
American Psychological Association has scholarships, grants, and awards available to students at all stages of graduate study in psychology, including for professional development.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association offers several award programs to foster leadership and promote careers in academia and research. Programs are available to undergraduate, master’s, entry-level clinical doctoral (e.g., AuD), post-entry-level clinical doctoral (e.g., SLPD), and research doctoral (e.g., PhD) degree students enrolled in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) programs, as well as postdoctoral fellows.
Association for Psychological Science: Student Grant Competition provides small seed grant funding to support research in its initial development stages, e.g., the purchase of research materials or other expenses incurred prior to data collection. Up to eight awards ($500) are given to APS student affiliates (graduates and undergraduates). Research proposals in all areas of psychological science are welcome.
David Caul Graduate Research Grants are designed to support research that is primarily concerned with dissociation or closely related topics. The applicant must either be a) a graduate student (in a Masters, PsyD, or PhD program) in psychology, psychiatry, social work, or related fields; b) an undergraduate psychology honors student or c) a resident in psychiatry. Post-doctoral students are not eligible for the Caul award.
Exploration Fund Grant is for graduate, post-graduate, doctorate, and early career post-doctoral students. It provides grants in support of exploration and field research for those who are just beginning their research careers. Generally, research proposals in a wide array of disciplines are considered including: climate change, geoscience, paleoclimate, marine science, marine biology, marine life, fish, coral, ocean, fresh water, rivers, lakes, estuaries, anthropology, archeology, animals, plants and molds, and conservation science.
Fulbright is the United States' student program designed to give recent BS/BA graduates, masters, doctoral candidates, young professionals, and artists, opportunities for personal development and international experience. Most grantees plan their own programs. Projects may include university coursework, independent library or field research, classes in a music conservatory or art school, special projects in the social or life sciences, or a combination. The program promotes cross-cultural interaction and mutual understanding on a person-to-person basis in an atmosphere of openness, academic integrity, and intellectual freedom.
Hellenic Times Scholarship Fund is open to all undergraduate and graduate students of Greek dissent between the ages of 17-25. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of necessity and merit.
Hispanic Engineer National Achievement (HENAAC) Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate or graduate students who pursue areas of study in science, technology, engineering, or math related majors. HENAAC recipients continue to pave the way for future generations of Hispanics and lead by example in order to empower communities and enhance the nation's technical workforce.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is awarded to undergraduate or graduate students with Hispanic heritage with a special emphasis on supporting students pursuing STEM disciplines.
Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi awards fellowships to members entering their first year of graduate or professional study. Awardees represent a variety of fields including biology, chemistry, engineering, education, political science, mathematics, and psychology. Likewise the professions they select are equally diverse: law, medicine, business, education, science, or the arts.
Illinois Board of Higher Education - Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois' (DFI) goal is to increase the number of minority full-time tenured faculty members in Illinois. The DFI initiative works to increase the number of minorities with master's and doctoral degrees by providing financial assistance, based on demonstrated financial need, for students to complete graduate degrees. In addition, the program administrators work with higher education institutions to offer workshops and pursue other outreach opportunities to meet the goals and objectives of the initiative. Applicants must be admitted to a master's or doctoral program at DePaul (or another participating institution) at the time of application.
Illinois Occupational Therapy Association Grants and Scholarships offers funding in collaboration with state occupational therapy associations to students enrolled full-time in either a professional occupational therapy educational program or an occupational therapy assistant program.
Illinois Space Grant Consortium (ISGC), part of NASA's National Space Grant Consortium and Fellowship program, awards graduate fellowships to support outstanding graduate students pursuing aerospace, astrophysics, astronomy, cosmology, Earth system science, and other interdisciplinary space-related science, engineering or mathematics fields.
K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award recognizes graduate students who show exemplary promise as future leaders of higher education. All doctoral level graduate students who are planning a career in higher education are eligible, regardless of academic department.
Knowles Science Teaching Foundation (KSTF) teaching fellowships awards fellowships to early-career science and mathematics teachers. KSTF fellowships are awarded based on three criteria: the potential to develop the content knowledge needed for teaching, the potential to develop exemplary teaching practices, and the potential to develop the qualities of a teacher leader. KSTF Fellows receive stipends, funding for professional development, grants for teaching materials, and leadership and mentoring opportunities.
Kosciuszko Foundation Grant for American Students of Polish Descent supports American students of Polish descent for full-time graduate studies in the United States. All majors are eligible to apply for the grant. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis for one academic year. Applicants may re-apply. Selection is based on academic excellence, the applicant's academic achievements, interests and motivation, the applicant's interest in Polish subjects or involvement in the Polish American community.
National Institutes of Health Doctoral Dissertation Grants support dissertation research costs of students in accredited research doctoral programs in the United States.
National League for Nursing: Nursing Education Scholarships is committed to promoting excellence in nursing education to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the nation's health while addressing faculty and nursing shortages.
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Graduate Fellowship Program (NGFP) is a full-time, salaried fellowship program sponsored by the United States Department of Energy to prepare exceptional graduate students to become next-generation leaders in global nuclear security. Fellows contribute to a variety of nuclear security missions including: nonproliferation, stockpile stewardship, and infrastructure and oversight. NGFP is administered by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and provides participants with training and practical experience that contribute to a safer world.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Knauss Fellowship provides ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resource management experience for graduate students. The Fellowship matches highly qualified graduate students with "hosts" in the legislative and executive branch of government located in the Washington DC area for a one year paid fellowship.
National Science Foundation offers multiple fellowship, internship, and doctoral dissertation improvement grants for graduate students and recent PhDs to expand their skills and knowledge in science and engineering.
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans supports new Americans, immigrants, or the children of immigrants, who are pursuing graduate school in the United States. Each Fellowship supports two years of graduate study - in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program in the United States.
Point Foundation Scholarship is a scholarship designed to nurture LGBTQ leaders of the next generation. Point empowers promising LGBTQ students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential to make a significant impact on society. Eligible students must be enrolled in a degree-granting undergraduate or graduate/doctoral program, with strong academic achievement, who works for the betterment of the LGBTQ community.
Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service program was established by the Department of Defense (DoD) to support undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The program aims to increase the number of civilian scientists and engineers working at DoD laboratories.
Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research (GIAR) program has provided undergraduate and graduate students with valuable educational experiences since 1922. By encouraging close working relationships between students and mentors, the program promotes scientific excellence and achievement through hands-on learning. While membership is not a requirement for applying for funding from the Grants-in-Aid of Research program, approximately 75% of funds are restricted for use by dues paying student members of Sigma Xi or students whose project advisor is a dues paying member of Sigma Xi.
Sigma Global Nursing Excellence: Scholarships and Fellowships offers funding to eligible students enrolled in either an Accelerated Second Degree or Doctor of Nursing Practice program at an accredited US school of nursing. Funding is up to $5,000 per academic year.
Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology: Student Research Awards supports research, education and public awareness in the areas of organismal, functional and evolutionary biology.
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) student research grants awards SSSS members who are conducting human sexuality research. The purpose of the research can be a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation, but that is not a requirement. Applicants must be enrolled in a degree-granting program and a member (student) of SSSS.
US Department of Agriculture: National Needs Graduate Fellowship supports traineeship programs that engage outstanding students to pursue and complete their degrees in USDA mission areas.
US Department of Energy Scholars Program introduces students or recent college graduates to the Department of Energy (DOE) and other federal agencies' missions and operations. The goal is to increase training opportunities aligned with the DOE's emphasis on catalyzing federal infrastructure investments, strengthening national security and resilience, cybersecurity, and building optimization.