NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) helps ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science [including social science] and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity. The purpose of the program is to increase the Nation’s human capacity in science [including social science] and engineering by providing fellowships for early-career graduate students who pursue research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in NSF-supported disciplines. NSF Fellows are anticipated to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering.

Current Fellows

Requirements

Basic Requirements

  • Register and enrolled in at least 12 units each quarter on “tenure”
  • 3.0 GPA or above
  • Maintain satisfactory progress
  • Be enrolled in Bruin Direct Deposit
  • Cannot work more than 25% (10hrs/wk) during the academic year. Cannot work more than 50% (20hrs/wk) during the summer.
  • Exceptions for additional employment above the stated percentages will not be considered by the Division of Graduate Education.

Deadline

Reporting Deadline

Friday, April 25th, 2025 at 8:59 pm Pacific Time.

All fellows, regardless of status, must submit forms/declare tenure via the Graduate Fellowship Administration System on Fastlane. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of your GRFP.

  • Required actions:
    • 2024-25 Annual Activities Report
    • 2024-25 Academic/Research Advisor Confirmation Form
    • 2025-26 Fellowship Status Declaration
      • Declare Tenure/Reserve Status for 2025-26
      • For those who will be graduating in 2024, select “Completed with Degree”
      • For those who have finished the 5-year GRFP period, submit change of status request for 2024 to “Completed”
      • For those who finish their less than the 5-year GRFP period and would like to terminate, submit change of status for 2024 to “Terminated”

FAQ

FAQs

NSF GRFP Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

General information and tips to help awardees navigate the program.

New Awardees

NSF GRFP Fellowship New Awardees Workshop

New awardees are highly encouraged to attend a session as the UCLA NSF Coordinating Official (CO) will be going over important details regarding the GRFP.

Date: Friday, August 8, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Pacific Time
Register Here 

Note that this is a workshop for GRFP awardees and NOT an information session for prospective applicants.

Contact

NSF GRFP Campus Coordinating Official at UCLA

Jane Sin
Fellowships and Financial Services
1228 Murphy Hall
askgrad@grad.ucla.edu

Prospective Applicants

Eligibility

 

Basic Requirements

  • must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or permanent resident
  • be in a research-focused Master’s or Ph.D. program in an NSF-supported field
  • be enrolled in an eligible program at an accredited United States graduate institution by the coming Fall
  • have completed no more than one academic year of full-time graduate study (or equivalent)
  • meet all other eligibility requirements as set forth in the current Program Solicitation

For a complete list of the program eligibility requirements please visit the program solicitation.

You can also determine your eligibility by taking this quiz.

Deadlines

 

Deadlines

Field of Study
2024
Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics & Astronomy
Tues., Oct. 15
Life Sciences
Wed., Oct. 16
Engineering
Thurs., Oct. 17
Computer & Information Sci  and Engineering, Materials Research, Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education and Learning
Fri., Oct. 18

March – April: GRFP Application Results Announced

Early May: Deadline to Accept Fellowship

Specific dates will be released once the application opens. 

Workshops

UCLA Graduate Writing Center (GWC)

NSF GRFP Application Writing Workshop

Links

Contact

NSF GRFP Program Contact

GRF Operations Center

If you have questions about the topics below, please contact the GRF Operations Center.

  • General program information
  • Application (non-technical) assistance
  • Review inquiries
  • Reviewer inquires
  • Selection notification inquires

Tel: 1-866-NSF-GRFP (1-866-673-4737)

Email: info@nsfgrfp.org

NSF Help Desk

Technical questions from GRFP Applicants, GRFP Fellows, GRFP Reference Writers, and GRFP Coordinating Officials should be addressed to the NSF Help Desk.

Tel: 1-800-673-6188

Email: fastlane@nsf.gov