Graduate Studies

Links to Funding/Research Opportunities For Graduate Students and Faculty

Please Note: Graduate students completing application forms for scholarships/fellowships should coordinate this process with the dean of their respective schools. If University approval is required, please contact the office of the Dean of Graduate Studies at 202-319-5571.

American Academy in Rome: Rome Prize is one of the leading American overseas centers for independent study and advanced research in the arts and humanities.  Each year, through a national juried competition, the Academy offers up to 30 Rome Prize fellowships.  Pre-Doctoral and Post-Doctoral fellowships in the Humanities are awarded in Ancient Studies, Medieval Studies, Renaissance, Early Modern Studies, and Modern Italian Studies.  Fellowships in the Fine Arts are awarded in the fields of Architecture, Design, Historic Preservation and Conservation, Landscape Architecture, Musical composition, and Visual Arts. 

American Philosophical Society has awarded research grants to more than 15,000 scholars, maintaining seven grant or fellowship programs in a wide range of fields since 1933. The Franklin, Lewis and Clark, Library Fellowship, and Phillips programs award small grants ($1,000 to $6,000) for modest research purposes. The Durand, John Hope Franklin, and Sabbatical Fellowship programs award much larger amounts ($25,000 to $50,000) in highly selective competitions.

Click on link for more information about the application process and deadlines.

Bryce Harlow Foundation Scholarship Program is dedicated to enhancing the quality of professional advocacy and increasing the understanding of its essential role in the development of sound public policy. Since 1985, the Foundation has awarded scholarships to highly motivated students who are pursuing a career in the advocacy profession. Scholarships will be awarded to individuals interested in pursuing a career in this field and who undertake graduate level studies on a part-time basis. The award, $5,000 per year, will help defray tuition fees and will be paid directly to the university in two installments. Contact Dr. Stephen Schneck (schneck@cua.edu), Chairman of the Politics Department at The Catholic University of America for specific information concerning eligibility requirements and application deadlines.

Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program is a nine-month work/study program that enables 20 outstanding young American professionals to acquire an in-depth understanding of the political, economic, and cultural environment of Germany and the European Union. From September through May, fellows complete two high-level internships - first in federal or regional government institutions, and the second in private industry, mass media, or the non-profit sector. Fellows also participate in three intensive seminars with high-ranking government officials, as well as leading representatives from industry, media and academia, taking place in Berlin, Munich, Paris, Prague, Brussels and other European cities. Applicants should possess a graduate degree and/or two years of professional experience in one of the following fields: Business Administration, Economics, Journalism/Mass Communications, Law, Political Science, or Public Affairs/Public Policy. Click on link for eligibility and deadline information.

The Canadian Studies Grant Program supports faculty research, doctoral research, and course development in the social sciences and humanities that contributes to a better knowledge and understanding of Canada, its relationship with the United States, and its international affairs. They offer a research grant program as well as a graduate student fellowship program.

Consortium Research Fellows Program invites graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in degree-seeking granting programss in information technology, and the social, behavioral, and computer sciences to apply for fellowships. Applicants must be citizens of the United States. Worksites are listed below. More information about the Fellows Program may be obtained at the web link above or by calling 703-602-7815.

Duties and Schedules. Each Fellow is assigned to a government mentor. The Fellow acts as a research assistant, performing such technical and analytical duties as literature reviews, web-page design, computer programming, design and/or administration of survey instruments, data collection and analysis, and preparation of research projects. Each Fellow's schedule is flexible and is worked out individually between student and mentor. Fellows may work up to 20 hours per week during the school year and 40 hours per week in the summer. Fellowship appointments are for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years.

Compensation. Fellows are paid an hourly rate based upon educational experience and program of study. If all hours are worked, Fellows will earn between $16,445 and $33,345 annually.

To Apply. Forward a cover letter, your current resume, and two letters of recommendation from faculty to Dr. Robert Ruskin, Director, Consortium Research Fellows Program, 2511 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202-3926. You may fax your materials to 703-602-7722. Positions are available on a rolling basis; there is no application deadline. Feel free to call 703-602-7815 to determine what positions might be open.

Cosmos Foundation is a Program of Grants-in-Aid to Young Scholars. Applications available. Applicants must be enrolled in a program leading to a graduate degree (Masters or Doctoral) in a member institution of the Consortium of Universities (CUA is a member), on a full-time or part-time basis or conducting research for thesis/dissertation after completion of required course work for the degree. Awards between $1,500 up to $3,000.

Council on Foreign Relations is for individuals from the academic, business, professional, government (federal, state, and local levels), religious and congregational communities seeking to bridge the gap between analysis and action in foreign policy by supporting a variety of policy studies and active experiences in policymaking. Academic and other professionals from the private sector spend fellowship tenures in public service or in a policymaking setting while government officials have the opportunity for systematic assessment of foreign policy issues in a research environment. Click on link for eligibility and deadline information.

The Council of Graduate Schools does not offer any financial assistance for graduate students, however, they have prepared a list of links to web sites of individual funding sources. Click on link and look under the heading Programs and Awards to find resources for fellowships and financial aid.

Eldershostel K. Patricia Cross Doctoral Research Grant is a $5,000 award presented annually to a student researching later-life learning in any of various disciplines, including but not limited to psychology, education, gerontology, cognitive studies, neuroscience and social work. The Elderhostel K. Patricia Cross Doctoral Research Grant recipient will be determined by a selection committee consisting of professors, practitioners and other leaders in the field of lifelong learning. More information and application deadline may be obtained from the Web site.

The Fulbright Scholar Program offers research and teaching opportunities not only to college and university faculty and administrators but also to professionals from business and government, as well as artists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, independent scholars and many others. There are awards in 45 different disciplines and professional fields.

Traditional Fulbright awards are available from two months to an academic year or longer. A short-term grants program--the Fulbright Senior Specialists Program--offers two-to-six-week grants in a variety of disciplines and fields. Click on link for more info about eligibility and deadlines.

The Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts offers two-year postdoctoral teaching fellowships for teacher-scholars who seek to renew and enrich their intellectual and spiritual lives while preparing for leadership roles in teaching and administration in Catholic or Protestant institutions of higher education. Each academic year, three Postdoctoral Fellows are appointed for two-year periods. Lilly Fellows are appointed for two years at a rank equivalent to that of assistant professor. Starting salary will be $42,000 plus standard benefits, a moving allowance, and an annual professional and travel allowance. More information and applications are available on the website.

Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships are designed to increase the diversity of the nation's college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. Click on link for further information, applications and deadlines.

James Madison Fellowships are for students who teach or plan to teach American History, American Government, or social studies at the secondary school level.

The National Research Council of the National Academies is pleased to announce the Postdoctoral and Senior Research Associateship Programs. Detailed program information, including instructions on how to apply, a list of participating laboratories and their locations, and areas of research can be found on the Web site. Prospective applicants are invited to contact the NRC directly at 202-334-2760 or rap@nas.edu if additional information or assistance is required.

The National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship Program supports early career scholars working in critical areas of education research. This nonresidential postdoctoral fellowship funds proposals that make significant scholarly contributions to the field of education. The program also develops the careers of its recipients through professional development activities involving National Academy of Education members.

The National Academy of Education/Adolescent Literacy Predoctoral Fellowship Program supports doctoral research aimed at improving literacy outcomes for middle and secondary school students. Fellows will also participate in ongoing training activities to interact with and learn from leading researchers in the field of adolescent literacy and in activities that promote building a community of scholars.

Nonprofit Sector Research Fund awards research grants and organizes convenings to expand knowledge of the nonprofit sector and philanthropy, improve nonprofit practices, and inform public policy related to nonprofits.

Established at The Aspen Institute in 1991, the Fund seeks to enhance both the quantity and quality of nonprofit research by increasing the legitimacy and visibility of nonprofit scholarship; encouraging new investments in sector research; and supporting the exploration of tough, neglected questions and enlarging the number of creative scholars and practitioners interested in pursuing nonprofit studies. Since its founding, the Fund has awarded a total of $10 million to support more than 400 research projects on a broad range of nonprofit topics.

Oak Ridge Associated Universities

Herbert Roback Scholarship Information offers scholarships of $7,500 to graduate students currently enrolled, or admitted for enrollment, in a full-time Master's Degree program in public administration, public and international affairs, and/or political science. The late Herbert Roback was a highly respected public servant. During his 33-year career, he became involved in encouraging talented and promising students to consider lifetime careers in public service. Winners of the scholarship will be invited to attend the annual meeting of the National Academy of Public Administration, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization of which Herbert Roback was a distinguished member. Applicants who meet the above enrollment and discipline from a university in the Washington, DC metropolitan area are eligible to apply. Applications must be submitted to the Scholarship Committee by the applicant's school. For more information about the scholarship application process and deadlines, please contact: Charlene Walsh, National Academy of Public Administration, 1100 New York Avenue, Suite 1090 East, Washington, DC 20005, or cwalsh@napawash.org, or 202-347-3190.

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans support thirty individuals a year for up to two years of graduate study in any subject anywhere in the United States. Students already in graduate study are eligible, though not past their second year. The Fellowship provides $20,000 maintenance and half tuition wherever the Fellow attends. Candidates must be either holders of Green Cards, naturalized citizens, or children of two naturalized citizen parents. Check website for details about application deadlines.

Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program is open to master's, JD and doctoral-level students. Students who wish to be considered for the PMF Program must be nominated by their school's Dean. Check website for more details about the application process and deadlines.

Rockefeller Resident Fellowships in the Humanities will be offered at host institutions that were selected for their potential to promote new work in the humanities. Host institutions include academic departments, interdisciplinary programs, museums, research libraries and community cultural centers that select scholars to receive Rockefeller Fellowships. They encourage interaction between visiting fellows and their own scholarly communities, and make libraries, special collections and other facilities available in specialized areas of research.

The Center for Black Music Research at the Columbia College Chicago explores and documents the musical genres of the Afro-circum-Caribbean diaspora. For further information and application deadline please visit the link.

The Child on the Wing is a project of the Department of Anthropology at the Johns Hopkins University, funded by the Rockefeller foundation. The program focuses on the mobile trajectories of children's lives under conditions of ongoing political violence and economic uncertainty. The focus of this program is on the mobil trajectories of children's lives under conditions of ongoing political violence and economic uncertainty. Applications are invited from scholars conducting innovative interdisciplinary research on children and work, children as political actors, and children responding to situations of war and ethnic or sectarian conflict.

The Rockefeller Foundation Humanities Fellows at the Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage will help expand and refine the theoretical framework for cultural heritage discourse to include grassroots voices. Reflecting the perspectives of academic specialists, civil-society groups and public cultural organizations, fellows' work will inform dialogues across social, political and disciplinary boundaries, as well as indicate future direction for policy.

Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society provides awards grants of up to $1,000 to undergraduate and graduate students from all areas of the sciences and engineering. Designated funds from the National Academy of Sciences allow for grants of up to $2,500 for astronomy or vision related research. Application deadlines are March 15th and October 15th annually.

The Student Research Conference provides undergraduate and graduate student researchers an opportunity to connect with senior scientists. Participants present research, attend career development workshops, participate in mentoring and networking activities, panel discussions, and other events. Monetary awards will be presented for outstanding research.

Smithsonian Fellowships are for research and study in the following fields:

• Animal behavior, ecology, and environmental science, including an emphasis on the tropics
• Anthropology, including archaeology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, and physical anthropology
• Astrophysics and astronomy
• Earth sciences and paleobiology
• Evolutionary & systematic biology
• Folklife
• History of science and technology
• History of art, especially American, contemporary, African, and Asian art, twentieth-century American crafts, and decorative arts
• Materials research
• Molecular biology
• Social and cultural history of the United States

Senior Fellowships for scholars more than seven years beyond the Ph.D. (applications may be submitted more than two years in advance.)

Postdoctoral Fellowships for scholars up to seven years beyond the Ph.D.

Predoctoral Fellowships for doctoral candidates to conduct dissertation research.

Ten-Week Graduate Student Fellowships for graduate students to conduct independent research usually before having been advanced to candidacy if in a Ph.D. program.

TIAA-CREF Ruth Simms Hamilton Research Fellowship was established to honor the pioneering work of the late Dr. Ruth Simms Hamilton, Michigan State University Professor and TIAA Trustee. The fellowship, administered by the TIAA-CREF Institute, will be awarded for graduate-level research related to the study of the African Diaspora by graduate students enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university. The fellowship will be for one year and students may reapply for the fellowship each year that the program is offered. This fellowship is intended to provide research support. Applications can be completed on the website.

USArts International Training Program places international and United States students and post-graduates with arts and culture-related organizations to complete valuable on-the-job training and internship placements in the United States. USArts sponsors international interns and trainees for the J1 Intern and Trainee visa and monitors both American and international interns and trainees throughout their training placements. We accept applicants from a wide variety of performing and visual arts, media and communications, as well as business management fields.nternships in arts administration, curatorial/art, education, grant writing/development, graphic design, marketing and art registrarial.

The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation started a bold new initiative six decades ago to meet the nation's need for college teachers at Princeton University. Today, the Foundation has a suite of Fellowships that support the development of future leaders at a variety of career stages in several critical fields such as: Teaching, Foreign Affairs, Conservation, Women and Gender, Religion and Ethics, and Access and Opportunity.