External Fellowship Opportunities

The University of Pittsburgh encourages students to apply for fellowships and grants available internally from Pitt, as well as from national, international, industrial or foundation sources. Below we have listed some of the major national fellowships available for graduate study.

Arranged alphabetically by first word.

Search tips: 

  • Pressing the Ctrl key + the F key (on a PC) or the Command key + the F key (on a MAC) will bring up a search box where you can type in a keyword or phrase to quickly identify fellowships which include your search terms.
  • Each fellowship has specific eligibility requirements which can include nationality, field of study, year of study, candidacy, etc. Please be sure to review all eligibility requirements carefully.
  • Fellowships that are open to international students are clearly indicated by stating “Open to international students” in the Additional Information field.
  • We are continuing to add fellowships to the site, so be sure to check back for new opportunities.

For questions or assistance regarding fellowships contact graduate@pitt.edu.

AAUW Educational Foundation Dissertation Fellowships - American Fellowships

The AAUW Educational Foundation Dissertation American Fellowships support women scholars who are pursuing full-time study to complete dissertations and who have an active commitment to helping women and girls through service in their communities, professions, or fields of research. Funding is for dissertation year only.

  • Fields of Study: All fields
  • Level/Year: Final year
  • Application Deadline: Early November
  • Award Amount: $25,000
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents
  • Website: American Fellowships
  • Direct Contact: aauw@applyists.com
  • Additional Information: Must identify as a woman

AAUW Educational Foundation Dissertation Fellowships - International Fellowships

The AAUW Educational Foundation Dissertation International Fellowships support women scholars in the United States who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who intend to return to their home country to become leaders in business, government, academia, community activism, the arts or scientific fields. Funding for one year.

  • Fields of Study: All fields
  • Level/Year: All levels
  • Application Deadline: Mid-November
  • Award Amount: $25,000
  • Nationality: Cannot be U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Website: International Fellowships
  • Direct Contact: aauw@applyists.com
  • Additional Information: Open to international students, must identify as a woman

AERA Grants Program - Dissertation Grant

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) Dissertation Grants Program supports advanced graduate students engaged in highly competitive dissertation research using rigorous quantitative methods to examine large-scale, education-related data. Underrepresented racial and ethnic minority researchers as well as women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Funding of up to $27,000 is available. Grantees will also attend the AERA Research Conference and Annual Meeting.

  • Fields of Study: All fields engaged in education-related research and includes analysis of large-scale data
  • Level/Year: Advanced doctoral students in the dissertation writing stage
  • Application Deadline: January
  • Award Amount: $27,500 
  • Nationality: Any
  • Website: Dissertation Grants
  • Direct Contact: grantsprogram@aera.net
  • Additional Information: Open to international students.

American Heart Association Pre-doctoral Fellowship

The American Heart Association Pre-Doctoral Fellowship supports the integrated research and clinical training of promising students who are matriculated in pre-doctoral or clinical health professional degree training programs and who intend careers as scientists, physician-scientists or other clinician-scientists, or related careers aimed at improving global cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health. Funding includes stipend, health insurance and research support and is for up to two years.

  • Fields of Study: AHA awards are open all academic and health professionals. This includes but is not limited to all academic disciplines (biology, chemistry, mathematics, technology, physics, engineering, data science, etc.) and all health-related professions (physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, statisticians, nutritionists, etc.).
  • Level/Year: All levels
  • Application Deadline: Mid-September
  • Award Amount: ($25,836 Stipend + $4,200 Health insurance + $2,000 Research support) x 1-2 years
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, DACA, see website for additional designations.
  • Website: 2023 AHA Predoctoral Fellowship
  • Direct Contact: apply@heart.org

Boren Awards for International Study

The Boren Award for International Study provides graduate students from diverse fields an opportunity to study a wide range of critical languages and immerse themselves into cultures from world regions which are underrepresented in study abroad. Funding of up to $30,000 is available.

CGS ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award

The CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Awards are made annually to individuals who have completed dissertations representing original work that makes an unusually significant contribution to their discipline. The fields of competition alternate yearly. Recipients receive a monetary award and present at the CGS Annual Meeting.

  • Fields of Study: Biological Sciences & Humanities and Fine Arts; Social Sciences & Mathematics / Physical Science / Engineering. Alternating years.
  • Level/Year: Final year/recent alumni
  • Application Deadline: Early July
  • Award Amount: $2,000
  • Nationality: Any
  • Website: CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award
  • Direct Contact: anaranjo@cgs.nche.edu
  • Additional Information: Open to international students.

Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

The Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship provides funding to late-stage PhD students in the humanities and social sciences studying how ethical and religious values shape society, including political decisions, public life, culture, history, literature, and other areas. Fellows receive funding for twelve months of full-time dissertation writing.

  • Fields of Study: Humanities; Social Sciences
  • Level/Year: Final year/Dissertation stage
  • Application Deadline: Mid-November
  • Award Amount: $30,000
  • Nationality: Any
  • Website: The Award & Eligibility
  • Direct Contact: newcombe@citizensanscholars.org    
  • Additional Information: Open to international students.

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Minority Fellowship

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Minority Fellowship provides social work doctoral students from diverse backgrounds with stipends, professional development training, mentorship, and other supports in an effort to improve the health care outcomes of racially and ethnically diverse populations by increasing the number of culturally competent behavioral health professionals available to underserved populations with or at risk for mental health and/or substance abuse disorders. Funding for up three years.

  • Fields of Study: Social work
  • Level/Year: Must have Master's in Social Work
  • Application Deadline: Early May
  • Award Amount: $24,000/year x 3 years
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents or Noncitizen Nationals
  • Website: MFP - Doctoral Students
  • Direct Contact: mfp@cswe.org

Deloitte Foundation Doctoral Fellowship

The Deloitte Foundation Doctoral Fellowship supports outstanding doctoral students in the field of accounting during their final two years of graduate study. Deloitte Foundation Fellows receive a $25,000 grant disbursed in four payments over two years.

  • Fields of Study: Doctoral program in accounting
  • Level/Year: Completed 2 or more semesters of their program
  • Application Deadline: Mid-October
  • Award Amount: $5,000 year 1 + $20,000 year 2
  • Nationality: Any
  • Website: Doctoral Fellowship Program Guidelines
  • Direct Contact: wberk@deloitte.com
  • Additional Information: Open to international students.

Department of Defense SMART Scholarship-for-Service Fellowship

The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program provides a combined educational and workforce development opportunity for STEM students. Funded by the Department of Defense (DoD), this scholarship includes a stipend, tuition, and a summer internship at a DoD facility. Funding is from one to five years.

  • Fields of Study: STEM
  • Level/Year: All levels
  • Application Deadline: Early December
  • Award Amount: $25,000-38,000 for 1-5 years (tuition, stipend, health insurance)
  • Nationality: Citizen of United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or United Kingdom
  • Website: Eligibility and STEM Disciplines
  • Direct Contact: smart@smartscholarship.org

Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program supports graduate students who have reached candidacy and are conducting research in a qualified graduate program by providing a living stipend and transportation costs while the student conducts research at a DOE laboratory or facility. Funding is for three to twelve months.

  • Fields of Study: STEM
  • Level/Year: PhD Candidacy
  • Application Deadline: May and November
  • Award Amount: Up to $3,000 per month stipend while at the host DOE laboratory
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizen and Permanent Resident
  • Website: How to Apply
  • Direct Contact: sc.scgsr@science.doe.gov
  • Additional Information: Allows students to do part of their research at a DOE laboratory/facility

Doctoral Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MHSAS)

The Doctoral Fellowship in Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (MHSAS) supports the training of practitioners in behavioral health services and prevention. This fellowship program is designed for students in clinical, counseling and school psychology, and other psychology doctoral students whose training prepares them for careers in behavioral health services. Funding for up to three years. Additional mentoring and networking support also included.

Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund

The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund fellowship supports outstanding graduate students who demonstrate financial need and conduct research in any recognized field of study in the humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences. Funding is for up to three years. Note: The Office of the Provost runs an internal selection process for this award. Contact VPGodley@pitt.edu for additional information.

  • Fields of Study: Humanities; Social sciences; Natural sciences
  • Level/Year: All levels
  • Application Deadline: January    
  • Award Amount: Living expense $18,000/year + Research supports + Publication costs
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizen
  • Website: Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund
  • Direct Contact: graduate@pitt.edu

Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs

The Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowships support graduate students in any research-based field who have demonstrated superior academic achievement, are committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level in the U.S., show promise of future achievement as scholars and teachers, and are well prepared to use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. Annual stipend is provided for three years.

  • Fields of Study: All fields in research based PhD programs
  • Level/Year: Requires minimum of three years of study left in PhD
  • Application Deadline: Mid-December
  • Award Amount: $27,000 x 3 years
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizens, Nationals, Permanent Residents, DACA, Asylees, Refugees, Temporary Protected Status
  • Website: Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs
  • Direct Contact: FordApplications@nas.edu

Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program is open to all academic disciplines and provides graduate students an opportunity to conduct research or teach English in more than 140 countries worldwide. The program facilitates cultural exchange and community engagement in an atmosphere of academic integrity and intellectual freedom to promote mutual understanding. Grant lengths and dates vary by award.

  • Fields of Study: All fields
  • Level/Year: All levels
  • Application Deadline: Early October
  • Award Amount: Varies by grant type
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizen
  • Website: Getting Started
  • Direct Contact: FBstudent@iie.org

GEM PhD Engineering and Science Fellowship

The GEM PhD Engineering and Science Fellowship provides underrepresented minority doctoral students the opportunity to enter industry at the graduate level in areas such as research and development, product development, and other high level technical careers. The fellowship includes one year of funding, with up to four additional years of funding provided by the GEM Member University, and a minimum of one paid summer internship with a GEM Employer Member.

  • Fields of Study: STEM
  • Level/Year: All levels
  • Application Deadline: Mid-November
  • Award Amount: $16,000 stipend for one year, school to provide funding for remaining years
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Website: GEM Fellowship Program
  • Direct Contact: info@gemfellowship.org
  • Additional Information: Underrepresented groups in Science and Engineering

Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study    

The Gilliam Fellowship for Advanced Study provides awards to pairs of dissertation advisors and their graduate students from populations excluded from or underrepresented in science and who are conducting research in the biomedical and life sciences. Funding is for up to three years. Note: The 2024 Gilliam competition will move to an open competition. Any eligible adviser-student pair (see program announcement for detailed eligibility guidelines) can apply.

  • Fields of Study: Biomedical sciences; Life sciences    
  • Level/Year: 2nd and 3rd year of PhD program/Advanced to candidacy by the time the fellowship starts    
  • Application Deadline: Early December    
  • Award Amount: $50,000/year x 1-3 years    
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizen/U.S. Permanent Resident/DACA/Populations excluded from science    
  • Website: Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study    
  • Direct Contact: gilliam@hhmi.org    
  • Additional Info: Dual-degree students are not eligible; prioritize minorities and under-represented groups

IBM PhD Fellowship Award Program

The IBM PhD Fellowship Award Program supports exceptional PhD students whose research addresses focused areas of interest in technology. Funding is for two years and includes internship opportunities. Note: The Office of the Provost runs an internal selection process for this award. Contact VPGodley@pitt.edu for additional information.

  • Fields of Study: Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Hybrid Cloud Quantum Computing / Quantum Systems Artificial Intelligence Cloud / Open Source Technologies Security / Cyber Security Data Science Systems
  • Level/Year: Requires minimum of three years of study left in PhD
  • Application Deadline: Early November
  • Award Amount: $60,000 year 1 + $35,000 year 2
  • Nationality: Students from U.S.-embargoed countries are not eligible
  • Website: IBM Global University Program Awards - PhD Fellowship Awards
  • Direct Contact: phdfellow@us.ibm.com
  • Additional Information: Open to international students who are not from U.S.-embargoed countries.

Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program (IMFP)

The Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program (IMFP) supports the training of ethnic minority graduate students who commit to significantly improving the quality of care provided to ethnic and racial minorities who have a mental or co-occurring mental and substance use disorder. The fellowship provides financial support, professional development activities, and opportunities for professional and personal guidance.

  • Fields of Study: Psychology; nursing; social work; marriage and family therapy; mental health counseling; substance use and addictions counseling
  • Level/Year: All levels
  • Application Deadline: January    
  • Award Amount: Varies  
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents or Noncitizen Nationals
  • Website: Interdisciplinary Minority Fellowship Program
  • Direct Contact: imfp@apa.org

Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art

The Luce/American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Dissertation Fellowships in American Art support PhD candidates who are pursuing research on the history of art and visual culture of the United States, including all aspects of Native American art. Funding includes stipend, as well as travel and research allowance for one academic year.

  • Fields of Study: History of Art and Visual Culture in the United States
  • Level/Year: Dissertation stage
  • Application Deadline: Late October
  • Award Amount: $38,000 plus $4000 travel or research allowance
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, DACA
  • Website: Luce/ACLS Dissertation Fellowships in American Art
  • Direct Contact: fellowships@acls.org

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships

The Mellon/American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Dissertation Completion Fellowship supports advanced graduate students in the humanities and interpretive social sciences in the last year of PhD dissertation writing. PhD candidates whose perspectives and/or research projects cultivate greater openness to new sources of knowledge, innovation in scholarly communication, and responsiveness to the interests and histories of people of color and other historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Funding up to $43,000 is available.

  • Fields of Study: Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Level/Year: Final year
  • Application Deadline: Late October
  • Award Amount: $35,000 plus additional funds for research and fees
  • Nationality: Any
  • Website: Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
  • Direct Contact: fellowships@acls.org
  • Additional Information: Open to international students.

Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowship

The Mellon-CES Dissertation Completion Fellowship supports the timely completion of the doctoral degree by late-stage graduate students in the humanities. This one-year fellowship provides a stipend as well as assistance in securing reimbursements or waivers for health insurance and candidacy fees.

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (NDSEG)

The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (NDSEG) aims to increase the number of U.S. citizens receiving doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines of military importance. The fellowship supports early career graduate students and includes a stipend, tuition, health insurance, and travel allowance.

  • Fields of Study: STEM
  • Level/Year: Within first two years of graduate program
  • Application Deadline: November
  • Award Amount: $38,400 stipend, plus tuition, travel and health insurance
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizens and U.S. Nationals
  • Website: NDSEG Graduate Fellowship Program
  • Direct Contact: NDSEG@its-jv.com

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP)

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) seeks to ensure quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States by supporting outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated the potential to be high achieving scientists and engineers, early in their careers. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support in the form of an annual stipend, as well as tuition remission.

  • Fields of Study: Chemistry; Computer & Information Science/Engineering; Engineering; Geosciences; Life Sciences; Materials Research; Mathematical Sciences; Physics and Astronomy; Psychology; Social Sciences; STEM Education
  • Level/Year: Undergraduate seniors, 1st and 2nd year graduate students
  • Application Deadline: Mid-Late October
  • Award Amount: ($34,000 Stipend + Tuition/Fees) x 3 years
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizens, Nationals, and Permanent Residents
  • Website: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
  • Pitt-specific Information: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program - Includes Pitt events and a listing of recent University of Pittsburgh NSF-GRFP fellows and honorable mentions
  • Direct Contact: info@nsfgrfp.org
  • Additional Information: High priority in Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Information Science, and Computationally Intensive Research

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships For New Americans

The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships For New Americans supports early career graduate students age thirty or younger who are immigrants and children of immigrants poised to make significant contributions to U.S. society, culture or their academic field. Funding up to $90,000 is available over two years.

  • Fields of Study: All fields
  • Level/Year: 1st or 2nd year
  • Application Deadline: Late October
  • Award Amount: Up to $90,000 over two  years
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizen, Naturalized Citizen, Green Card holder, Refugee, Asylee, DACA
  • Website: Eligibility
  • Direct Contact: PDSoros@pdsoros.org
  • Additional Information: Must meet "New American Status"; see website for details

Penn Predoctoral Fellowships for Excellence Through Diversity

The Penn Predoctoral Fellowships for Excellence Through Diversity provide mentorship and access to Penn’s resources for doctoral students in the humanities or social sciences, enrolled in graduate or professional programs at universities other than Penn. These residential fellowships support graduate students in the final stages of dissertation research or writing at Penn for an academic year. Stipend, health insurance, library privileges as well as research and travel funds are included.

  • Fields of Study: Humanities; Social Sciences
  • Level/Year: PhD Candidacy
  • Application Deadline: January
  • Award Amount: $40,000, health insurance and $5,000 research/travel expenses
  • Nationality: U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Website: Predoctoral Fellows
  • Direct Contact: provost-fac@upenn.edu
  • Additional Information: Fellow must spend one academic year studying at University of Pennsylvania

Provost’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship (Internal/Pitt)

The Provost’s Dissertation Year Fellowship supports Underrepresented Racial Minority (URM)* students who are underrepresented in their field and whose racial/ethnic background contributes to the diversity of their program and field. The fellowship provides dedicated time for doctoral students to work full-time on finishing their dissertation during the last year of doctoral work. Tuition and stipend are included.

  • Fields of Study: All fields
  • Level/Year: Final year
  • Application Deadline: March
  • Award Amount: Stipend, Full Time Dissertation tuition scholarship, and health insurance x 1 year
  • Nationality: Any
  • Website: Provost’s Dissertation Completion Fellowship
  • Direct Contact: graduate@pitt.edu
  • Additional Information: Open to international students.

Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award

The Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award provides promising predoctoral students the opportunity to obtain individualized, mentored research training from outstanding faculty sponsors while conducting dissertation research in scientific health-related fields relevant to the missions of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. Stipend, tuition, and research training experiences are provided for up to five years.

Spencer Foundation Dissertation Grants 

The Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program supports outstanding advanced doctoral candidates in any field so that they can devote themselves full-time to the completion of their dissertation. Candidates should have an interest in pursuing education research once their PhD is complete. The fellowship includes a stipend and two professional development retreats.

  • Fields of Study: All fields, but with an interest in pursuing research on education once PhD is complete.
  • Level/Year: Must have 1-2 years remaining in PhD
  • Application Deadline: Early October
  • Award Amount: $27,500
  • Nationality: Any
  • Website: NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship Program Guidelines
  • Direct Contact: info@naeducation.org
  • Additional Information: Open to international students.

UCAR (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research) Next Generation Fellowships

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) Next Generation Fellowship provides Earth Systems Science graduate students whose research falls under the umbrella of Science, Diversity and Inclusion, or Public Policy the opportunity to learn alongside leaders in their fields. Each two-year award provides financial support for graduate school and two summer visits to Washington, DC, or Boulder, Colorado.

  • Fields of Study: Earth System Science - three tracks: Earth System Science, Diversity & Inclusion, and Public Policy
  • Level/Year: Must not be in final year
  • Application Deadline: May 
  • Award Amount: $20,000/year for two years
  • Nationality: Any nationality for Earth Science and Diversity & Inclusion track, U.S. Citizen for Public Policy Track
  • Website: UCAR Next Generation Fellowships
  • Direct Contact: afinley@ucar.edu
  • Additional Information: Earth Science and Diversity & Inclusion tracks are open to international students. Applicable to all PhDs but underrepresented groups are encouraged.

Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowships

The Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship supports women of any nationality who are pursuing a doctoral degree that demonstrates a superior academic record conducting research applied to aerospace engineering or space sciences. Fellows receive $10,000 in funding for one year.

  • Fields of Study: Aerospace Engineering or Aerospace Sciences
  • Level/Year: 2nd year or above
  • Application Deadline: Mid-November
  • Award Amount: $10,000
  • Nationality: Any
  • Website: Amelia Earhart Fellowship
  • Direct Contact: programs@zonta.org
  • Additional Information: Open to international students. Must identify as a woman.