External Funding Opportunities

American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships and Grants

The foundation offers fellowships and grants to individuals pursuing research, study, or creative arts projects in one or more Scandinavian countries for up to one year. Some language proficiency may be required. 

Master's or doctoral applicants accepted.

Boren Fellowships

Graduate students are welcomed to apply for the Boren Fellowship. Students will receive funding to enhance their skills in a critical language with the opportunity to incorporate internships, research, and classroom study as part of their time abroad. Fellowship application advising is available through GW’s Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships. 

Master's or doctoral applicants accepted.

Critical Language Scholarship

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 15 critical languages.

Master's or doctoral applicants accepted.

Directorate Resource Assistant Fellows Program (DFP)

The DFP fellowship program is intended to diversify the workforce of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FSW). Students will participate in a 12-week summer fellowship, working remotely or in-person full-time with the FWS. Participants may be eligible for a permanent position following fellowship completion and degree conferral. 

Master's or doctoral applicants accepted.

Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fellowships

The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann fund sponsors graduate school fellowships in any recognized field of study in the humanities, social science or natural sciences, including law, medicine, engineering, architecture or other formal professional training. Applications must be submitted through the dean of the university where the student is pursuing graduate studies.

Master's or doctoral applicants accepted.

US Fulbright Programs

In partnership with participating countries, the Fulbright program offers a variety of research and study awards, as well as teaching and special topic awards. Awards are available across disciplines and in countries across the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe. 

Education requirements vary by award.

International Foundation for Ethical Research (IFER) Graduate Fellowship Program

IFER offers graduate fellowships of $15,000 annually to master's or PhD students across various disciplines who are committed to eliminating or reducing the use of animals for research, testing, and education. Fellowships may be renewed for up to three years.

Master's or doctoral applicants accepted.

Smithsonian Institute Fellowships

The Smithsonian Institute offers fellowships and internships across disciplines. Prospective recipients will create proposed plans for research or study using Smithsonian resources. Fellowship objectives vary, as will funding.

Graduate and postdoctoral candidates accepted.

Identity-Based Fellowships

American Association of University Women (AAUW)

The AAUW administers a number of fellowship and grant programs for women professionals and scholars. Funding is available for women across several areas of study. Funding is also available for international students. Eligibility may vary by program. 

Master's, doctoral, and professional applicants accepted.

American Political Science Association Diversity Fellowship Program

The APSA Diversity Fellowship offers awards for individuals from underrepresented populations that are applying or entering political science doctoral programs. Formerly known as the Minority Fellows Program. 

Doctoral applicants accepted.

American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Programs (MFP)

APA’s Minority Fellowship Program provides financial support, professional development activities and guidance to promising doctoral students and postdoctoral trainees from underrepresented backgrounds. Programs are provided for graduate students, postdoctoral professionals, and early career professionals. 

Master's, doctoral, postdoctoral, and early career applicants accepted.

The Fund for Latino Scholarship

This fund, offered by the American Political Science Association, offers grant awards for individuals, institutions, and projects that will support the fund’s overall mission to advance the recruitment, retention, and promotion of political science scholarship related to Latino politics.

Bachelors, master's, doctoral, or faculty applicants accepted.

Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans

Open to full-time graduate students who are immigrants or the child of immigrants, this fellowship can be awarded to students in any fully accredited full-time graduate and professional degree programs. 

Master's, doctoral, or professional applicants accepted.

Point Foundation Flagship Scholarship

The Point Foundation provides Flagship Scholarships to empower LGBTQ students to access and succeed in their education at accredited four-year institutions in the United States. The award includes financial support, access to multiple leadership development programs, and mentorship or coaching. 

Bachelors, master's, doctoral, or professional applicants accepted.

UCAR Next Generation Fellowships

​Intended for graduate students from underrepresented communities, the UCAR Next Generation Fellowships offers a two year award including scholarship funding, up to 20 weeks of paid research, conference funding, and mentoring. Students may apply for three distinct tracks: Earth System Science, Diversity & Inclusion, and Public Policy. Requirements will vary by track. 

Master's and doctoral applicants accepted.

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)

HSF Scholars gain access to a network of support services including internship and job opportunities, mentorship, leadership development, knowledge building, wellness training, and access to Scholar Conferences. Scholars may also be eligible to receive scholarship funding ranging from $500-$5000 depending on availability. 

Undergraduate and graduate applicants accepted.

Arts and Humanities Fellowships

Capitol Fellowship

The Capitol Fellowship Program provides financial support for a minimum of one month and a maximum of one year to graduate students researching topics in the art and architectural history of the United States Capitol Complex.

Master's and doctoral applicants accepted.

Craft Research Fund Project Grant

Awards grant up to $15,000 awarded to support projects that encourage, expand, and support scholarly craft research in the United States. 

No education requirements.

Getty Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships

The Getty Fellowships are intended for research projects related to the Scholars Program’s annual theme.

Doctoral and postdoctoral applicants accepted.

Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Fellowships

Annual fellowships provide short-term research funding in the amount of $3000 each to doctoral candidates, faculty, and independent scholars researching topics in American history.

Doctoral, faculty, and independent scholar applicants accepted.

Richard M. Weaver Graduate Fellowship

Graduate students in the humanities or social sciences who intend to pursue teaching as a career may be eligible for up to $15,000 from the Weaver Fellowship.

Master's and doctoral applicants accepted.

Social Science and Public Policy/Administration Fellowships

American Psychological Foundation Graduate Student Scholarships

The purpose of the scholarship program is to assist graduate students of psychology with research costs associated with the master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation.

Master's and doctoral applicants accepted.

John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship

The John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship offers a unique educational and professional experience to graduate students who have an interest in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources and in the national policy decisions affecting those resources. Fellows are matched with DC-based “hosts” in the federal government for a year-long, paid fellowship.

Master's and doctoral applicants accepted.

Richard M. Weaver Graduate Fellowship

Graduate students in the humanities or social sciences who intend to pursue teaching as a career may be eligible for up to $15,000 from the Weaver Fellowship.

Master's and doctoral applicants accepted.

Social Science Research Council Fellowships

The Social Science Research Council works with funding partners to provide several fellowships targeted at creating new, innovative policy solutions. Project focus will vary between programs, as will eligibility, award requirements, and funding.

Education requirements vary by award.

Social Science Research Council Research Grants

The Social Science Research Council works with funding partners to provide multiple research grant programs that produce supporting evidence for potential new policy solutions. Research grants vary in supported topics, as well as eligibility, requirements, and overall funding provided. 

Education requirements vary by award.

STEM Fellowships

Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Policy Graduate Fellowship Program

Fellows develop basic skills essential to working or participating in science policy at the federal, state, or local levels. Areas of study may include any social/behavioral science, medical/health discipline, physical or biological science, public administration, or any relevant interdisciplinary fields.

Master's, doctoral, and early career applicants accepted.

Don Lavoie Fellowship

The Don Lavoie Fellowship is a renewable online fellowship program for advanced undergraduates, recent graduates, and early-stage graduate students interested in studying key ideas in political economy. The program provides a stipend, online activities, and networking opportunities.

Undergraduate, recent graduates, and graduate applicants accepted.

The Federal Reserve System’s Quantitative Fellowship Program

The QFP is a two-year rotational program designed to train candidates for positions as quantitative analysts with the Federal Reserve System. Recipients must be recent graduates or early career professionals with experience in fields such as economics, engineering, mathematics, quantitative finance, statistics, or data science.

Postgraduate applicants accepted.

Gilliam Fellows Program

GFSD (formerly the National Physical Science Consortium) aims to increase the overall number of Americans with STEM graduate degrees, with an emphasis on diversifying the graduate field. Applicants must be pursuing or willing to pursue a graduate degree in physical sciences or related engineering fields. Fellows are selected annually to receive stipend funding and internship opportunities.

Master's and doctoral applicants accepted.

NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO)

The NASA Space Technology Mission directorate provides grant funding for both master's and doctoral students performing space technology research on their campuses and at NASA centers. Students will work with a faculty advisor as well as a NASA Subject Matter Expert to complete their research.

Master's and doctoral applicants accepted.

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program

This fellowship awards three years of funding to individuals intending to pursue doctoral degrees aligned with the Department of Defense's Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) in research and development. Recipients are awarded tuition coverage, a living stipend, fees, and health insurance if required by the university. Students must have a minimum of three years remaining in their graduate program to receive a fellowship.

Doctoral applicants accepted.

Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Awards

The SCGSR program supports graduate students through a living stipend and travel expenses to allow students to focus on thesis/dissertation research in a DOE laboratory or facility. Students must be pursuing a PhD degree in a STEM field that aligns with the mission of the Office of Science.

Doctoral applicants accepted.

U.S. National Science Foundation Fellowships

Offered at both the graduate and postdoctoral level, the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) fellowships provide opportunities to advance research and receive additional experience in students’ respective fields.

Master's, doctoral, and postdoctoral applicants accepted.