Fellowships
Fellowships provide financial support that enables students to pursue graduate study and advance their academic and research goals. Fellows are expected to make sustained progress in their scholarly work and meet all requirements of their degree program and the terms of the fellowship. Many fellowship programs also offer opportunities to engage in seminars, workshops, and events that foster intellectual community and professional development. Participation in these activities enriches the academic experience and connects fellows with a broader network of scholars.
Fellowships may be awarded through university-funded programs or by external sponsors, including federal agencies, professional organizations, and private foundations. Students are encouraged to actively explore and apply for fellowship opportunities to support their graduate education. Fellowships are not considered compensation for employment or services provided to the university.
Funding Forward
a program from the Graduate School that equips and empowers graduate students to compete for external fellowships
Applying for external fellowships and other types of funding support is a fundamental aspect of your journey as a graduate student. Not only does the process sharpen your ability to identify funding agencies, articulate the impact of your research, write proposals, and develop budgets, external awards on your CV demonstrate grant-writing success and your promise as an exceptional researcher or scholar. It’s a crucial component of success for careers in the academy and beyond.
All graduate students, even those who already have support through assistantships or other internal sources, should participate. External awards on your CV or resume stand out to potential employers and demonstrate your grant-writing skills, ambition, and excellence.
Funding Forward from the Graduate School will help you navigate this landscape with confidence and competence through workshops and resources such as:
- grant writing workshops
- writing groups
- one-on-one consultations
- info sessions on fellowships including NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship, and more
Upcoming Funding Forward Events
June
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June 16
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June 17
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June 24
July
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July 1
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July 8
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July 15
Recurring Events
Fulbright U.S. Student Program Office Hours
Wednesdays, 11 am – 1 pm
256 Bascom Hall
Online at go.wisc.edu/fulbrightdropin (opens Zoom link)
Have a question about one of the many Fulbright programs available to UW–Madison students? Heard about “Fulbright” but aren’t sure what it might mean to you? Every Wednesday, campus Fulbright Coordinator, Mark Lilleleht, holds virtual and in-person Fulbright drop-in hours where you can have your questions answered, schedule a more in-depth appointment, or just learn more about what “Fulbright” could make possible for you.
On-demand resources
National Institutes of Health (NIH) fellowships are open to early career scientists and are designed to provide mentored research training to enable skills development and experiences needed to transition into careers in the biomedical research workforce.
- Part 1 – Focus on Fellowships: “No matter what the due date is, it’s always important to apply a few days early – in case of technical problems.”
- Part 2 – Information for Candidates: “Candidates should consider applying, even if they don’t think of themselves as a competitive NIH fellowship candidate.”
- Part 3 – Fellowship Application Peer Review: “Your scientific review officer, as well as your program official, are your research best friends.”
- Part 4 – Information for Sponsors: “The application process should be collaborative. The sponsor and candidate should work together to ensure that every section meets the candidate’s training and long-term goals.”
The most recent fellowship application instructions may be found in the NIH How to Apply – Application Guide.
Hoodie Incentive
If you are a currently enrolled graduate student and have applied during the 2025-26 academic year to one of the University of Wisconsin Graduate School’s external fellowships, as listed below, you are eligible to receive a free University of Wisconsin–Madison hoodie! Simply submit proof of your application to claim your hoodie.
- ACLS Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhist Studies Fellowship
- BTAA/Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program (only those winners affiliated with the Big Ten Academic Alliance competition)
- Charlotte W. Newcombe Fellowship
- Ford Foundation Fellowship Programs
- Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) Fellowship
- Hertz Foundation Fellowship
- HHMI Gilliam Fellowships for Advanced Study
- Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship
- National GEM Consortium Fellowship (Full Fellows only)
- National Physical Science Consortium Fellowship
- National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
- NIH Training Grants and NRSA Fellows
- Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Research Scholars Program
- Rome Prize (American Academy in Rome)
- Social Science Research Council (SSRC) Fellowships
- Spencer Dissertation Fellowship
- National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
- DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
External Fellowship Opportunities
In addition to funding through their program, graduate students are strongly encouraged to apply for fellowships from federal agencies, professional organizations, and private foundations.
Each particular fellowship will have its own unique set of benefits and responsibilities. You should make sure you understand the terms and conditions of any fellowship/scholarship for which you are applying, such as:
- award/stipend amount
- tuition coverage (if any)
- other supplemental funds (e.g., travel funds, research funds, conference presentation funds)
Graduate programs and the UW–Madison Graduate School may supplement some externally-funded fellowships. Please talk to your program staff about the opportunity to receive tuition assistance and benefits if you are selected for an externally-funded fellowship.
Select opportunities are listed below.
UW–Madison is a leading institution in National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recipients. The GRFP provides three years of financial support to U.S. citizens and permanent residents for graduate study to advance science and engineering research and innovation. Recipients receive a $37,000 annual stipend and $16,000 in tuition assistance for the three years.
UW–Madison GRFP Fellows:
The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Education. It provides opportunities to doctoral candidates to engage in full-time dissertation research abroad utilizing modern foreign languages and area studies expertise across disciplines. You must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States to apply.
The U.S. Department of Education funds Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships for graduate students enrolled in foreign language courses and pursuing regional or international studies.
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellows Program aspires to build a more inclusive scientific ecosystem by supporting scientists at two levels—graduate students and their faculty thesis advisors. Fellows join a vibrant community and are offered leadership training, professional development, and opportunities to engage with and learn from peers, program alumni, and HHMI scientists. Second- and third-year biomedical and life science PhD students and their advisors are eligible.
UW–Madison Gilliam Fellows:
2024 Gilliam Fellows
2023 Gilliam Fellows
2021 Gilliam Fellows
The Big Ten Academic Alliance and the Smithsonian Institute fellowships provide the opportunity for dissertators to conduct paid research at the Smithsonian Institute.
UW–Madison Smithsonian Fellows
2024 Smithsonian Fellow
2023 Smithsonian Fellow
2021 Smithsonian Fellow
2020 Smithsonian Fellow
The Hertz Fellowship is awarded annually to the nation’s most promising graduate students in science and technology. Fellows receive five years of funding, join a community of peers, and gain access to professional development workshops and networking opportunities. College seniors and first-year graduate students who intend to pursue a PhD in the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering are eligible to apply. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The NAEd/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship aims to encourage early-career scholars from a range of disciplines to pursue research that can improve education. Competitive applicants are those who bring fresh, constructive perspectives to the practice of education anywhere in the world. In addition to a stipend, the award supports fellows’ professional development through mentoring at retreats led by senior scholars. The fellowship supports the final analysis of an applicant’s research topic and their dissertation writing. Applicants must be pursuing a PhD and have completed all pre-dissertation requirements before the start of the fellowship period.
UW–Madison Spencer Fellows:
2026 Spencer Fellows
2025 Spencer Fellows
2024 Spencer Fellows
The Mellon/American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Dissertation Innovation Fellowships support doctoral students in humanities and interpretive social sciences with a stipend and additional funding for research, travel, and external mentorship. The fellowship supports innovative dissertation projects that expand traditional research methodologies and promote inclusivity in academia, especially encouraging applications from historically underrepresented groups.
UW–Madison Mellon/ACLS Fellows:
2025 Mellon/ACLS Fellow
2024 Mellon/ACLS Fellows
The Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program (SCGSR) prepares graduate students for STEM careers critically important to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) mission by providing graduate thesis research opportunities at DOE laboratories. The research opportunity is expected to advance the graduate students’ overall doctoral thesis while providing access to the expertise, resources, and capabilities available at the DOE laboratories and facilities.
UW–Madison DOE SCGSR Fellows:
2024 SCGSR Fellows Colin Sutton, Seth Anderson
2022 SCGSR Fellow
2021 SCGSR Fellow
Find More Funding Opportunities
Grants & Funding
This micro-course provides an introduction to the world of grant seeking by covering each step of the proposal process: planning, researching, writing, and follow-up. Communication and networking are interwoven throughout the micro-course as well since they are vital components to successful proposals.
Grants Information Collection
The Grants Information Collection (GIC) offers access to databases, guides, and directories to help graduate students identify and pursue grants and fellowships. Whether you are seeking funding to support your study, research, travel, or conference attendance, the GIC provides tools to navigate the grant application process effectively.
Wisconsin Scholarship Hub
The Wisconsin Scholarship Hub, or WiSH, is the place to search for and apply to scholarships, grants, and fellowships specific to UW–Madison students.
International Fellowships Office
The Institute for Regional and International Studies (IRIS) Awards Office manages its own funding opportunities for international research and study abroad. It also coordinates the campus component of a number of external programs and can assist you in exploring funding options.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays opportunities provide students the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. The UW–Madison campus Fulbright coordinator can help you identify opportunities that match your goals.
Fellowships for International Graduate Students
This curated list from the University of Illinois Chicago and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers an assortment of fellowships opportunities for international graduate students and postdocs across various academic disciplines.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Fellowship Finder
This portal is publicly accessible but designed for UIUC students. If you or your advisors would like assistance interpreting the eligibility requirements or selection criteria for fellowships you find there, please contact the UW–Madison Associate Director of Graduate Funding at funding@grad.wisc.edu.
Pivot
Pivot is a robust database for identifying individual funding opportunities and can also be useful for nonprofit organizations. It includes some funding options for small businesses as well.
Fastweb
Fastweb is a free scholarship search platform that connects students with college and trade school scholarships, as well as financial aid news and resources. Its goal is to help make education more affordable.
Modern Language Association (MLA) Fellowships & Grants List
This resource provides an alphabetical listing of fellowship and grant programs, with links to foundations for full details on eligibility and application procedures (note: prize contests and most literary fellowships are excluded). The MLA also offers grants for convention travel, career development, course creation, and publication prizes, and allows submissions of new opportunities via an online form.
UW–Madison sponsored fellowships
There are many merit-based Graduate School and departmental fellowships that graduate programs award to their students. To inquire about UW–Madison fellowship opportunities and eligibility, please contact your graduate program.
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