Explore national fellowship opportunities for 2026, including fully funded PhD fellowships, STEM scholarships, doctoral dissertation awards, research grants and graduate funding from organisations such as ACM, Google, NSF, Microsoft, IBM, Hertz, DOE and the Ford Foundation.
Students, researchers and doctoral candidates looking for ways to finance advanced education and research can explore a wide range of fellowships, scholarships and research awards available through national and international organisations.
The University of Fairfax maintains a resource highlighting several external fellowship opportunities available to students. The university notes that these programmes are not operated by the University of Fairfax itself, and that eligibility requirements, deadlines and programme information may change. Applicants should therefore verify the latest requirements directly with the respective awarding organisation before applying.
The opportunities cover computer science, engineering, STEM, education research, doctoral studies and other academic disciplines. Some provide substantial tuition support and living stipends, while others recognise exceptional research or dissertation work.
ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award
The ACM Doctoral Dissertation Award recognises outstanding research and writing by doctoral candidates in computer science and engineering.
According to the source, the award carries a $20,000 prize plus travel expenses to the ACM Awards Banquet. Honorable mentions may also receive a $10,000 prize shared among recipients.
The programme accepts nominations internationally, although the submitted dissertation must be in English. Importantly, nominations must come from the candidate’s PhD adviser rather than the student directly.
Award: $20,000
Degree level: Doctorate
Field: Computer Science and Engineering
Deadline: October
American Association of University Women Fellowships and Grants
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers fellowship and grant opportunities supporting research and academic development across a broad range of disciplines.
The funding varies according to the specific programme, with the University of Fairfax resource listing awards ranging from $6,000 to $30,000.
Degree level: Master’s and doctorate
Fields: All University of Fairfax programmes
Award: $6,000–$30,000, depending on grant type
Deadline: November
AERA Dissertation Grant
The American Educational Research Association Dissertation Grant supports advanced doctoral students conducting education-related research.
The programme can support research involving education, teaching and learning, as well as related disciplines such as economics, political science, psychology, sociology, statistics, public policy and psychometrics.
The listed award provides up to $27,500 as a stipend for eligible doctoral research. Applicants are generally expected to be at the dissertation-writing stage.
Award: Up to $27,500
Degree level: Doctorate
Field: STEM/education-related research
Deadline: June
DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
The Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF) supports students pursuing doctoral degrees in fields that use high-performance computing to address complex scientific and engineering problems.
Eligible applicants can include undergraduate seniors and students at certain early stages of graduate study, subject to the programme’s detailed eligibility rules.
The listed benefits include a $38,000 annual stipend and payment of full tuition and required fees during the appointment period at an accredited U.S. university.
Award: $38,000 annual stipend plus tuition and required fees
Degree level: Doctorate
Field: STEM
Deadline: January
Ford Foundation Fellowships
The Ford Foundation Fellowships aim to increase diversity within U.S. college and university faculties by supporting individuals pursuing academic careers involving teaching and research.
The listed award provides a one-year $28,000 stipend, together with professional networking and mentoring opportunities.
Eligibility is restricted to specified U.S. citizenship, residency and other qualifying categories, so prospective applicants should carefully review the current official requirements.
Award: $28,000 one-year stipend
Degree level: Doctorate
Fields: All University of Fairfax programmes
Deadline: December
Google PhD Fellowship Program
The Google PhD Fellowship Program supports promising doctoral researchers working in computer science and related fields.
The programme is global, with fellowship opportunities listed across regions including Africa, Australia, Canada, East Asia, Europe, India, New Zealand, Southeast Asia and the United States.
The source describes benefits of up to three years of fellowship support, including tuition and fees, a stipend for living expenses, travel and equipment, as well as access to a Google Research Mentor.
Applicants must be nominated by their university.
Degree level: Doctorate
Field: Computer Science and Engineering
Award: Up to three years of support, including tuition, fees and stipend
Deadline: September
Graduate Fellowship for STEM Diversity
The Graduate Fellowship for STEM Diversity (GFSD) is a partnership involving government agencies, laboratories, industry and higher education institutions.
The programme is designed for qualified U.S. citizens pursuing graduate study at participating universities. Fellows must also be available for two summers of paid internship.
The listed benefits include three years of graduate-school support, a $20,000 annual expense allowance and full tuition and fees.
Award: Three years of support, $20,000 annual expense allowance and tuition/fees
Degree level: Doctorate
Field: Computer Science and Engineering
Deadline: December
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) supports outstanding graduate students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in NSF-supported STEM disciplines.
The resource describes the fellowship as a five-year programme containing three years of financial support, including a $34,000 annual stipend and a $12,000 cost-of-education allowance paid to the institution.
Eligibility includes U.S. citizenship, U.S. national or permanent-resident status and being at an early stage of graduate study.
Award: $34,000 annual stipend plus $12,000 cost-of-education allowance
Degree level: Master’s and doctorate
Field: STEM
Deadline: October
IBM PhD Fellowship
The IBM PhD Fellowship Program supports exceptional doctoral students conducting research in areas relevant to IBM’s technology interests.
Students must be nominated by a doctoral faculty member and must meet the programme’s enrolment and remaining-study requirements.
For universities in the United States, the source lists awards of $60,000 in the first year and $35,000 in the second year.
Award: $60,000 in year one and $35,000 in year two for U.S. universities
Degree level: Doctorate
Field: Computer Science and Engineering
Deadline: November
Meta Research PhD Fellowship
The Meta Research PhD Fellowship is a global programme supporting promising doctoral researchers conducting innovative research related to computer science and engineering.
The listed benefits include two years of paid tuition and fees, a $42,000 annual stipend, a visit to Meta headquarters for the annual Fellowship Summit and opportunities to engage with Meta researchers.
Award: Two years of tuition and fees plus $42,000 annual stipend
Degree level: Doctorate
Field: Computer Science and Engineering
Deadline: September
Microsoft PhD Fellowship
The Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship supports exceptional computing research talent and is offered across several regions, including EMEA, Asia-Pacific, Canada, the United States and Latin America.
The source lists two years of tuition and fee coverage together with a $42,000 annual stipend and opportunities for research engagement and mentorship.
The programme requires university nomination.
Award: Two years of tuition and fees plus $42,000 annual stipend
Degree level: Doctorate
Field: STEM
Deadline: June
National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship
The National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG) supports U.S. citizens and nationals pursuing doctoral research in science and engineering fields relevant to Department of Defense priorities.
The listed stipend is $3,200 per month, equivalent to $38,400 annually, although applicants should consult the current programme information because award amounts and eligibility conditions can change.
Award: $38,400 annually based on the listed stipend
Degree level: Doctorate
Field: STEM and qualifying defense-related research
Deadline: December
Hertz Fellowship
The Hertz Fellowship provides financial and professional support to graduate students in science and technology.
The listed eligibility includes college seniors, first-year graduate students and individuals in a gap year preparing for graduate school who intend to pursue a PhD in applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics or engineering.
The source lists a $34,000 nine-month personal stipend, full tuition equivalent and renewable support for up to five years.
Award: $34,000 nine-month stipend plus full tuition equivalent
Degree level: Doctorate
Field: STEM
Deadline: October
Other Fellowship Opportunities
The directory also highlights several additional programmes, including the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, National Research Council Research Associateship Programs and the BHW Scholarship.
The NRC Research Associateship Programs provide graduate, postdoctoral and senior-level research opportunities at participating federal laboratories and affiliated institutions. The award varies by programme, with application deadlines listed throughout the year.
The BHW Scholarship is designed for women pursuing undergraduate or master’s degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics and lists a $3,000 award.
How to Find the Right Fellowship
With so many programmes available, applicants should first identify their academic level, research field, citizenship or residency status and career objective.
Doctoral students in computing may want to investigate programmes such as Google, IBM, Microsoft and ACM. STEM graduate students can consider opportunities such as NSF GRFP, DOE CSGF and Hertz, while researchers in education may find the AERA Dissertation Grant particularly relevant.
Applicants should also pay close attention to whether they can apply directly or must be nominated by their university, department or academic adviser.
Because the University of Fairfax specifically warns that these are external programmes and that information is subject to change, prospective applicants should always verify current deadlines, eligibility requirements and award details on the official programme website before submitting an application.
Final Thoughts
National fellowship programmes can provide an important route to funding advanced education, doctoral research and academic careers. The opportunities highlighted in this resource range from $20,000 doctoral research awards to multi-year fellowships covering tuition and living expenses.
For students and researchers, the strongest approach is to begin preparing early, identify programmes that match their academic profile and carefully review each organisation’s current requirements.
These opportunities are competitive, but they can provide more than financial assistance. Several programmes also offer research mentorship, professional networks, internships, institutional connections and opportunities to develop long-term academic or research careers.
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