Is it 'graduated' or 'was graduated from'?

What to Know "I graduated from college" is the most accepted use of graduate in this context. You can also say "I graduated college" or "I was graduated from college." Both are frequently used, but to some people they are considered incorrect.

Every year, around graduation season, there are scads of soon-to-be-graduated students frantically looking up the verb graduate , so as to not misstep in a job interview by using it incorrectly. Is it "I was graduated from Nescience University" or simply "I graduated from Nescience University"? Or can you save a bit of time and just say "I graduated Nescience University"? If you are one of these people, perhaps you are wondering why they didn't teach you this in college. They probably tried, but you weren't paying attention. But worry not, for it isn't terribly complicated.

graduate

In the second half of the 19th century, many usage writers decided that 'graduate' should only be used in a transitive sense; as one such commenter wrote, "students do not graduate; they are graduated." You can safely ignore this rule.

Graduate has been with us since the 15th century, existing as a noun, an adjective, and a verb (most people who worry about this word are only concerned with the verb use).

Is not hee the souerayne Doctoure, graduated not at Paris, but in Paradyse, whome our Heauenly Father hath ordeyned for our chief schoolemaster with expresse commaundement, to heare him? —Antonio de Corro, A Epistle or Godlie Admonition (trans. by Geffray Fenton), 1569

Is Graduated Transitive?

The propriety of how to use graduate appears to have not been something that we fretted about overmuch until the second half of the 19th century, when some grammarians suddenly decided that this was something very much worth fretting about, and that the word should properly only be used in a transitive sense: "She was graduated from Nescience University."

This word, when applied to one who receives a degree from a college, is a past participle of the verb to graduate , (to mark with degrees, to confer a degree,) and requires some part of the verb to be before it: yet it is, oftener than otherwise, used in the past tense of the active verb. In the memoir of Webster, at the beginning of his dictionary, it is said that "he graduated with reputation in 1788." The biographer might as well have said that "he born on the 16th of October, 1758." —Edward S. Gould, Good English , 1867

It should be noted that this new rule was not met with universal acclaim. George Washington Moon, a rival usage guide writer (yes, that's a thing) responded to Gould's admonitions about graduate in an 1871 book, writing "Was there ever such nonsense written by one professing to teach the proper use of the English language?"

Despite Moon's feelings on this matter, other guides soon picked up on the notion, and before long the speakers and of the English language had a new way that they could annoy others people of whose speech they disapproved.

Graduated. Students do not graduate ; they are graduated. Hence most writers nowadays say, "I was , he was , or they were graduated"; and ask, "When were you, or was he, graduated?" —Alfred Ayres, The Verbalist , 1894

However, rule or no rule, using graduate in an intransitive sense ("I graduated from college") is something that speakers of English take to readily. Noah Webster defined the verb in both the transitive and the intransitive senses in his 1828 dictionary, and we have many, many examples of writers and speakers using the intransitive graduate over the last 200 years.

His social activities, of course, interfered to some extent with his business, but then he had worked hard at wholesale hardware for twenty-five years and felt that he could soon hand it on to his son, Roscoe, who had recently graduated from Harvard. —F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (From Tales of the Jazz Age ), 1922

It is now widely agreed that there is nothing wrong with saying "I graduated from college," and some guides even view the usage proscribed by Gould and Ayres ("I was graduated from college") as outdated. You do not have to worry about saying that you " graduated from" college, or any other educational institution.

Dropping "From"

There is still another way in which graduate is used, and this one does still produce ire in some people, in which the word is used in a transitive sense and with the meaning "to be graduated from" ("I graduated college this year"). This use is not uncommon, but it is frowned upon by some guides.

Mr. Moore, who graduated college in prison and now works as an information technology specialist, was evicted again. —Michael Schwirtz, The New York Times , 5 Feb. 2013

If you are one of those who are on the cusp of graduation, you may now take comfort in the fact that the correct use of graduate as a verb need never plague you again. Armed with this knowledge, you will get that job you're interviewing for next week; you will also gain the respect and admiration of your familial elders, and the world, in general, will be your oyster.

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Phd graduates: a guide to life after your degree, published by steve tippins on june 25, 2022 june 25, 2022.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 05:49 am

What do PhD students do after they graduate? What should they do? And what are the unexpected challenges and limitations they encounter?

The first thing a PhD graduate should do is rest and gather their thoughts. It can actually feel stressful to rest after you’re finished because you’re used to pushing yourself to the limit. It can almost be a letdown for some people to have time to rest. However, it is vital to allow yourself to return to a baseline that is a healthy pace of life. Take time and gather your thoughts. 

After that, it’s time to take a look at how to navigate your career after you graduate with your PhD.

Getting a Job as a PhD Graduate

Traditionally, many people moved on to academia after getting their PhD . They would become a professor or instructor. The ideal was to become an assistant professor and do the teaching, research, and service needed to continue; then become an associate professor; and then get tenure and eventually become a professor. That has been the traditional route for people with PhDs . 

college professor smiling while talking to his students

But what people do with a PhD is expanding dramatically. In some fields such as education, having a doctorate leads to administrative positions. Many principals and superintendents with doctorates, whether it’s a PhD or EdD, use their degree to enhance their career outside of colleges and universities. They do administrative activities and fill administrative roles in school systems or specific schools. 

Are Universities Failing PhD Graduates?

“Instead of seeking work across society, many highly skilled doctorate holders end up teaching a course here and there – for low wages – in the vanishing hope of full-time jobs as professors. This proliferation of adjunct labor devalues the people doing it and the academic workplace together.” – The Conversation

People are beginning to wonder: Is getting a PhD worth it? Are schools actually doing the right thing by putting out more PhDs? 

Over-Producing PhDs

There are more PhDs than academic jobs at this time. And, the pandemic didn’t help hiring; uncertainties are all over the place. The number of college-age students is lower, so demand for professors is lower. 

college professor teaching a small group of people

What have many universities done in response to all this? They have said, “we are not going to hire tenure track people, we will hire instructors or even adjunct professors.” Doing so frees them from the obligations of tenure. 

Over 50% of doctoral candidates don’t finish their dissertations.

graduated phd from

Tenure is almost like locking people up for lifetime contracts. Abandoning this practice gives universities a lot more flexibility to handle their demand. However, this also means that there is a whole group of people who are getting paid a lot less. 

This is especially hard on those in adjunct positions who have earned a PhD. They have spent lots of years working to get paid $2,000 to $10,000 to teach a class. It’s hard to support yourself on that, let alone support a family and pay student loans.

The Adjunct Faculty Rut

Many people who come from a PhD program get stuck in the adjunct faculty rut while searching for a full-time position. They have to do the research to keep current, but they could make more money working a $15 to $20 an hour job that doesn’t require much education. People entering a PhD program should understand that is one of the realities they may face. Now, many people consider careers outside of academia and what a PhD can do for them.

Careers Outside of Academia

young african american woman with curly hair on a job interview

Challenges for PhDs Looking for Jobs Outside Academia

One of the challenges people with PhDs face is having employers understand who they are, what their skills are, and why they should hire a PhD. Some people have this perception that PhDs are overqualified to work for them. Other people think PhDs are just theoretical and want somebody who will “actually do work.” You have to combat that thought process. 

Selling the Skill Set of a PhD to Non-Academic Employers

Presenting the skills you acquired doing a PhD to employers and showing them that your skill set is going to be highly valuable is one challenge. This will be less of a challenge over time as more PhDs enter the workforce. 

How do you sell the skill set of a PhD to a non-academic employer? It’s all about communicating the skills you acquired and proved by doing your PhD. Here are some examples:

  • In order to get a PhD, you had to be highly organized. 
  • In order to keep track of all the research you were doing, you had to be able to carry out a long-term project. 
  • You had to be able to work with people, even though some may think you did it alone. 
  • You had to be able to work with a committee and essentially manage a group of people. 
  • You have planning skills: the planning of your degree, doing the research, and then carrying out the research. It’s a huge endeavor and skill set. 
  • You have the technical skills 
  • Critical thinking has become part of your normal life. You bring the ability to look at problems from many different sides and then break the problem down and come up with the creative solutions employers are looking for. 

PhDs have to market the skill set more than the degree.

How Does the Glut of PhDs Affect Society?

graduated phd from

From a positive perspective, having a group of highly educated people with the skills we just outlined is potentially highly beneficial for society. People within society with these skills can help solve and tackle many problems. 

However, on the opposite side, to get a PhD, you spend time outside of the productive world. You have what some economists might call pent-up demand for materials and services. If there’s a glut of PhDs and you don’t have the capacity to get the jobs you wanted within academia, that can cause unemployment. 

For example, there are places in the United States like Austin, Texas where they say all the taxi drivers have PhDs. People fall in love with Austin, but there aren’t many jobs there. They dedicate huge portions of their life to their PhD and then end up working in jobs they never needed that degree for. 

Is Getting a PhD a Waste of Time?

You shouldn’t get a PhD for financial rewards. However, there is joy in following the pursuit of knowledge. If you are the type of person who really wants to answer questions, explore issues, and come up with solutions, a PhD may be an ideal route for you. If this is the case for you, figure out how to monetize it and become successful. 

man using his laptop in his home kitchen

For many people, there’s no greater feeling than finding a problem and then providing solutions to it. That can be the beauty and non-monetary reward of being involved in a PhD. Just make sure to cover the financial side of things as well.

Final Thoughts

When you’re doing a PhD, you are surrounded by people who are also on a quest. The camaraderie of supporting each other on these quests can be very rewarding. 

graduated phd from

Ultimately, you should not enter into a PhD program lightly. You should understand not only the process of getting a PhD – the rules and procedures – but also why you want to get a PhD. What about it is going to be worth over three years of your life? Explore that, and if you can answer that question, a PhD can be very rewarding.

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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  • Master’s vs PhD | A Complete Guide to the Differences

Master's vs PhD | A Complete Guide to the Differences

Published on November 27, 2020 by Lauren Thomas . Revised on May 10, 2024.

The two most common types of graduate degrees are master’s and doctoral degrees:

  • A master’s is a 1–2 year degree that can prepare you for a multitude of careers.
  • A PhD, or doctoral degree, takes 3–7 years to complete (depending on the country) and prepares you for a career in academic research.

A master’s is also the necessary first step to a PhD. In the US, the master’s is built into PhD programs, while in most other countries, a separate master’s degree is required before applying for PhDs.

Master’s are far more common than PhDs. In the US, 24 million people have master’s or professional degrees, whereas only 4.5 million have doctorates.

Table of contents

Master’s vs phd at a glance, which is right for you, length of time required, career prospects, costs and salaries, application process, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about master's and phd degrees.

The table below shows the key differences between the two.

Master’s PhD
Career prospects Usually intended for a career outside of academia. Prepares for a research career, ideally as a university professor.
Length of time 1–2 years 5–7 in the US (master’s degree included); 3–5 outside the US (after a separate master’s degree)
Structure Mostly coursework, often with a semester-long or capstone project at the end. 2 years of coursework (in the US), followed by 3–5 years of preparing a dissertation, which should make a significant original contribution to current knowledge.
Cost Varies by country, university and program; usually higher upfront cost with limited financial aid available. Tuition fees are usually waived and a living stipend provided in exchange for being a teaching or research assistant.
Graduate salaries Wage premium (compared to earnings with a high school education) is 23% on average. Wage premium is 26% on average.

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A PhD is right for you if:

  • Your goal is to become a professor at a university or some other type of professional researcher.
  • You love research and are passionate about discovering the answer to a particular question.
  • You are willing to spend years pursuing your research even if you have to put up with a lot of dead ends and roadblocks.

A master’s degree is the better choice if any of the following apply:

  • You want to continue studies in your field, but you’re not committed to a career as a professional researcher.
  • You want to develop professional skills for a specific career.
  • You are willing to pay a higher upfront cost if it means finishing with your degree (and thus being able to work) much faster.
  • You want the option to study part-time while working.

The length of time required to complete a PhD or master’s degree varies. Unsurprisingly, PhDs take much longer, usually between 3–7 years. Master’s degrees are usually only 1–2 years.

Length of a master’s

Master’s degrees are usually 2 years, although 1-year master’s degrees also exist, mainly in the UK.

Most of the degree consists of classes and coursework, although many master’s programs include an intensive, semester-long master’s thesis or capstone project in which students bring together all they’ve learned to produce an original piece of work.

Length of a PhD

In the US, a PhD usually takes between 5 and 7 years to complete. The first 2 years are spent on coursework. Students, even those who choose to leave without finishing the program, usually receive a master’s degree at this point.

The next 3–5 years are spent preparing a dissertation —a lengthy piece of writing based on independent research, which aims to make a significant original contribution to one’s field.

Master’s degrees tend to prepare you for a career outside of academia, while PhDs are designed to lead to a career in research.

Careers for master’s graduates

There are two types of master’s degrees: terminal and research-intensive. The career prospects are different for each.

Terminal master’s degrees are intended to prepare students for careers outside of academia. Some degrees, known as professional degrees, specifically prepare students for particular professions; these include the Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees.

Other master’s degrees, usually Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Sciences (MS or MSc) degrees, do not necessarily lead to a specific career, but are intended to be a final degree. Examples include an MS in Communications or MS in Data Analytics.

In research-intensive master’s programs, students take coursework intended to prepare them for writing an original piece of research known as the master’s thesis . Such programs are usually intended to prepare for further study in a doctoral program.

Careers for PhD graduates

As research degrees, PhDs are usually intended to lead to an academic career. A PhD can be thought of like an apprenticeship, where students learn from professional researchers (academics) how to produce their own research.

Most students aspire to become a university professor upon the completion of their degree. However, careers in academia are highly competitive, and the skills learned in a doctoral program often lend themselves well to other types of careers.

Some graduates who find they prefer teaching to producing research go on to be teachers at liberal arts colleges or even secondary schools. Others work in research-intensive careers in the government, private sector, or at think tanks.

Below are a few examples of specific fields and non-academic careers that are common destinations of graduates of those fields.

  • Computer Science
  • Lab Sciences

Many government jobs, including economists at a country’s central bank, are research-intensive and require a PhD. Think tanks also hire economists to carry out independent research.

In the private sector, economic consulting and technology firms frequently hire PhDs to solve real-world problems that require complex mathematical modeling.

Graduate students from the humanities are sometimes hired by museums, who can make use of their research and writing skills to curate exhibits and run public outreach.

Humanities PhDs are often well-suited to research and grant-writing roles at nonprofits. Since so much of research is funded by grants, PhD students often gain a lot of experience applying for them, which is a useful skill in the nonprofit sector.

There are a wide range of non-academic research jobs for lab scientists with doctorates in subjects like chemistry, biology, ecology and physics.

Many PhD graduates are hired by pharmaceutical companies that need to perform research to create and test their products. Government agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), also hire lab scientists to work on research projects.

Job prospects after graduation vary widely based on the field. In fields like management, computer science, statistics, and economics, there’s little underemployment—even graduates from less well-known programs can easily find jobs that pay well and use the skills they’ve gained from the PhD.

However, in other fields, particularly in the humanities, many PhD graduates have difficulty in the job market. Unfortunately, there are far more PhD graduates than assistant professor roles, so many instead take on part-time and low-paid roles as adjunct instructors. Even non-academic careers can sometimes be difficult for PhDs to move into, as they may be seen as “overqualified”  or as lacking in relevant professional experience.

Because career options post-PhD vary so much, you should take the time to figure out what the career prospects are in your field. Doctoral programs often have detailed “placement” records online in which they list the career outcomes of their graduates immediately upon leaving the program. If you can’t find these records, contact the program and ask for them—placement information should play an important role in your choice of PhD program.

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Although PhDs take far longer to complete, students often receive a living stipend in exchange for being a teaching or research assistant. Master’s degrees are shorter but less likely to be funded.

Both master’s degrees and PhDs lead to increased salaries upon graduation. While PhDs usually earn a bit more than those with a master’s degree, in some fields, the wages are identical, meaning that no financial benefit is gained from going on to a PhD.

Cost of a master’s

The upfront cost of a master’s degree is usually higher than a doctoral degree due to the lower amount of financial aid available. However, increased salaries also arrive faster than with a doctoral degree, because people graduate much earlier from a master’s program.

Some master’s students do receive stipends for their degrees, usually as compensation for being a teaching or research assistant. In addition, many people complete master’s degrees part time while working full-time, which allows them to fund their living costs as well as tuition.

The cost varies significantly by school and program. Public schools are usually cheaper than private ones. Some master’s degrees, such as MBAs, are notoriously expensive, but also result in much higher wages afterwards that make up for the high cost.

The master’s wage premium , or the extra amount that someone with a master’s degree makes than someone with just a high school diploma, is 23% on average. Many universities provide detailed statistics on the career and salary outcomes of their students. If they do not have this online, you should feel free to contact an administrator of the program and ask.

Cost of a PhD

PhDs, particularly outside the humanities, are usually (though not always) funded, meaning that tuition fees are fully waived and students receive a small living stipend. During the last 3–5 years of a PhD, after finishing their coursework (and sometimes before), students are usually expected to work as graduate instructors or research assistants in exchange for the stipend.

Sometimes students can apply for a fellowship (such as the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Program in the United States) that relieves them of any obligations to be a teaching or research assistant. Doctoral programs in the US tend to be better funded than in the rest of the world.

Sometimes, PhD degrees can be completed part-time, but this is rare. Students are usually expected to devote at least 40 hours a week to their research and work as teaching or research assistants.

The main cost of doctoral programs comes in the form of opportunity cost—all the years that students could be working a regular, full-time job, which usually pays much better than a graduate school stipend.

The average wage premium for PhDs is 26%, which is not much higher than the master’s degree premium.

In the US, the application process is similar for master’s and PhD programs. Both will generally ask for:

  • At least one application essay, often called a personal statement or statement of purpose .
  • Letters of recommendation .
  • A resume or CV .
  • Transcripts.
  • Writing samples.

Applications for both types of programs also often require a standardized test. PhDs usually require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which tries to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative, critical thinking , and analytical writing skills. Many master’s programs require this test as well.

Applying for a master’s

Master’s degrees programs will often ask you to respond to specific essay prompts that may ask you to reflect upon not just your academic background, but also your personal character and future career ambitions.

Northwestern University’s Kellogg Business School requires Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) applicants write two essays, one about a recent time they demonstrated leadership and the second about their personal values.

Who you should ask for your letters of recommendation varies by program. If you are applying to a research-intensive master’s program, then you should choose former professors or research supervisors. For other programs, particularly business school, current work supervisors may be a better choice.

Some professional master’s programs require a specific test. For example, to apply to law school, you must take the Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT. For business school, you must take either the GRE or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).

Applying for a PhD

When applying for a PhD, your resume should focus more on your research background—you should especially emphasize any publications you’ve authored or presentations that you’ve given.

Similarly, your statement of purpose should discuss research that you’ve participated in, whether as an assistant or the lead author. You should detail what exactly you did in projects you’ve contributed to, whether that’s conducting a literature review, coding regressions, or writing an entire article.

Your letters of recommendations should be from former professors or supervisors who can speak to your abilities and potential as a researcher. A good rule of thumb is to avoid asking for recommendations from anyone who does not themselves have a PhD.

If you want to know more about college essays , academic writing , and AI tools , make sure to check out some of our other language articles with explanations, examples, and quizzes.

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A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.

All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.

A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.

A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.

This depends on the country. In the United States, you can generally go directly to a PhD  with only a bachelor’s degree, as a master’s program is included as part of the doctoral program.

Elsewhere, you generally need to graduate from a research-intensive master’s degree before continuing to the PhD.

This varies by country. In the United States, PhDs usually take between 5–7 years: 2 years of coursework followed by 3–5 years of independent research work to produce a dissertation.

In the rest of the world, students normally have a master’s degree before beginning the PhD, so they proceed directly to the research stage and complete a PhD in 3–5 years.

A master’s degree usually has a higher upfront cost, but it also allows you to start earning a higher salary more quickly. The exact cost depends on the country and the school: private universities usually cost more than public ones, and European degrees usually cost less than North American ones. There are limited possibilities for financial aid.

PhDs often waive tuition fees and offer a living stipend in exchange for a teaching or research assistantship. However, they take many years to complete, during which time you earn very little.

In the US, the graduate school application process is similar whether you’re applying for a master’s or a PhD . Both require letters of recommendation , a statement of purpose or personal statement , a resume or CV , and transcripts. Programs in the US and Canada usually also require a certain type of standardized test—often the GRE.

Outside the US, PhD programs usually also require applicants to write a research proposal , because students are expected to begin dissertation research in the first year of their PhD.

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Doctoral Degrees

A doctoral degree requires the satisfactory completion of an approved program of advanced study and original research of high quality..

Please note that the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Science (ScD) degrees are awarded interchangeably by all departments in the School of Engineering and the School of Science, except in the fields of biology, cognitive science, neuroscience, medical engineering, and medical physics. This means that, excepting the departments outlined above, the coursework and expectations to earn a Doctor of Philosophy and for a Doctor of Science degree from these schools are generally the same. Doctoral students may choose which degree they wish to complete.

Applicants interested in graduate education should apply to the department or graduate program conducting research in the area of interest. Some departments require a doctoral candidate to take a “minor” program outside of the student’s principal field of study; if you wish to apply to one of these departments, please consider additional fields you may like to pursue.

Below is a list of programs and departments that offer doctoral-level degrees.

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10 Better Ways To Say “I Have A Degree In”

When we say that we “I have a degree in” criminology, biology, psychology, etc., we are attempting to disclose or state that we have achieved a higher level of education. However, to say “I have a degree in” is incredibly commonly used and not the most professional statement.

What Can I Say Instead Of “I Have A Degree In”?

Instead of saying “I have a degree in” we can choose to use a more professional, alternative statement. This article will be highlighting the following statements, their meaning and how we can appropriately use them in a sentence:

  • I graduated with a degree in…
  • I majored in…
  • My degree is in…
  • I obtained a degree in…
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  • I completed my studies in…
  • I successfully achieved my degree in X…
  • I earned a degree in…
  • I’m an alumnus from X university…
  • I received a degree in…

Better Ways To Say “I Have A Degree In”

The preferred version that we will highlight in this article is “I graduated with a degree in”. This is because it is a formal way of stating that we have graduated and with a diploma in a specialized field of study.

We can easily follow this statement with the category of our degree and perhaps what school we have graduated from.

I Graduated With A Degree In

We can say “I graduated with a degree in” when we wish to express that we have successfully completed our schooling and have received a degree in a field of study. This is meant as a formal statement, where we are informing someone of our qualifications or accomplishments.

We will often say this when we are speaking in a professional interview or perhaps when we are beginning a presentation.

Here are a few examples of how we could appropriately use this term:

  • Hi there, my name is Carly and I graduated with a degree in criminal justice and policing studies from Nipissing University.
  • I graduated with a degree in economics from Harvard University and now I’m in the process of opening my own accounting firm.
  • I just applied to York University and have aspirations to graduate with a degree in biology.

I Majored In

When we say “I majored in” we are disclosing that we have completed a degree in a particular subject at college or university. This particular phrase is commonly used by North Americans, Europeans and Australians – being a very English phrase in origin.

This is more of an informal phrase; however, it is still applicable in professional settings. This is more of a conversational statement, as opposed to something we would say in an interview.

Some examples of how we can properly use this term in a sentence are:

  • I majored in drama and have aspirations of becoming an actress.
  • I majored in earth studies at Arizona State and am hoping to get a job with the government.
  • I majored in physics and took a minor in Computer Sciences.

My Degree Is In

Often, we’ll say “my degree is in” in response to the question of what specialized subject we completed our schooling in. This is meant as a proper and appropriate response, that we can choose to follow up with more information on the school we attended, if we achieved honours, etc.

This is a very direct way of responding to someone or even just stating the necessary information in a given situation.

To further clarify the use of this particular statement, here are a few examples:

  • My degree is in anthropology, with my minor studies being in Sociology.
  • My degree is in practical nursing and I’m hoping to receive an internship at Toronto General Hospital.
  • I recently entered university and my degree is in psychology. I can’t wait to graduate someday and hopefully open my psychiatric practice.

I Obtained A Degree In

When we express that “I obtained a degree in” we are allowing someone to know that we have completed our schooling and have obtained our degree in a specialized area of study. This is another excellent example of a highly formal or professional statement.

This is another appropriate statement we could use for interview purposes, whether for a professional position or to further our schooling in the form of a doctorate study.

We will now go over a few appropriate ways we can use this statement in a sentence:

  • I obtained a degree in psychology from the University of Victoria.
  • I recently graduated from Trent University and I obtained a degree in animal biology.
  • I obtained a degree in history with my minor studies in human geography.

I Studied X at In University

Another excellent alternative statement we can use is “I studied X in university”. When we say this, we are letting someone know that we studied in a particular subject or field of study in university. Letting them know we achieved a higher level of education.

We would often choose to follow this statement with information regarding if we did obtain a certificate or diploma and which school we attended.

Here are a few examples of how we can use this statement accordingly:

  • I studied biology in university, with the hopes of one day becoming a veterinarian.
  • I studied psychology in university, although I do not have any intentions of using my degree.
  • Yes, I did graduate and I studied mathematics in university.

I Completed My Studies In

We can say “I completed my studies in” when we wish to depict that we did successfully conclude our studies, often meaning that we did graduate from university or college. We are also disclosing what our specific area of study was in.

To state that we have completed our studies showcases a high level of dedication and hard work, as successfully completing post-secondary schooling is no easy task.

We will now go over some specific examples that highlight this statement:

  • I completed my studies in nursing and am now working at my local hospital in the emergency room.
  • I completed my studies in biology, but I’m presently working at a dental office – I know, a little odd!
  • I graduated last spring and I completed my studies in cultural studies and anthropology.

I Successfully Achieved My Degree In

Another phenomenal alternative phrase we can use is “I successfully achieved my degree in”. When we say “I successfully achieved my degree in” we are letting someone know that we did in fact graduate from school and have a degree in a specialized field of study.

This is another excellently formal and professional phrase to use in a workplace interview or presentation.

Some examples of this phrase used in a sentence are:

  • I successfully achieved my degree in law and am currently working at a law firm in Boston.
  • I successfully achieved my degree in culinary management, while also obtaining a minor degree in business. I am now working towards opening my own restaurant.
  • I successfully achieved my degree in history and am now working as a teacher at my old high school.

I Earned A Degree In

When we say “I earned a degree in”, we are stating that we have finished our schooling and it resulted positively, with the achievement of a degree in a specific area of study. We would follow this statement with the correct information about our degree and possibly where we attained it.

To say that we have “earned” something is an accomplishment and a testament to our hard work and determination. Therefore, this formal statement is also somewhat of a humblebrag.

Here are a few examples that showcase the use of this specific statement:

  • I earned a degree in mechanical engineering and I’m presently searching for a job in my field of study.
  • I recently graduated with honours from McMaster University and I earned a degree in biochemistry.
  • I earned my degree in psychology and am presently working towards obtaining my master’s degree.

I’m An Alumnus From X University

Another great alternative we can use is “I’m an alumnus from X university”. When we say that we’re an “alumnus” we’re expressing that we’re a former student or graduate from a specific school. Therefore, we’re formally allowing someone to know that we have successfully completed our schooling.

We can follow up a statement like this, with the appropriate information on our field of study, our minor, the year we graduated, etc.

We will now look at a few examples highlighting this specific statement:

  • I’m an alumnus from Nipissing University and I graduated in 2015.
  • I’ve been working as a doctor for the last ten years in Chicago, but I’m an alumnus from Navarro State University.
  • I’m an alumnus from the University of New Brunswick, but I now live across the country in Vancouver, British Columbia.

I Received A Degree In

The last alternative that we will go over in this article is “I received a degree in”. When we say that “I received a degree for”, we’re essentially stating that because of our dedication to our studies, we’ve been rewarded with a degree in a specific field of study.

This is another formal way that we can express the completion of our schooling and the achievement of a degree. This is an excellent statement to use in an interview or just in a general conversation.

Lastly, we will go over the following examples, that all use this statement:

  • I received a degree in practical nursing, after completion of four years of study and practical work in our local hospital.
  • I received a degree in dental hygiene studies and I know work at my family dental clinic.
  • I received a degree in police studies and community justice. I now hold a position at a women’s shelter in town and I genuinely love what I do.

You may also like: “Pursuing A Degree” – Meaning & Correct Usage (Helpful Examples) Undergraduate vs. Graduate vs. Postgraduate – Complete Guide “A MA” or “An MA” – Full Explanation (Helpful Examples) 9 Correct Titles for Someone with a Master’s Degree (Formal) DSc Degree vs. PhD Degree – What’s the Difference?

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Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .

  • “I Graduated” or “I Have Graduated” – Which is Correct?
  • 8 Ways to Say You’ve Finished Your Bachelor’s Degree
  • 10 Ways to Say You’ve Finished Your Master’s Degree Studies
  • 8 Better Ways to Say “Master’s Graduate”
  • PhD/Master's Application Process

Who is Eligible to Apply? 

If you have completed your undergraduate degree (bachelor's or equivalent) or will have completed it prior to your intended matriculation date at Yale, you may apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).

A Master's degree is not required to apply for a PhD at Yale, although some programs give preference to applicants with post-baccalaureate training. Consult your program of interest directly for information on how it evaluates applications.

We value diversity of all kinds at the Graduate School, and we encourage students from all backgrounds to apply if Yale is a good fit for your intellectual and professional goals. All are welcome to apply, without regard to citizenship or immigration status, socioeconomic level, race, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability, etc.

Requirements for All PhD and Master's Degree Applicants

You will need to provide the following with your application for admission:

  • A statement of academic purpose. You will find the prompt for the statement of purpose in our Application Question FAQs . 
  • A list of all the prior colleges or universities you have attended, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with your application. Official or paper transcripts are not needed at this time. 
  • Three letters of recommendation. Enter the names of your recommenders directly in the application and they will receive a link to upload a letter on your behalf. 
  • $105 application fee or fee waiver. 
  • Standardized tests . GRE requirements vary by program. TOEFL or IELTS are necessary for most non-native English speakers. 
  • Resume/CV . 
  • Some programs have additional requirements, such as a writing sample . You can find information about any specific requirements on the program's website. 

Where Do I Begin?

Decide whether you will apply for a PhD or a terminal Master’s (MA, MS) in one of the programs available at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences . (Note that you will earn one or more Master's degrees en route to a PhD.) Learn about the program: its faculty, course offerings, and resources. Read the faculty's research publications. If you can identify and articulate why the program is a good fit for you and show how your preparation and interests align well with it, you will have a strong application.

A note to students applying to one of Yale’s professional schools or programs:

  • If you are applying for a PhD in Architecture, Environment, Investigative Medicine, Law, Management, Music, Nursing, or Public Health; for an MS in Public Health; or for an MA in Music, be sure to use the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences PhD/Master's application.
  • If you are applying for any other degree at one of the University’s professional schools (Art, Architecture, Divinity, Drama, Environment, Global Affairs, Law, Management, Medicine, Music, Nursing, and Public Health), visit that school’s website for further instructions. Those programs have separate admissions policies and processes that are administered by the professional schools, not GSAS.

Application deadlines vary by program, so please see Dates & Deadlines for information about your program of interest. 

All new students matriculate in the fall. The admissions process begins nearly a year in advance of matriculation.

Some PhD and Master’s degree programs require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Check your program's standardized testing requirement before you apply. 

In addition, applicants whose native language is not English may need to take an English Language test (TOEFL or IELTS).

The application for Fall 2025 entry is now available. 

Be sure to complete and submit the application before your program's application deadline. 

Your application fee or an approved fee waiver is due upon submission of your application. 

Your letters of recommendation do not need to be received before you will be able to submit your application. However, since programs begin reviewing applications shortly after the respective application deadline, please be sure that your letters of recommendation are submitted promptly.

What Happens After I Submit My Application?

The faculty admissions committee in each department and program begins reviewing applications shortly after their application deadline. Led by the director of graduate studies (DGS) or director of graduate admissions (DGA), the committee will recommend students for admission to the Graduate School. Once confirmed by the deans of the Graduate School, the admissions office will release final decisions to applicants.

Unlike undergraduate admissions, the admissions office and staff of the Graduate School maintain the application, the application process, and other administrative transactions, but the admissions staff does not review applications or make admissions decisions. That responsibility is handled by the faculty of each department or program.

Most admissions decisions are provided between February and early March. You will receive an email notification when your admissions decision is available.

If you are accepted for admission, you will need to decide if you wish to accept our offer by April 15. We abide by Council of Graduate School's April 15 Resolution , regarding graduate financial support. 

Ready to apply? Begin your application today.

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PhD/Master's Applicants

  • Why Choose Yale Graduate School?
  • Dates and Deadlines
  • Standardized Testing Requirements

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Non-Degree Program Applicants

Looking for non-degree programs? In some cases, it is possible to enroll at the Graduate School as a non-degree student. Non-degree students receive a transcript and many of the benefits of being a Yale student, but do not earn a degree upon completion of their enrollment. We offer three types of non-degree programs.

  • Non-Degree Programs

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Harvard awards 8,870 degrees

Totals reflect the 2021-22 academic year.

Today the University awarded a total of 8,870 degrees. A breakdown of degrees and programs is listed below.

Harvard College granted a total of 1,505 degrees. Degrees from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences were awarded by Harvard College, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and the Graduate School of Design.

All Ph.D. degrees are conferred by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

All figures include degrees awarded in November 2021 and March and May 2022.

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Harvard college 1,505 degrees.

  • 1,458 Bachelor of Arts
  • 47 Bachelor of Science 

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences 1,332 degrees

  • 421 Master of Arts
  • 185 Master of Science 
  • 5 Master of Engineering 
  • 721 Doctor of Philosophy

Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences 606 degrees

  • 235 Bachelor of Arts (conferred by Harvard College)
  • 47 Bachelor of Science (conferred by Harvard College)
  • 5 Master of Engineering (conferred by GSAS)
  • 184 Master of Science (conferred by GSAS)
  • 17 Master in Design Engineering (conferred jointly with GSD)
  • 26 Master of Science/Master of Business Administration (conferred jointly with HBS)
  • 92 Doctor of Philosophy (conferred by GSAS)

Harvard Business School 867 degrees

  • 845 Master of Business Administration 
  • 22 Doctor of Philosophy (conferred by GSAS)

Harvard Divinity School 131 degrees

  • 39 Master of Divinity
  • 74 Master of Theological Studies
  • 11 Master of Religion and Public Life
  • 2 Master of Theology
  • 5 Doctor of Theology

Harvard Law School 833 degrees

  • 209 Master of Laws
  • 611 Doctor of Law
  • 13 Doctor of Juridical Science 

Harvard Kennedy School 590 degrees

  • 96 Master in Public Administration
  • 182 Master in Public Administration (Mid-Career)
  • 60 Master in Public Administration in International Development
  • 252 Master in Public Policy
  • 4 Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government (conferred by GSAS)
  • 9 Ph.D. in Public Policy (conferred by GSAS)

Harvard Graduate School of Design 315 degrees

  • 89 Master in Architecture
  • 33 Master of Architecture in Urban Design
  • 81 Master in Design Studies
  • 51 Master in Landscape Architecture
  • 3 Master of Landscape Architecture in Urban Design
  • 37 Master in Urban Planning
  • 4 Doctor of Design 
  • 17 Master in Design Engineering (conferred jointly with SEAS)

Harvard Graduate School of Education 989 degrees

  • 960 Master of Education
  • 26 Doctor of Education Leadership
  • 3 Doctor of Education

Harvard Medical School 335 degrees

  • 29 Master of Biomedical Informatics
  • 45 Master of Bioethics
  • 13 Master of Healthcare Quality and Safety
  • 17 Master in Clinical Service Operations
  • 74 Master in Medical Science
  • 157 Doctor of Medicine

Harvard School of Dental Medicine 61 degrees

  • 16 Master of Medical Sciences 
  • 8 Doctor of Medical Sciences 
  • 37 Doctor of Dental Medicine 

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health 455 degrees

  • 311 Master of Public Health                                                              
  • 114 Master of Science         
  • 25 Master in Health Care Management                                               
  • 4 Doctor of Public Health                                                   
  • 1 Doctor of Science                 

Harvard Extension School 1,479 degrees

  • 192 Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies
  • 1,287 Masters of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies  

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10 facts about today’s college graduates

A San Jose State University graduate prepares for commencement ceremonies with his family in December 2021.

Having a bachelor’s degree remains an important advantage in many sectors of the U.S. labor market. College graduates generally out-earn those who have not attended college, and they are more likely to be employed in the first place. At the same time, many Americans say they cannot afford to get a four-year degree – or that they just don’t want to.

Here are key facts about American college graduates.

This Pew Research Center analysis about U.S. college graduates relies on data from sources including the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics, the National Student Clearinghouse and the Federal Reserve Bank, as well as surveys conducted by the Center.

Everyone who took the Pew Research Center surveys cited is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about  the ATP’s methodology .

Nearly four-in-ten Americans ages 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, a share that has grown over the last decade. As of 2021, 37.9% of adults in this age group held a bachelor’s degree, including 14.3% who also obtained a graduate or professional degree, according to data from the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey. That share is up 7.5 percentage points from 30.4% in 2011.

An additional 10.5% had an associate degree in 2021. About four-in-ten Americans ages 25 and older had a high school diploma with no further education (25.3%) or completed some college but didn’t have a degree (14.9%).

In a reversal, women are now more likely than men to graduate from college, according to the Current Population Survey . In 2021, 39% of women ages 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree or more education, compared with 37% of men in the same age range. The gap in college completion is even wider among adults ages 25 to 34: 46% of women in this age group have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 36% of men.

A line graph showing that women in the U.S. are outpacing men in college graduation

In an October 2021 Pew Research Center survey of Americans without a degree, 34% of men said a major reason why they have not received a four-year college degree is that they just didn’t want to. Only one-in-four women said the same. Men were also more likely to say a major reason they didn’t have a four-year degree is that they didn’t need more education for the job or career they wanted (26% of men said this vs. 20% of women).

A chart showing that about a third of men who haven't completed four years of college say they 'just didn't want to' get a degree

Women (44%) were more likely than men (39%) to say not being able to afford college was a major reason they don’t have a bachelor’s degree. Men and women were about equally likely to say a major impediment was needing to work to help support their family.

A line graph showing that since 2000, the share of Americans with a bachelor's degree has increased across all races and ethnicities

There are racial and ethnic differences in college graduation patterns, as well as in the reasons for not completing a degree. Among adults ages 25 and older, 61% of Asian Americans have a bachelor’s degree or more education, along with 42% of White adults, 28% of Black adults and 21% of Hispanic adults, according to 2021 Current Population Survey data. The share of bachelor’s degree holders in each group has increased since 2010. That year, 52% of Asian Americans had a four-year degree or more, compared with a third of White adults, 20% of Black adults and 14% of Hispanic adults.

The October 2021 Center survey found that among adults without a bachelor’s degree, Hispanic adults (52%) were more likely than those who are White (39%) or Black (41%) to say a major reason they didn’t graduate from a four-year college is that they couldn’t afford it. Hispanic and Black adults were more likely than their White counterparts to say needing to work to support their family was a major reason.

While a third of White adults said not wanting to go to school was a major reason they didn’t complete a four-year degree, smaller shares of Black (22%) and Hispanic (23%) adults said the same. White adults were also more likely to cite not needing more education for the job or career they wanted. (There weren’t enough Asian adults without a bachelor’s degree in the sample to analyze separately.)

A bar chart showing that only about 62% of college students finish their program within six years

Only 62% of students who start a degree or certificate program finish their program within six years, according to the most recent data from the  National Student Clearinghouse , a nonprofit verification and research organization that tracked first-time college students who enrolled in fall 2015 with the intent of pursuing a degree or certificate. The degree completion rate for this group was highest among students who started at four-year, private, nonprofit schools (78.3%), and lowest among those who started at two-year public institutions (42.2%).

Business is the most commonly held bachelor’s degree, followed by health professions.  According to the  National Center for Education Statistics , about a fifth (19%) of the roughly 2 million bachelor’s degrees conferred in 2019-20 were in business. Health professions and related programs were the second most-popular field, making up 12.6% of degrees conferred that year. Business has been the single most common major since 1980-81; before that, education led the way.

The  least  common bachelor’s degrees in 2019-20 were in military technologies and applied sciences (1,156 degrees conferred in 2019-20), library science (118), and precision production (39).

There is a growing earnings gap between young college graduates and their counterparts without degrees. In 2021, full-time workers ages 22 to 27 who held a bachelor’s degree, but no further education, made a median annual wage of $52,000, compared with $30,000 for full-time workers of the same age with a high school diploma and no degree, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This gap has widened over time. Young bachelor’s degree holders earned a median annual wage of $48,481 in 1990, compared with $35,257 for full-time workers ages 22 to 27 with a high school diploma.

The unemployment rate is lower for college graduates than for workers without a bachelor’s degree, and that gap widened as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. In February 2020, just before the COVID-19 outbreak began in the U.S., only 1.9% of college graduates ages 25 and older were unemployed, compared with 3.1% of workers who completed some college but not a four-year degree, and 3.7% of workers with only a high school diploma. By June 2020, after the pandemic hit, 6.8% of college grads, 10.8% of workers with some college, and 12.2% of high school grads were unemployed.

By March 2022, the unemployment rate had nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels for college graduates (2%) while dropping to 3% among those with some college education but no four-year degree, and 4% among those with only a high school diploma.

A line graph showing that underemployed recent college grads are becoming less likely to work in 'good non-college jobs'

Recent college graduates are more likely than graduates overall to be underemployed – that is, working in jobs that typically do not require a college degree, according to an analysis of Census Bureau and BLS data by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York . As of December 2021, 41% of college graduates ages 22 to 27 were underemployed, compared with 34% among all college graduates. The underemployment rates for recent college grads rose in 2020 as the COVID-19 outbreak strained the job market, but have since returned to pre-pandemic levels.

As of the end of 2021, only 34% of underemployed graduates ages 22 to 27 worked what the Fed defines as “good non-college jobs” – those paying at least $45,000 a year – down from around half in the 1990s. The share of underemployed graduates ages 22 to 27 in low-wage jobs – those earning less than $25,000 annually – rose from about 9% in 1990 to 11% last year.

A chart showing that among household heads with at least a bachelor's degree, those with a college-educated parent are typically wealthier and have greater incomes

When it comes to income and wealth accumulation, first-generation college graduates lag substantially behind those with college-educated parents, according to a May 2021 Pew Research Center analysis . Households headed by a first-generation college graduate – that is, someone who has completed at least a bachelor’s degree but does not have a parent with a college degree – had a median annual income of $99,600 in 2019, compared with $135,800 for households headed by those with at least one parent who graduated from college. The median wealth of households headed by first-generation college graduates ($152,000) also trailed that of households headed by someone with a parent who graduated from college ($244,500). The higher household income of the latter facilitates saving and wealth accumulation.

The gap also reflects differences in how individuals finance their education. Second-generation college graduates tend to come from  more affluent families , while first-generation college graduates are more likely to incur education debt than those with a college-educated parent.

Most Americans with college degrees see value in their experience. In the Center’s October 2021 survey , majorities of graduates said their college education was extremely or very useful when it came to helping them grow personally and intellectually (79%), opening doors to job opportunities (70%) and developing specific skills and knowledge that could be used in the workplace (65%).

Younger college graduates were less likely than older ones to see value in their college education. For example, only a third of college graduates younger than 50 said their college experience was extremely useful in helping them develop skills and knowledge that could be used in the workplace. Among college graduates ages 50 and older, 45% said this.

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14 sets of twins and one set of triplets graduate from the same high school class

graduated phd from

The  graduating class  at this Florida high school will make you do a double — and triple — take.

Fourteen sets of  twins  and one set of triplets gradua t ed June 5 from Cooper City High School in Cooper City, Florida, about 40 minutes outside of Miami.

The group comprised about 6% of the 543 graduates.

“It was very special as they would come across the stage; I would shake their hand and give one a diploma, and then the second one would come over to do the same thing,” Vera Perkovic, the school’s principal, tells TODAY.com.

“It kind of just symbolized they’re their own person, but also, they have been together all these years as twins,” she adds.

Cooper City High School Principal Vera Perkovic referenced the twins and triplets in the class during her speech at graduation.Courtesy Broward County Public Schools

Among the graduates are two sets of identical twins and 12 sets of fraternal twins,  NBC 6, our South Florida station, reported .

Twins Jocelyn and Gabrielle Reed.

Gabrielle and Jocelyn Reed are one such set of identical twins.

“It was a great moment. It was also just bizarre because you raise twins, and everything is two at once,” Gabrielle and Jocelyn’s father, Aaron Reed, tells TODAY.com. “So, on some levels, it was twice as exciting, but it was also twice as chaotic and overwhelming.”

The sisters have attended school together since pre-K. Come August, they will go their separate ways for college.

Gabrielle is headed to Cornell University, while Jocelyn will attend Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Twins Jocelyn and Gabrielle Reed.

“I’m just really excited to go somewhere separate and be on my own,” Gabrielle says. “Everywhere I go, I’m lumped together with her and not really seen as my own person, so I’m really excited to be able to have my own experiences.”

As the editor of Cooper City High School’s yearbook, Jocelyn was always aware of the number of twins in her class, but it wasn’t until the group was in a room together that she realized just how special it is to have that many multiples.

“When you’re a twin, people treat you as a spectacle,” Jocelyn said. “So, it was crazy to see that it’s so common and that there are so many people that are also twins.”

Cooper City High School’s class of 2024 graduated June 5 at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.Vera Perkovic / Courtesy Broward County Public Schools

Broward County Public Schools believes the graduates have set a county record as most sets of twins to simultaneously graduate from one school.

Some of the students even created a slogan to commemorate their unique graduating class: “Twice as nice and triple the fun.”

Amanda is an editorial intern at TODAY.com and was born and raised in Miami, Florida.

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a graduate of/from the university of ...

  • Thread starter tucoz
  • Start date Sep 15, 2014
  • Sep 15, 2014

Which of these sentences is grammatically correct? 1. I am a graduate from the University of Sofia. 2. I am a graduate of the University of Sofia. I'm guessing #1 is the correct option due to the phrase: to graduate FROM college/university/high-school etc.  

Senior Member

I'd generally prefer the second. "I graduated at the University of Sofia" is also fine.  

Cenzontle

I agree with Smauler, "a graduate of XYZ University".  

Member Emeritus

  • Sep 16, 2014

We always use of , not "from" or "at", in that context. But with the verb , we use from . You are a graduate of the University of Sofia. You graduated from the University of Sofia.  

  • Sep 17, 2014

Thank you all for your quick response.  

WildWest

  • Jul 12, 2017

Hello. I have come to take the question further. What should we say if we want to add the major as well? "He is a graduate of XYZ University in Politics/Physics/Chemistry etc." Does the preposition in fit here? I suppose so. Secondly, do you see any problem with the arrangement of the elements in the sentence? I mean, can one express the same idea with the following?: "He is a graduate in Physics of XYZ University." I guess that one would not be correct to say.  

I prefer: "He graduated in Politics from XYZ University."  

Linkway said: I prefer: "He graduated in Politics from XYZ University." Click to expand...
  • Jul 13, 2017
WildWest said: "He is a graduate of XYZ University in Politics/Physics/Chemistry etc." Click to expand...

dojibear

WildWest said: Thank you for the reply. Isn't it safe to go with the noun form? Click to expand...

Ali Smith

  • Aug 22, 2023
dojibear said: To "be safe", you name the degree and year, not just the school and major. Linkway offers some examples. To say you "graduated from" a college means you received an undergraduate degree from that college. It could be a 4-year BS or BA or a 2-year "Associate degree". In several professions, the undergraduate degree is just the "first step". You need a 4-year degree, plus one or more graduate degrees, to work as a doctor, lawyer, nurse, teacher, etc. Click to expand...

Roxxxannne

No. Both "I graduated from Columbia" and "I am a graduate of Columbia" can refer to any degree that Columbia offers. Neither of them tells the listener what degree the speaker has or what they studied. PS I don't think Columbia offers Associate's degrees.  

I think these phrases mean the same to listeners: - I graduated from Columbia. - I am a graduate of Columbia. In general "to graduate" means "complete an undergrad degree" and "a graduate" is a person who has completed an undergrad degree. Higher degrees (master's, PhD) are "post-graduate" (after graduation) degrees, and people studying for them are called "post-graduate students".  

A person might say "I have degrees from Harvard, Bentley and NYU". In that sentence, you don't know which degree was an associate degree, a bachelor's, a master's, or a PhD.  

As someone who has spent decades in higher education, I have to disagree with @dojibear . I've heard and read sentences like the following many times. --I graduated from Columbia in 1993 with Master's in Public Administration. --I am a three-time graduate of Columbia: I have a BA in Political Science, an MA in History, and a PhD in East Asian Languages and Cultures. --My PhD is in history, specifically South Asian history; I'm a graduate of Columbia, although I did much of my coursework at Harvard. I followed my advisor to Columbia, and graduated from there in 2003. Also, the phrases I have usually heard are 'undergraduate degree' (BA, BS) and 'graduate degree '(MA, MS, PHD), and people who are in Master's and PhD programs are graduate students, not post-graduate students.  

Roxxxannne said: people who are in Master's and PhD programs are graduate students, not post-graduate students Click to expand...

JulianStuart

JulianStuart

dojibear said: It's a status thing. Some PhD's even want to be addressed as "Dr. Biden" instead of "Mrs. Biden". Click to expand...

Myridon

dojibear said: But I think "graduate student" means "student after graduation". Similarly "graduate degree" means "degree after graduation". That is what the adjective "graduate" means, in my opinion, in general English. The WR dictionary says the adjective "graduate" means "related to academic study beyond a bachelor's". Click to expand...

I've heard people (including me) mention their graduate degrees and not their bachelor's degrees in non-academic settings.  

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  • Doctor of Philosophy
  • Introduction

Harvard Griffin GSAS strives to provide students with timely, accurate, and clear information. If you need help understanding a specific policy, please contact the office that administers that policy.

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The doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree signifies mastery of a broad discipline of learning together with demonstrated competence in a special field within that discipline. In addition to the common requirements below, PhD candidates must complete additional requirements specified by their academic program . 

PhD students must register full-time until receipt of the degree, for a minimum of two years. At the discretion of the program, this requirement can be reduced up to one year (8 courses: 32 credits) if academic credit is given for work done elsewhere. A department may appeal to the Office of Academic Programs to request certification of other criteria to measure the amount of progress a student has made.

All incoming Harvard Griffin GSAS PhD students must demonstrate English proficiency . Those who are non-native speakers of English and have not received their undergraduate degree from a primarily English-speaking institution will have their English proficiency screened based on either the iBT TOEFL or IELTS academic speaking score.

PhD students must pay two years of full tuition and two years of reduced tuition unless the time from the student’s initial registration to completion of the degree is less than four years. In years five and up, students must pay the facilities fee.

In most programs, students must pass a general examination or other preliminary or qualifying examinations as determined by the academic program before undertaking independent dissertation research. 

Many programs require that students prepare a dissertation prospectus, which must be approved by their program often before beginning the process of extensive independent research, fieldwork, and writing the dissertation. Any student wishing to present a dissertation as a published article, series of articles, book or other document, or a manuscript that has been accepted for publication must also receive the approval of their program. Approved dissertations must be submitted to ProQuest ETD by the dates noted in the degree calendar .

  • A dissertation submitted for another degree, either at Harvard or elsewhere, may not be used.
  • Students writing their dissertations must follow Harvard Griffin GSAS formatting policies.
  • If an approved dissertation is submitted to the Registrar’s Office prior to the registration deadline for a term, a student does not need to register for that term.
  • If a student registers for a term and then submits an approved dissertation to the Registrar’s Office before or by the last day to cancel registration for the term without payment of tuition, registration will be canceled and any tuition paid for that term will be refunded.

In addition to overall satisfactory progress requirements, PhD students must make progress toward the completion of expected milestones, which typically take the form of: 

  • course and GPA requirements 
  • general exams 
  • dissertation prospectus and/or prospectus defense, and  
  • dissertation writing and defense. 

Academic programs will outline the required timelines for academic milestone completion and may require additional and/or more stringent conditions.

PhD candidates who have not completed the requirements for the degree by their 10th year of study will be  withdrawn . Once the dissertation is complete, withdrawn students may apply for  readmission for the purpose of receiving the degree. Exceptions may be made for students with special circumstances. For more information, students should contact their program, which may confer with the Office of Academic Programs to review particular circumstances.

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The department offers programs covering a broad range of topics leading to the Doctor of Philosophy and the Doctor of Science degrees (the student chooses which to receive; they are functionally equivalent). Candidates are admitted to either the Pure or Applied Mathematics programs but are free to pursue interests in both groups. Of the roughly 125 Ph.D. students, about 2/3 are in Pure Mathematics, 1/3 in Applied Mathematics.

The two programs in Pure and Applied Mathematics offer basic and advanced classes in analysis, algebra, geometry, Lie theory, logic, number theory, probability, statistics, topology, astrophysics, combinatorics, fluid dynamics, numerical analysis, mathematics of data, and the theory of computation. In addition, many mathematically-oriented courses are offered by other departments. Students in Applied Mathematics are especially encouraged to take courses in engineering and scientific subjects related to their research.

All students pursue research under the supervision of the faculty , and are encouraged to take advantage of the many seminars and colloquia at MIT and in the Boston area.

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Degree requirements consist of:

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  • Classroom teaching
  • Original thesis and defense

Prospective students are invited to consult the graduate career timeline for more information, and to read about the application procedure .

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  • 2023 FACTS: Applicants and Matriculants Data

2023 FACTS: Enrollment, Graduates, and MD-PhD Data

  • 2024 FACTS: Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) Data
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By Institution

B-1.1 Total Enrollment by U.S. Medical School and Gender, 2014-2015 through 2018-2019
B-1.2 Total Enrollment by U.S. Medical School and Gender, 2019-2020 through 2023-2024
B-2.1 Total Graduates by U.S. Medical School, Gender, and Year, 2014-2015 through 2018-2019
B-2.2 Total Graduates by U.S. Medical School, Gender, and Year, 2019- 2020 through 2023-2024

By Gender and Race/Ethnicity

B-3 Total U.S. Medical School Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity and Gender, 2019-2020 through 2023-2024
B-4 Total U.S. Medical School Graduates by Race/Ethnicity and Gender, 2019-2020 through 2023-2024
B-5.1 Total Enrollment by U.S. Medical School and Race/Ethnicity (Alone), 2023-2024
B-5.2 Total Enrollment by U.S. Medical School and Race/Ethnicity (Alone or In Combination), 2023-2024
B-6.1 Total Graduates by U.S. Medical School and Race/Ethnicity (Alone), 2023-2024
B-6.2 Total Graduates by U.S. Medical School and Race/Ethnicity (Alone or In Combination), 2023-2024
B-14 Enrollment and Graduates of U.S. MD-Granting Medical Schools by Race/Ethnicity (Alone) and Gender, 2020-2021 through 2023-2024

MD-PhD and Other Dual Degrees

B-7 MD-PhD Applicants to U.S. Medical Schools by Race/Ethnicity and State of Legal Residence, 2023-2024
B-8 U.S. Medical School MD-PhD Applications and Matriculants by School, In-State Status, and Gender, 2023-2024
B-9 MD-PhD Matriculants to U.S. Medical Schools by Race/Ethnicity and State of Legal Residence, 2023-2024
B-10 MCAT Scores and GPAs for MD-PhD Applicants and Matriculants to U.S. Medical Schools, 2019-2020 through 2023-2024
B-11.1 Total MD-PhD Enrollment by U.S. Medical School and Gender, 2014-2015 through 2018-2019
B-11.2 Total MD-PhD Enrollment by U.S. Medical School and Gender, 2019-2020 through 2023-2024
B-12 First-Year, Research LOA, and Total MD-PhD Enrollment by U.S. Medical School, 2023-2024
B-13 Race/Ethnicity Responses (Alone and In Combination) of MD-PhD Graduates of U.S. Medical Schools, 2019-2020 through 2023-2024
B-15 Total U.S. MD-Granting Medical School Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity (Alone), Gender, and Degree Program, 2023-2024

Summary Data

Chart 4 Applicants, Matriculants, and Enrollment to U.S. Medical Schools, 1980-1981 through 2023-2024
Chart 5 Graduates to U.S. Medical Schools by Gender, 1980-1981 through 2023-2024
Table 1 Applicants, Matriculants, Enrollment, and Graduates to U.S. Medical Schools, 2014-2015 through 2023-2024
Table 2 MD Graduates who Entered Residency Training at Programs Currently Affiliated or Not Affiliated with their Medical Schools of Graduation, 2015-2016 through 2021-2022
Table 3 MD-PhD Graduates who Entered Residency Training at Programs Currently Affiliated or Not Affiliated with their Medical Schools of Graduation, 2015-2016 through 2021-2022

Additional Resources

Graduation Rates and Attrition Rates of U.S. Medical Students (PDF) This AAMC Data Snapshot provides information on the graduation and attrition rates of U.S. Medical Students.

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Cornell Ph.D. students and postdocs looking to make your LinkedIn profile shine are invited to join Careers Beyond Academia for "Create an Employer-Ready LinkedIn Profile" on Monday (9/16) where you'll hear pro-tips and get to workshop your own profile: https://gradcareers.cornell.edu/event/create-an-employer-ready-linkedin-profile-8/2024-09-16/

Cornell graduate students: Want hands-on assistance workshopping your NSF GRFP proposal? Sign up for a 20-minute peer review session on Monday (9/16) or Tuesday (9/17): https://gradschool.cornell.edu/event/nsf-grfp-proposals-in-person-peer-review-session/2024-09-16/

Prospective students: Chat with our faculty, staff, and graduate students; learn about offices and programs that will support you at Cornell; and watch videos and collect documents at this year's Virtual Graduate School Fair on Friday, Oct. 4: https://cornellgraduateschoolfair.vfairs.com/ @CornellOISE

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55 correctional officers set to graduate from Alabama Department of Corrections Academy

by Sumner Harrell

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey and ADOC Graduates on September 10, 2024 (Office of Governor Kay Ivey)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WBMA) — Dozens of new correctional officers are set to graduate from the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) Academy Thursday.

On Thursday, September 12 at 10:30 a.m., 55 COTs will graduate55 graduates are expected to graduate from the Alabama Criminal Justice Training Center on the campus of Wallace State Community College in Selma.

The ADOC said the trainees satisfactorily completed 10 consecutive weeks of training to obtain Alabama Peace Officers’ Standard and Training Commission (APOSTC) certification and become Correctional Officers.

SEE ALSO: Alabama Sen. Tuberville blocks quick promotion of top aide to Defense Secretary Austin

SEE ALSO: Outgoing Dept of Veterans Affairs Commissioner releases statement

Governor Kay Ivey greeted the officers on the steps of the Alabama Governor’s Mansion Tuesday.

Ivey issued the following comment:

I am proud of the 55 Correctional Officers graduating from the Academy this week and was honored to host them at the Alabama Governor’s Mansion. These men and women have chosen a career of true public service. I reminded them that being a Corrections Officer is highly critical and really important to public safety in our state. Here in Alabama, we strongly back the blue, and that includes our Corrections Officers, and I was proud to personally share that with these officers today.

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Archived funding opportunity

Nsf 23-605: graduate research fellowship program (grfp), program solicitation, document information, document history.

  • Posted: July 18, 2023
  • Replaces: NSF 22-614
  • Replaced by: NSF 24-591

Program Solicitation NSF 23-605



Directorate for Biological Sciences

Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering

Directorate for STEM Education
     Division of Graduate Education

Directorate for Engineering

Directorate for Geosciences

Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences

Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships

Office of Integrative Activities

Office of International Science and Engineering

Application Deadline(s) (received by 5 p.m. local time of applicant’s mailing address):

     October 16, 2023

Life Sciences

     October 17, 2023

Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Materials Research, Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education and Learning

     October 19, 2023

Engineering

     October 20, 2023

Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy

Important Information And Revision Notes

  • This solicitation covers the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 competition.
  • Applicants must use the Research.gov/GRFP site ( https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do ) to register in Research.gov and submit their applications through the GRFP Application Module. Do not send application materials outside of the GRFP Application Module.
  • Applications are due on the deadline date at 5:00 p.m. local time of the applicant’s mailing address.
  • Currently enrolled second-year graduate students are strongly advised to provide official Registrar-issued transcripts as part of their application.
  • NSF will continue to emphasize high priority research in alignment with the priorities laid out in pages 127-128 of the FY2024 budget https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/budget_fy2024.pdf
  • Portions of the eligibility criteria have been rewritten for clarity.
  • Reference letter writers must use the Research.gov/GRFP site ( https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do ) to register in Research.gov and submit reference letters through the Reference Letter System. Reference letters are due October 27 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
  • Applicants and reference letter writers requiring accessibility accommodation are asked to notify the GRF Operations Center at least four weeks before the deadline to coordinate assistance with NSF in submitting the application or reference letter.

Summary Of Program Requirements

General information.

Program Title:

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. The GRFP provides three years of support over a five-year fellowship period for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. NSF actively encourages submission of applications from the full spectrum of diverse talent in STEM. NSF GRFP was established to recruit and support individuals who demonstrate the potential to make significant contributions in STEM. Thus, NSF especially encourages applications from undergraduate seniors and Bachelor's degree-holders interested in pursuing research-based graduate study in STEM. First- and second-year graduate students in eligible STEM fields and degree programs are also encouraged to apply.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

Contact: GRF Operations Center, telephone: (866) 673-4737, email: [email protected]

  • 47.041 --- Engineering
  • 47.049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences
  • 47.050 --- Geosciences
  • 47.070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering
  • 47.074 --- Biological Sciences
  • 47.075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences
  • 47.076 --- STEM Education
  • 47.079 --- Office of International Science and Engineering
  • 47.083 --- Office of Integrative Activities (OIA)
  • 47.084 --- NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award:

Estimated Number of Awards: 2,500

NSF will support at least 2,500 new Graduate Research Fellowships per fiscal year under this program solicitation pending availability of funds.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $159,000

Per award (Fellowship), pending the availability of funds.

Each Fellowship provides three years of support over a five-year fellowship period. For each of the three years of support, NSF provides a $37,000 stipend and $16,000 cost of education allowance to the graduate degree-granting institution of higher education for each Fellow who uses the support in a fellowship year. The Fellowship is portable and can be transferred to a different institution of higher education if a Fellow chooses to transfer to another institution after completion of the first Fellowship year. While the Fellowship is offered to the individual, the Fellowship funds are awarded to the institution of higher education at which a Fellow is enrolled and the institution is responsible for disbursement of the stipend to the Fellow.

Eligibility Information

Organization Limit:

Fellowship applications must be submitted by the prospective Fellow. Applicants must use the GRFP application module in Research.gov ( https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do ) to submit the application. Confirmation of acceptance in a graduate degree program in STEM or STEM education is required at the time of Fellowship acceptance, no later than the deadline indicated in the fellowship offer letter, of the year the Fellowship is accepted. Prospective Fellows must enroll in a non-profit university, college, or institution of higher education accredited in, and having a campus located in, the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that offers advanced degrees in STEM and STEM education no later than fall of the year the Fellowship is accepted. All Fellows from the date of Fellowship Start through Completion or Termination of the Fellowship must be enrolled in a graduate degree-granting institution of higher education accredited in, and having a campus located in, the United States its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

See the Detailed Eligibility Requirements in Section IV for full information. Eligibility is based on the applicant's status at the application deadline. Applicants must self-certify that they are eligible to receive the Fellowship. To be eligible, an applicant must meet all of the following eligibility criteria at the application deadline: Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident Intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in a research-based Master's or doctoral degree program in an eligible Field of Study in STEM or STEM education (See Appendix and Section IV.3 for eligible Fields of Study) Have completed no more than one academic year (according to institution's academic calendar) while enrolled in a graduate degree program Never previously accepted a Graduate Research Fellowship Declined any previously offered Graduate Research Fellowship by the acceptance deadline Never previously applied to GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program Never earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field Individuals holding joint Bachelor's-Master's degrees who did not progress directly to a doctoral program the semester following award of the joint degree must apply as returning graduate students (see below) Individuals with prior graduate enrollment who have: (i) completed more than one academic year in any graduate degree-granting program, (ii) earned a previous master's degree of any kind (including Bachelor's-Master's degree), or (iii) earned a professional degree must meet the following requirements: not enrolled in a graduate degree program at application deadline two or more consecutive years past graduate degree enrollment or completion at the application deadline Not be a current NSF employee Number of Times An Individual May Apply Undergraduate seniors and Bachelor's degree holders who have never enrolled in a graduate degree program have no restrictions on the number of times they can apply before enrolling in a degree-granting graduate program. Currently enrolled graduate students who have completed no more than one academic year (according to institution's academic calendar) while enrolled in a graduate degree program can apply only once . Non-degree coursework does not count toward the one academic year limit. Individuals applying while enrolled in a joint Bachelor's-Master's degree program are considered graduate students who: i) must have completed three (3) years in the joint program, and; ii) are limited to one application to GRFP; they will not be eligible to apply again as doctoral students. For GRFP, joint Bachelor's-Master's degrees are defined as degrees concurrently pursued and awarded . Individuals holding joint Bachelor's-Master's degrees, currently enrolled as first-year doctoral students, who (i) have not previously applied as graduate students and (ii) enrolled in the doctoral program the semester following award of the joint degree, may only apply in the first year of the doctoral program. Applications withdrawn by November 15 of the application year do not count toward the one-time graduate application limit. Applications withdrawn after November 15 count toward this one-time limit. Applications not reviewed by NSF do not count toward the one-time graduate application limit.
An eligible applicant may submit only one application per annual competition.

Application Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. application preparation instructions.

Letters of Intent: Not applicable

Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not applicable

Application Instructions: This solicitation contains information that deviates from the standard NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing Requirements:

Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:

No indirect costs are allowed.

Other Budgetary Limitations:

Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

C. Due Dates

Application review information criteria.

Merit Review Criteria:

National Science Board approved Merit Review Criteria (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts) apply. Additional Solicitation-Specific Review Criteria also apply (see Section VI.A below).

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions:

NSF GRFP awards are made to the institution of higher education at which a Fellow is or will be enrolled. The awardee institution is responsible for financial management of the award and disbursement of Fellowship funds to the individual Fellow. The institution will administer the awards, including any amendments, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials . All Fellowships are subject to the provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials .

Reporting Requirements:

See reporting requirements in full text of solicitation and the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials . Fellows are required to submit annual activity reports and to declare fellowship status by the deadline specified in the notification sent by email each year. Additional reporting requirements are presented in Section VII.C of this solicitation.

I. Introduction

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is a National Science Foundation-wide program that provides Fellowships to individuals selected early in their graduate careers based on their demonstrated potential for significant research achievements in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. Three years of support over a five-year period are provided for graduate study that leads to a research-based master's or doctoral degree in STEM or STEM education (see eligible Fields of Study in Appendix).

The program goals are: 1) to select, recognize, and financially support early-career individuals with the demonstrated potential to be high achieving scientists and engineers, and 2) to broaden participation of the full spectrum of diverse talents in STEM. NSF actively encourages submission of applications from the full spectrum of diverse talent in STEM.

GRFP is a critical program in NSF's overall strategy to develop the globally-engaged workforce necessary to ensure the Nation's leadership in advancing science and engineering research and innovation. The ranks of NSF Fellows include numerous individuals who have made transformative breakthrough discoveries in science and engineering, become leaders in their chosen careers, and been honored as Nobel laureates.

II. Program Description

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awards Fellowships for graduate study leading to research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM or in STEM education. GRFP supports individuals proposing a comprehensive plan for graduate education that takes individual interests and competencies into consideration. The plan describes the academic achievements, attributes, and experiences that illustrate the applicant's demonstrated potential for significant research achievements. The applicant must provide a detailed profile of their relevant education, research experience, and plans for graduate education that demonstrates this potential.

Prospective applicants are advised that submission of an application implies their intent to pursue graduate study in a research-based program in STEM or STEM education at an accredited, non-profit institution of higher education having a campus located in the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. All applicants are expected to either have adequate preparation to enroll in a research-based master's or doctoral program, or be enrolled in such a program by fall of the year the Fellowship is accepted. From the date of the Fellowship Start through Completion or Termination of the Fellowship, applicants accepting the award (Fellows) must be enrolled in an accredited graduate degree-granting institution of higher education having a campus located in the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

In FY2024, NSF will continue to fund outstanding Graduate Research Fellowships in all areas of science and engineering supported by NSF and continue to emphasize high priority research areas in alignment with NSF goals and priorities listed in pages 127-128 of the FY2024 budget ( https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/budget_fy2024.pdf ). Applications are encouraged in all disciplines supported by NSF.

III. Award Information

Fellowship funding will be for a maximum of three years of financial support (in 12-month allocations, starting in fall or summer) usable over a five-year fellowship period. The anticipated announcement date for the Fellowship awards is early April each year.

The Fellowship is portable and can be transferred to a different institution of higher education if a Fellow chooses to transfer to another institution after completion of the first Fellowship year. While the Fellowship is offered to the individual, the Fellowship funds are awarded to the institution at which a Fellow is enrolled and is considered the official NSF awardee institution. The awardee institution receives up to a $53,000 award per Fellow who uses the support in a fellowship year. The awardee institution is responsible for disbursement of fellowship funds to the Fellow. The Graduate Research Fellowship stipend is $37,000 for a 12-month tenure period, prorated in whole month increments of $3,083. The Cost of Education allowance provides payment in lieu of tuition and mandatory fees to the institution of $16,000 per year of fellowship support.

During receipt of the fellowship support, the institution is required to exempt Fellows from paying tuition and fees normally charged to students of similar academic standing, unless such charges are optional or are refundable (i.e., the institution is responsible for tuition and required fees in excess of the cost-of-education allowance). Acceptance of fellowship funds by the awardee institution indicates acceptance of and adherence to these and other terms and conditions of the NSF GRFP award. Refer to NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials for restrictions on the use of the cost-of-education allowance.

GRFP awards are eligible for supplemental funding as described in Chapter VI of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) ( NSF 23-1 ).

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects as described in Chapter II.F of the PAPPG . Fellows with disabilities may apply for assistance after consulting the instructions in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials.

Career-Life Balance Supplemental Funding Requests (Dear Colleague Letter NSF 21-021 ) can be requested by the awardee institution to provide additional personnel (e.g., technician) to sustain the research of Fellows on approved medical leave due to family leave situations.

Fellows are eligible to apply for non-academic INTERN supplements following guidance specific to GRFP.

Honorable Mention

The NSF accords Honorable Mention to meritorious applicants who do not receive Fellowship offers. This is considered a significant national academic achievement.

IV. Eligibility Information

Applicant Eligibility:

Limit on Number of Applications per Applicant: 1

Additional Eligibility Info:

Eligibility is based on the applicant's status at the application deadline. Detailed Eligibility Requirements: Described in detail below are the eligibility requirements for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program: (1) citizenship, (2) degree requirements, and (3) field of study, degree programs, and proposed research. Applicants are strongly advised to read the entire program solicitation carefully to ensure that they understand all the eligibility requirements. Applicants must self-certify that they meet all eligibility criteria. 1. Citizenship Applicants must be United States citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States by the application deadline. The term "national" designates a native resident of a commonwealth or territory of the United States. It does not refer to a citizen of another country who has applied for United States citizenship and who has not received U.S. citizenship by the application deadline, nor does it refer to an individual present in the U.S. on any type of visa. 2. Degree Requirements Applicants are eligible to apply: 1) as current undergraduates, or Bachelor's degree holders who have never enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program, and who will be prepared to attend graduate school in fall of the award year; 2) as current graduate students who have not completed more than one academic year (according to institution's academic calendar) of any degree-granting graduate program; or 3) as returning graduate students who are not currently enrolled and who have had an interruption of at least two consecutive years in graduate study since their most recent enrollment in any graduate degree-granting program, regardless of whether the degree was completed or awarded. Below are detailed guidelines to determine eligibility: a) Applicants not currently enrolled in a graduate degree program, with no prior enrollment in a graduate degree-granting program (including joint Bachelor's-Master's programs): With no prior graduate degree program enrollment Undergraduate students on track to receive a Bachelor's degree by the fall of the year following the application (e.g., senior or final year of Bachelor's degree) and Bachelor's degree holders never enrolled in a graduate degree program can apply an unlimited number of times prior to enrolling in a graduate degree program. They must be prepared to enroll in a full-time graduate degree program by fall of the year they are offered a Graduate Research Fellowship. With one year or less of prior graduate degree-granting program enrollment Applicants must not have completed more than one academic year (according to institution's academic calendar) of graduate study as indicated in the academic transcript issued by the Registrar of the universities attended as of the application deadline (see exception below). Applicants re-entering graduate study : applicants who have completed more than one academic year (according to institution's academic calendar) of graduate study or earned a previous Master's or professional degree are eligible only if they have had an interruption in graduate study of at least two consecutive years immediately prior to the application deadline, and are not enrolled in a graduate program at the deadline . Applicants must not have engaged in any graduate coursework during the interruption. Applicants should address the reasons for the interruption in graduate study in the Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement. b) Applicants pursuing a Master's degree concurrently with a Bachelor's degree (joint Bachelor's-Master's degree program in which both degrees are awarded at the same time as indicated on the transcript): Individuals applying while enrolled in a joint Bachelor's-Master's degree program are considered graduate students, who: 1) must have completed three years in the joint program, and; ii) are limited to one application to GRFP; they will not be eligible to apply again as doctoral students. Individuals holding joint Bachelor's-Master's degrees, currently enrolled as first-year doctoral students, who have not previously applied as graduate students and enrolled in the doctoral program the semester following award of the joint degree, may only apply in the first year of the doctoral program. Individuals holding joint Bachelor's-Master's degrees who did not progress directly to a doctoral program the semester following award of the joint degree must apply as returning graduate students (see above). c) Applicants currently enrolled in a graduate degree program: Applicants must not have completed more than one academic year of graduate study as indicated in the academic transcript issued by the Registrar of the universities attended, as of the application deadline. Participation in non-degree summer activities PRIOR TO graduate status as indicated in the academic transcript issued by the Registrar before the start of the fall graduate program is not included in this total. Graduate status is understood to begin on the date indicated on the Registrar-issued transcript and ALL activities after that date will be considered graduate activities. Second-year graduate students are strongly advised to include official Registrar-issued transcripts with their application. If the transcript does not clearly indicate the start date of graduate status, applicants are strongly advised to include documents from the Registrar confirming the start of their graduate status. Graduate coursework taken without being enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program is not counted in this limit. 3. Field of Study, Degree Programs, and Proposed Research Fellowships are awarded for graduate study leading to research-based Master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education, in eligible Fields of Study listed below: Chemistry Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering Engineering Geosciences Life Sciences Materials Research Mathematical Sciences Physics & Astronomy Psychology Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences STEM Education and Learning Research A complete list of eligible Major Fields of Study and their subfields are listed in the Appendix. If awarded, Fellows must enroll in a graduate degree program consistent with the Major Field of Study proposed in their application. A fellowship will not be awarded in a different Major Field of Study from that indicated in the application. Only research-based Master's and doctoral degrees in STEM or STEM education are eligible for GRFP support. Professional degree programs and graduate programs that are primarily course-based with no thesis are ineligible for GRFP support. Within eligible fields of study, there are ineligible areas of study and ineligible areas of proposed research. See below for ineligible areas of study and proposed research. Applications determined to be ineligible will not be reviewed. a) Ineligible degree programs Individuals are not eligible to apply if they will be enrolled in a practice-oriented professional degree program such as medical, dental, law, and public health degrees at any time during the fellowship. Ineligible degree programs include, but are not limited to, MBA, MPH, MSW, JD, MD, DVM and DDS. Joint or combined professional degree-science programs (e.g., MD/PhD or JD/PhD) and dual professional degree-science programs are also not eligible. Individuals enrolled in a graduate degree program while on a leave of absence from a professional degree program or professional degree-graduate degree joint program are not eligible. b) Ineligible areas of study Individuals are not eligible to apply if they will be enrolled in graduate study focused on clinical practice, counseling, social work, patient-oriented research, epidemiological and medical behavioral studies, outcomes research, and health services research. Ineligible study includes pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and behavioral interventions for disease or disorder prevention, prophylaxis, diagnosis, therapy, or treatment. Research to provide evidence leading to a scientific basis for consideration of a change in health policy or standard of care is not eligible. Graduate study focused on community, public, or global health, or other population-based research including medical intervention trials is also not eligible. c) Ineligible proposed research (i) Research for which the goals are directly human disease- or health-related, including the etiology, diagnosis, and/or treatment of disease or disorder is not eligible for support. Research activities using animal models of disease, for developing or testing of drugs or other procedures for treatment of disease or disorder are not eligible. (ii) Research focused on basic questions in plant pathology are eligible, however, applied studies focused on maximizing production in agricultural plants or impacts on food safety, are not eligible. (iii) Research with implications that inform policy is eligible. Research with the expressed intent to influence, advocate for, or effect specific policy outcomes is not eligible. d) Limited exceptions to ineligible proposed research (i) Certain areas of bioengineering research directed at medical use are eligible. These include research projects in bioengineering to aid persons with disabilities, or to diagnose or treat human disease or disorder, provided they apply engineering principles to problems in medicine while primarily advancing engineering knowledge. Applicants planning to study and conduct research in these areas of bioengineering should select biomedical engineering as the field of study. (ii) Certain areas of materials research directed at development of materials for use in biological or biomedical systems are eligible, provided they are focused on furthering fundamental materials research. (iii) Certain areas of research with etiology-, diagnosis-, or treatment-related goals that advance fundamental knowledge in engineering, mathematical, physical, computer or information sciences, are eligible for support. Applicants are advised to consult a faculty member, academic advisor, mentor, or other advisor for guidance on preparation of their research plans, and selection of Major Fields of Study and subfields.

V. Application Preparation And Submission Instructions

Fellowship applications must be submitted online using the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Application Module at https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/Login.do according to the deadline corresponding with the Field of Study selected in the application .

Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. local time as determined by the applicant’s mailing address provided in the application. Applications received after the Field of Study deadline will not be reviewed . Applications submitted to a Field of Study deadline not in alignment with the proposed research plan will not be reviewed.

All reference letters must be submitted online by the reference writers through the GRFP Application Module ( https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/Login.do ) and must be received by the reference letter deadline (see Application Preparation and Submission Instructions/C. Due Dates of this Solicitation), of 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Reference letter writers cannot be family members of the applicant. Applicants are required to provide the name and contact information for three (3) reference writers from non-family members. Up to five (5) potential reference letter writers can be provided. Two reference letters from non-family members must be received by the reference letter deadline applications to be reviewed. If fewer than two reference letters (one or none) are received by the reference letter deadline, the application will not be reviewed.

Applicants must submit the following information through the GRFP Application Module: Personal Information; Education, Work and Other Experience; Transcript PDFs; Proposed Field(s) of Study; Proposed Graduate Study and Graduate School Information; the names and email addresses of at least three reference letter writers; Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement PDF; and Graduate Research Plan Statement PDF.

Only the information required in the GRFP Application Module will be reviewed. No additional items or information will be accepted or reviewed. Do not provide links to web pages within the application, except as part of citations in the References Cited section. Images must be included in the page limits. Review of the application and reference letters is based solely on materials received by the application and reference letter deadlines. Do not email application materials.

Applicants must follow the instructions in the GRFP Application Module for completing each section of the application. The statements must be written using the following guidelines:

  • standard 8.5" x 11" page size
  • 11 point or higher font, except text that is part of an image
  • Times New Roman font for all text, Cambria Math font for equations, Symbol font for non-alphabetic characters (it is recommended that equations and symbols be inserted as an image)
  • 1" margins on all sides, no text inside 1" margins (no header, footer, name, or page number)
  • No less than single-spacing (approximately 6 lines per inch)
  • Do not use line spacing options such as “exactly 11 point,” that are less than single spaced
  • PDF file format only

Compliance with these guidelines will be automatically checked by the GRFP Application Module. Documents that are not compliant will not be accepted by the GRFP Application Module. Applicants are strongly advised to proofread and upload their documents early to ensure they are format-compliant and that non-compliant documents do not delay upload of the complete application for receipt by the deadline. Applications that are not compliant with these format requirements will not be reviewed.

The maximum length of the Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement is three (3) pages (PDF). The maximum length of the Graduate Research Plan Statement is two (2) pages (PDF). These page limits include all references, citations, charts, figures, images, and lists of publications and presentations. Applicants must certify that the two statements (Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement, and Graduate Research Plan Statement) in the application are their own original work. As explained in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG): “NSF expects strict adherence to the rules of proper scholarship and attribution. The responsibility for proper scholarship and attribution rests with the authors of a proposal; all parts of the proposal should be prepared with equal care for this concern. Authors other than the PI (or any co-PI) should be named and acknowledged. Serious failure to adhere to such standards can result in findings of research misconduct. NSF policies and rules on research misconduct are discussed in the PAPPG, as well as 45 CFR Part 689."

Both statements must address NSF’s review criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts (described in detail in Section VI). " Intellectual Merit" and "Broader Impacts" sections must be present under separate headings in both Personal and Research Plan statements. Applications that do not have separate headings for Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts will not be reviewed.

In the application, applicants must list their undergraduate institution, and all graduate institutions attended with a start date prior to the fall term in which the application is submitted. Transcripts are required for all degree-granting programs listed. Transcripts may be included for all other institutions listed in the Education section. If the applicant started at the current institution in the fall of the application year and the institution does not provide unofficial or official transcripts prior to completion of the first term, the applicant may submit a class schedule/enrollment verification form in place of a transcript. At least one transcript must be included for the application to be accepted by the GRFP Application Module.

Transcripts must be uploaded through the GRFP Application Module by the Field of Study application deadline. Applicants should redact personally-identifiable information (date of birth, individual Social Security Numbers, personal financial information, home addresses, home telephone numbers and personal email addresses) from the transcripts before uploading. Transcripts must be uploaded as a PDF to be accepted by the GRFP Application Module. Transcripts must not be encrypted; the GRFP Application Module does not accept encrypted or password-protected transcripts.

Applicants who earned master’s degrees in joint Bachelor's-Master’s degree programs should submit transcripts that clearly document the joint program. If the transcript does not document the joint program and does not show that the Bachelor's and Master's degrees were conferred on the same date, applicants must upload a letter from the registrar of the institution certifying enrollment in a joint program, appended to the transcript for that institution. Failure to provide clear documentation of a joint program may result in an application being returned without review.

Failure to comply fully with the above requirements will result in the application not being reviewed.

Applications that are incomplete due to missing required transcripts and/or reference letters (fewer than two letters received), or that do not have "received" status in the Application Module on the application deadline for the selected Field of Study) will not be reviewed. Applicants are advised to submit applications early to avoid unanticipated delays on the deadline dates.

Reference Letters Reference writers cannot be family members of the applicant. Applicants are required to provide the name and contact information for three (3) reference writers from non-family members. Up to five (5) potential reference letter writers can be provided. Two reference letters from non-family members must be received by the reference letter deadline for an application to be reviewed. If fewer than two reference letters (one or none) are received by the reference letter deadline, the application will not be reviewed.

No changes to the list of reference writers are allowed after the application is submitted. Applicants are strongly advised to check the accuracy of email addresses provided for reference writers before submitting their application.

All reference letters must be received in the GRFP Application Module by 5:00 p.m. ET (Eastern Time) on the letter submission deadline date (see the deadline posted in GRFP Application Module and in Application Preparation and Submission Instructions/C. Due Dates of this Solicitation). No exceptions to the reference letter submission deadline will be granted. Each letter is limited to two (2) pages (PDF). The GRFP Application Module allows applicants to request up to five (5) reference letters and to rank those reference letters in order of preference for review. If more than three reference letters are received, the top three letters according to ranked preference will be considered for the application. Reference writers will be notified by an email of the request to submit a letter of reference on behalf of an applicant. Reference writers will not be notified of the ranked preference for review provided by the applicant.

To avoid disqualifying an application, reference writers should upload the letter well in advance of the 5:00 p.m. ET deadline . No letters will be accepted via email. Letter writers will receive a confirmation email after successful upload via the GRFP Application Module.

For technical assistance with letter upload: NSF Help Desk: [email protected] ; 1-800-381-1532

Applicants must enter an email address for each reference writer into the GRFP Application Module. An exact email address is crucial to matching the reference writer and the applicant in the GRFP Application Module. Applicants should ask reference writers well in advance of the reference writer deadline, and it is recommended they provide copies of their application materials to the writers.

Applicant-nominated reference writers must upload their letters through the GRFP Application Module. Reference letter requirements include:

  • Institutional or professional letterhead, if available
  • SIGNED by the reference writer, including the name, professional title, department, and institution
  • Two (2) page limit (PDF file format)
  • Standard 8.5" x 11" page size
  • 11-point or higher Times New Roman font and 1" margins on all sides
  • Single spaced using normal (100%) single-line spacing

The reference letter should address the NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts (described in detail below). It should include details explaining the nature of the relationship to the applicant (including research advisor role), comments on the applicant's potential for contributing to a globally-engaged United States science and engineering workforce, statements about the applicant's academic potential and prior research experiences, statements about the applicant's proposed research, and any other information to aid review panels in evaluating the application according to the NSF Merit Review Criteria.

Application Completion Status

Applicants should use the "Application Completion Status" feature in the GRFP Application Module to ensure all application materials, including reference letters, have been received by NSF before the deadlines. For technical support, call the NSF Help Desk at 1-800-381-1532 or e-mail [email protected] .

Interdisciplinary Applications

NSF welcomes applications for interdisciplinary programs of study and research; however, data on interdisciplinary study is collected for informational purposes only. Interdisciplinary research is defined as "a mode of research by teams or individuals that integrates information, data, techniques, tools, perspectives, concepts, and/or theories from two or more disciplines or bodies of specialized knowledge to advance fundamental understanding or to solve problems whose solutions are beyond the scope of a single discipline or area of research practice" (Committee on Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, 2004. Facilitating interdisciplinary research . National Academies. Washington: National Academy Press, p. 2). Applications must be received by the deadline for the first Major Field of Study designated in the application. Applications will be reviewed by experts in the first Major Field of Study listed. If awarded, Fellows will be required to enroll in a degree program consistent with the Major Field of Study in which the application was funded. Withdrawal of a GRFP application

To withdraw a submitted application, the applicant must withdraw their application using the Withdrawal option in the GRFP Application Module.

Applications withdrawn by November 15 of the application year do not count toward the one-time graduate application limit. Applications withdrawn after November 15 count toward this limit.

Cost Sharing:

Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:

NSF awards $53,000 each year to the GRFP institution to cover the Fellow stipend and Cost of Education allowance for each NSF Graduate Research Fellow "on tenure" at the institution.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellowship stipend is $37,000 for a 12-month tenure period, prorated in monthly increments of $3,083. The institutional Cost of Education allowance is $16,000 per tenure year per Fellow.

D. Application Submission Requirements

Applicants are required to prepare and submit all applications for this program solicitation through the GRFP Application Module. Detailed instructions for application preparation and submission are available at: https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do . For user support, call the NSF Help Desk at 1-800-381-1532 or e-mail [email protected] . The NSF Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the system. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this solicitation.

VI. Application Review Information

A. merit review principles and criteria.

Applications are reviewed by disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists and engineers and other professional graduate education experts. Reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with oversight of the review process. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the applicants. Applications are reviewed in broad areas of related disciplines based on the selection of a Field of Study (see Fields of Study in Appendix). Selection of a Major Field of Study determines the application deadline, the broad disciplinary expertise of the reviewers, and the discipline of the graduate degree program if awarded a Fellowship. Applicants are advised to select the Major Field of Study in the GRFP Application Module (see Fields of Study in Appendix) that is most closely aligned with the proposed graduate program of study and research plan. Applicants who select “Other” must provide additional information describing their studies.

Each application will be reviewed independently in accordance with the NSF Merit Review Criteria using all available information in the completed application. In considering applications, reviewers are instructed to address the two Merit Review Criteria as approved by the National Science Board - Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts ( NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide ). Applicants must include separate statements on Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts in their written statements in order to provide reviewers with the information necessary to evaluate the application with respect to both Criteria as detailed below . Applicants should include headings for Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts in their statements.

The following description of the Merit Review Criteria is provided in Chapter III of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) :

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board approved merit review criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

The two merit review criteria are listed below. Both criteria are to be given full consideration during the review and decision-making processes; each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is sufficient. Therefore, proposers must fully address both criteria. (PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.d.i. contains additional information for use by proposers in development of the Project Description section of the proposal.) Reviewers are strongly encouraged to review the criteria, including PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.d.i., prior to the review of a proposal.
When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will be asked to consider what the proposers want to do, why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits could accrue if the project is successful. These issues apply both to the technical aspects of the proposal and the way in which the project may make broader contributions. To that end, reviewers will be asked to evaluate all proposals against two criteria:
  • Intellectual Merit : The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and
  • Broader Impacts : The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.
The following elements should be considered in the review for both criteria:
1. What is the potential for the proposed activity to:
a. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and
b. Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?
2. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?
3. Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?
4. How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?
5. Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

Additionally, Chapter II of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide states:

Broader impacts may be accomplished through the research itself, through the activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project. NSF values the advancement of scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to achievement of societally relevant outcomes. Such outcomes include, but are not limited to: full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); improved STEM education and educator development at any level; increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology; improved well-being of individuals in society; development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce; increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others; improved national security; increased economic competitiveness of the US; and enhanced infrastructure for research and education.

B. Application Review and Selection Process

Applications submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed online by Panel Review.

The application evaluation involves the review and rating of applications by disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists and engineers, and other professional graduate education experts.

Applicants are reviewed on their demonstrated potential to advance knowledge and to make significant research achievements and contributions to their fields throughout their careers. Reviewers are asked to assess applications using a holistic, comprehensive approach, giving balanced consideration to all components of the application, including the educational and research record, leadership, outreach, service activities, and future plans, as well as individual competencies, experiences, and other attributes. The aim is to recruit and retain a diverse cohort of early-career individuals with high potential for future achievements, contributions, and broader impacts in STEM and STEM education.

The primary responsibility of each reviewer is to evaluate eligible GRFP applications by applying the Merit Review Criteria described in Section VI.A, and to recommend applicants for NSF Graduate Research Fellowships. Reviewers are instructed to review the applications holistically, applying the Merit Review Criteria and noting GRFP’s emphasis on demonstrated potential for significant research achievements in STEM or in STEM education. From these recommendations, NSF selects applicants for Fellowships or Honorable Mention, in line with NSF’s mission and the goals of GRFP. After Fellowship offers are made, applicants are able to view verbatim reviewer comments, excluding the names of the reviewers, for a limited period of time through the NSF GRFP Module.

VII. Award Administration Information

A. notification of the award.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program applicants will be notified of the outcomes of their applications by early April of the competition year. The NSF publishes lists of Fellowship and Honorable Mention recipients on the GRFP Module at https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do in early April.

B. Award Conditions

NSF GRFP awards are made to the institution of higher education at which a Fellow is or will be enrolled. The awardee institution is responsible for financial management of the award and disbursement of Fellowship funds to the Fellow. The NSF GRFP award consists of the award notification letter that includes the applicable terms and conditions and Fellowship management instructions. All Fellowships are made subject to the provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials .

NSF GRFP awards provide funds for NSF Fellows who have "on tenure" status. The institution will administer the awards, including any amendments, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials .

The applicant must accept or decline the Fellowship by the deadline indicated in the award notification letter by logging into the GRFP Module at https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do with the applicant User ID and password. Failure to comply with the deadline and acceptance of Fellowship Terms and Conditions by the deadline will result in revocation of the Fellowship offer and render applicants ineligible to re-apply.

Terms and Conditions

Awardees must formally accept and agree to the terms and conditions of the Fellowship award. Acceptance of the Fellowship constitutes a commitment to pursue a graduate degree in an eligible science or engineering field. Acceptance of a Fellowship award is an explicit acceptance of this commitment and assurance that the Fellow will be duly enrolled in a graduate degree program consistent with the field of study indicated in their application by the beginning of the following academic year. Major changes in scope later in the graduate career require NSF approval. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials includes the terms and conditions that apply to the Fellowship and subsequent institutional award, in addition to the eligibility requirements (U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident, degree requirements, and field of study) and Certifications in the application. Each institution, in accepting the funds, also certifies that the Fellows are eligible to receive the Fellowship under these terms and conditions. Fellows are expected to make satisfactory academic progress towards completion of their graduate degrees, as defined and certified by the Fellow's GRFP institution. In cases where Fellows have misrepresented their eligibility, or have failed to comply with the Fellowship Terms and Conditions, the Fellowship will be revoked, and the case may be referred to the Office of the Inspector General for investigation. This action may result in requiring the Fellow to repay Fellowship funds to the National Science Foundation.

An individual may not accept the Graduate Research Fellowship if the individual accepts or is supported by another federal graduate fellowship.

Responsible Conduct of Research

It is the responsibility of the Fellow, in conjunction with the GRFP institution, to ensure that all academic and research activities carried out in or outside the US comply with the laws or regulations of the US and/or of the foreign country in which the academic and/or research activities are conducted. These include appropriate human subject, animal welfare, copyright and intellectual property protection, and other regulations or laws, as appropriate. All academic and research activities should be coordinated with the appropriate US and foreign government authorities, and necessary licenses, permits, or approvals must be obtained prior to undertaking the proposed activities.

In response to the America COMPETES Act, all Fellows supported by NSF to conduct research are required to receive appropriate training and oversight in the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research.

Research Involving Human Subjects

Projects involving research with human subjects must ensure that subjects are protected from research risks in conformance with the relevant Federal policy known as the Common Rule ( Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects , 45 CFR 690 ). All projects involving human subjects must either (1) have approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) before issuance of an NSF award; or, (2) must affirm that the IRB has declared the research exempt from IRB review, in accordance with the applicable subsection, as established in 45 CFR § 690.104(d) of the Common Rule. Fellows are required to comply with this policy and adhere to the organization's protocol for managing research involving human subjects.

Research Involving Vertebrate Animals

Any project proposing use of vertebrate animals for research or education shall comply with the Animal Welfare Act [7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.] and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the Secretary of Agriculture [9 CFR 1.1-4.11] pertaining to the humane care, handling, and treatment of vertebrate animals held or used for research, teaching or other activities supported by Federal awards. In accordance with these requirements, proposed projects involving use of any vertebrate animal for research or education must be approved by the submitting organization's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before an award can be made. For this approval to be accepted by NSF, the organization must have a current Public Health Service (PHS) Approved Assurance.

Projects involving the care or use of vertebrate animals at an international organization or international field site also require approval of research protocols by the US grantee’s IACUC. If the project is to be funded through an award to an international organization or through an individual fellowship award that will support activities at an international organization, NSF will require a statement from the international organization explicitly listing the proposer’s name and referencing the title of the award to confirm that the activities will be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws in the international country and that the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals (see: http://www.cioms.ch/ ) will be followed.

Legal Rights to Intellectual Property

The National Science Foundation claims no rights to any inventions or writings that might result from its fellowship or traineeship grants. However, fellows and trainees should be aware that the NSF, another Federal agency, or some private party may acquire such rights through other support for particular research. Also, fellows and trainees should note their obligation to include an Acknowledgment and Disclaimer in any publication.

C. Reporting Requirements

Acknowledgment of Support and Disclaimer

All publications, presentations, and creative works based on activities conducted during the Fellowship must acknowledge NSF GRFP Support and provide a disclaimer by including the following statement in the Acknowledgements or other appropriate section:

"This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant No. (NSF grant number). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation."

Annual Activities Report and Annual Fellowship Status Declaration

Fellows are required to submit an Annual Activities Report and to complete Fellowship Status Declaration by the deadline date each year (deadline notification sent by email), using NSF's GRFP Module. The GRFP Module permits online submission and updating of activity reports, including information on research accomplishments and activities related to broader impacts, presentations, publications, teaching and research assistantships, awards and recognitions, and other scholarly and service accomplishments. These reports must be reviewed and satisfactory progress verified by the faculty advisor or designated graduate program administrator prior to submission to NSF.

Fellows must declare their intent to utilize the Fellowship for the following year using the NSF GRFP Module. Failure to declare Fellowship status by the established deadline violates the terms and conditions for NSF Fellowship awards, and results in termination of the Fellowship.

Program Evaluation

The Division of Graduate Education (DGE) conducts evaluations to provide evidence on the impact of the GRFP on individuals' educational decisions, career preparations, aspirations and progress, as well as professional productivity; and provide an understanding of the program policies in achieving the program goals. Additionally, it is highly desirable to have a structured means of tracking Fellows beyond graduation to gauge the extent to which they choose a career path consistent with the intent of the program and to assess the impact the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship has had on their graduate education experience. Accordingly, Fellows and Honorable Mention recipients may be contacted for updates on various aspects of their employment history, professional activities and accomplishments, participation in international research collaborations, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the program. Fellows and their institutions agree to cooperate in program-level evaluations conducted by the NSF and/or contracted evaluators. The 2014 GRFP evaluation is posted on the "Evaluation Reports" Web page for NSF's Directorate for STEM Education.

GRFP institutions are required to submit the GRFP Completion Report annually. The Completion Report allows GRFP institutions to certify the current status of all GRFP Fellows at the institution. The current status will identify a Fellow as: In Progress, Graduated, Transferred, or Withdrawn. For Fellows who have graduated, the graduation date is a required reporting element.

VIII. Agency Contacts

Please note that the program contact information is current at the time of publishing. See program website ( https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201 ) for any updates to the points of contact.

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

For questions related to the use of GRFP Application Module, contact:

NSF Help Desk: telephone: 1-800-381-1532; e-mail: [email protected]

The Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center is responsible for processing applications and responding to requests for information. General inquiries regarding the Graduate Research Fellowship Program should be made to:

Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center, telephone: 866-NSF-GRFP, 866-673-4737 (toll-free from the US and Canada) or 202-331-3542 (international). email: [email protected]

IX. Other Information

The NSF website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this website by potential proposers is strongly encouraged. In addition, "NSF Update" is an information-delivery system designed to keep potential proposers and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and publications, important changes in proposal and award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Grants Conferences . Subscribers are informed through e-mail or the user's Web browser each time new publications are issued that match their identified interests. "NSF Update" also is available on NSF's website .

Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may be accessed via this mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may be obtained at https://www.grants.gov .

Students are encouraged to gain professional experience in other countries through their university graduate programs, and to participate in international research opportunities offered by NSF at: Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) | NSF - National Science Foundation . Other funding opportunities for students are available at http://www.nsfgrfp.org/ .

About The National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering."

NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. The Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic research.

NSF receives approximately 55,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research Centers, user facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Arctic and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research between universities and industry, US participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and educational activities at every academic level.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide Chapter II.F.7 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.

The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.

The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703) 292-5111.

The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit the NSF Website at

2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314

(NSF Information Center)

(703) 292-5111

(703) 292-5090

Send an e-mail to:

or telephone:

(703) 292-8134

(703) 292-5111

Privacy Act And Public Burden Statements

The information requested on the application materials is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. It will be used in connection with the selection of qualified applicants and may be disclosed to qualified reviewers as part of the review process; to the institution the nominee, applicant or fellow is attending or is planning to attend or is employed by for the purpose of facilitating review or award decisions, or administering fellowships or awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and other individuals who perform a service to or work under a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, advisory committee, committee of visitors, or other arrangement with the Federal government as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies needing data regarding applicants or nominees as part of the review process, or in order to coordinate programs; and to another Federal agency, court or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information from this system may be merged with other computer files to carry out statistical studies the results of which do not identify individuals. Notice of the agency's decision may be given to nominators, and disclosure may be made of awardees' names, home institutions, and fields of study for public information purposes. For fellows or awardees receiving stipends directly from the government, information is transmitted to the Department of the Treasury to make payments. See System of Record Notices , NSF-12, "Fellowships and Other Awards," 63 Federal Register 265 (January 5, 1998). Submission of the information is voluntary; however, failure to provide full and complete information may reduce the possibility of your receiving an award.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0023. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 12 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding this burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

Suzanne H. Plimpton Reports Clearance Officer Policy Office, Division of Institution and Award Support Office of Budget, Finance, and Award Management National Science Foundation Alexandria, VA 22314

X. Appendix

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

Major Fields of Study

Note: Applications are reviewed based on the selection of a Major Field of Study. As an example, CHEMISTRY is a Major Field of Study, and Chemical Catalysis is a subfield under CHEMISTRY.

Selection of a Major Field of Study determines the application deadline, the broad disciplinary expertise of the reviewers who will review the application, and the discipline of the graduate program if the Fellowship is accepted. The subfield category designates specific expertise of the reviewers. Applicants can select “Other” if their specific subfield is not represented in the list of subfields under the Major Field of Study. The "Other" subfield category should be selected only if the proposed subfield is not covered by one of the listed subfields, and should not be used to designate a subfield that is more specific than the subfields listed.

Artificial Intelligence Chemical Catalysis Chemical Measurement and Imaging Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism Chemical Synthesis Chemical Theory, Models and Computational Methods Chemistry of Life Processes Computationally Intensive Research Environmental Chemical Systems Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry Other (specify) Quantum Information Science Sustainable Chemistry

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES & ENGINEERING

Accessibility

Algorithms and Theoretical Foundations Artificial Intelligence

Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality, Graphics, and Visualization Bioinformatics and Bio-inspired Computing Communication and Information Theory Computationally Intensive Research Computer Architecture Computer Security and Privacy Computer Systems

Computer Vision

Cyber-Physical Systems and Embedded Systems Data Science, Data Mining, Information Retrieval and Databases

Electronic Design Automation and Design of Micro and Nano Computing Systems

Fairness, Explainability, Accountability and Transparency in Analytics

Formal Methods, Verification, and Programming Languages Human Computer Interaction

Information Sciences Machine Learning Natural Language Processing Other (specify)

Parallel, Distributed, and Cloud Computing Quantum Information Science Robotics

Scientific Computing

Social Computing Software Engineering

Wired and Wireless Networking

ENGINEERING

Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering Artificial Intelligence Bioengineering Biomedical Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computationally Intensive Research Computer Engineering Electrical and Electronic Engineering Energy Engineering Environmental Engineering Industrial Engineering & Operations Research Manufacturing Engineering Materials Engineering Mechanical Engineering Nuclear Engineering Ocean Engineering Optical Engineering Other (specify) Quantum Engineering Quantum Information Science Systems Engineering Wireless Engineering

GEOSCIENCES

Aeronomy Artificial Intelligence Arctic-Antarctic

Atmospheric Chemistry Biogeochemistry Biological Oceanography Chemical Oceanography Climate and Large-Scale Atmospheric Dynamics Computationally Intensive Research Geobiology Geochemistry Geodynamics Geomorphology Geophysics Glaciology Hydrology Magnetospheric Physics Marine Biology Marine Geology and Geophysics Other (specify) Paleoclimate Paleontology and Paleobiology Petrology Physical and Dynamic Meteorology Physical Oceanography Quantum Information Science Sedimentary Geology Solar Physics Tectonics

LIFE SCIENCES

Artificial Intelligence Biochemistry Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Biophysics Cell Biology Computationally Intensive Research Developmental Biology Ecology Environmental Biology Evolutionary Biology Genetics Genomics Microbial Biology Neurosciences Organismal Biology Other (specify) Physiology Proteomics Quantum Information Science Structural Biology Systematics and Biodiversity Systems and Molecular Biology

MATERIALS RESEARCH

Artificial Intelligence Biomaterials Ceramics Chemistry of Materials Computationally Intensive Research Electronic Materials Materials Theory Metallic Materials Other (specify) Photonic Materials Physics of Materials Polymers Quantum Information Science

MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

Algebra, Number Theory, and Combinatorics Analysis Applied Mathematics Artificial Intelligence Biostatistics Computational and Data-enabled Science Computational Mathematics Computational Statistics Computationally Intensive Research Geometric Analysis Logic or Foundations of Mathematics Mathematical Biology Other (specify) Probability Quantum Information Science Statistics Topology

PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY

Artificial Intelligence Astronomy and Astrophysics Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Computationally Intensive Research Condensed Matter Physics Nuclear Physics Other (specify) Particle Physics Physics of Living Systems Plasma Physics Quantum Information Science Solid State Physics Theoretical Physics

Artificial Intelligence Cognitive Neuroscience Cognitive Psychology Comparative Psychology Computational Psychology Computationally Intensive Research Developmental Psychology Industrial/Organizational Psychology Neuropsychology Other (specify) Perception and Psychophysics Personality and Individual Differences Physiological Psychology Psycholinguistics Quantitative Psychology Quantum Information Science Social/Affective Neuroscience Social Psychology

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Anthropology, other (specify) Archaeology Artificial Intelligence Biological Anthropology Communications Computationally Intensive Research Cultural Anthropology Decision Making and Risk Analysis Economics Geography History and Philosophy of Science International Relations Law and Social Science Linguistic Anthropology Linguistics Medical Anthropology Other (specify) Political Science Public Policy Quantum Information Science Science Policy Sociology Urban and Regional Planning

STEM EDUCATION AND LEARNING RESEARCH

Artificial Intelligence Computationally Intensive Research Engineering Education Mathematics Education Other (specify) Quantum Information Science Science Education Technology Education

National Science Foundation

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Treasure Coast leaders should try to land University of Florida graduate business school

graduated phd from

Here are a couple of things I believe to be true: One, opportunities sometimes present themselves in unusual ways. And two, true leaders recognize those opportunities and act upon them rather than waiting around for someone else to take the initiative.

With those thoughts in mind, I'd like to share a bit of news happening to our south: Palm Beach County commissioners may approve a contract to bring a  Vanderbilt University  business school to West Palm Beach as soon Oct. 8. The  West Palm Beach  City Commission  voted unanimously  to donate $12.8 million worth of city land — about 2 acres — to the university for the campus.

So what does that mean for residents along the Treasure Coast? Well, it likely means plans for a satellite campus housing a University of Florida business graduate school in West Palm Beach are permanently scuttled.

Is a window of opportunity opening?

As our sister newspaper, the Palm Beach Post, has reported , UF had been considering a Global Technology and Innovation Campus in West Palm Beach as recently as last summer.

The 12-acre campus, first announced in 2021, was supposed to offer graduate-level  programs  in business, engineering and law with a focus on financial technology, or fintech, and cybersecurity.

The idea sounded great, but it ran into some snags that prevented a deal from being struck. West Palm Beach clearly moved on, finding a new economic dance partner in Vanderbilt.

Does that necessarily mean UF wouldn't consider a graduate business school campus at another location in the southern part of the state, perhaps within commuting distance of the original location?

I think Treasure Coast leaders should find out, rather than just assuming the answer is no.

Want to check a lot of economic boxes? Well ...

The potential up side to landing a UF satellite campus could be huge.

To bolster its case for the West Palm Beach campus, Vanderbilt commissioned a study projecting a school there would generate $7.1 billion in total local economic activity over the next 25 years, a figure that doubles to over $14.2 billion when stretched out for 50 years.

Vanderbilt is a private university and UF is a state school, but I imagine the economic benefits would be comparable.

A satellite UF campus on the Treasure Coast could address some key goals. Concerned about young people leaving the Treasure Coast? What better way to attract more young people than to have a college campus nearby?

Want to encourage more high-tech businesses to set up shop in the area? Having a school producing a steady stream of graduates trained in technology fields could only help with those recruitment efforts.

Want to attract more high-wage earners, also known as taxpayers, to the region? A graduate school could help with that, too.

So where would a hypothetical campus go on the Treasure Coast? If UF only needs about 12 acres, there are numerous possibilities.

There are more than 30 acres of developable land available at Port St. Lucie's  City Center . A satellite campus could mesh nicely with plans to turn the site near U.S. 1 and Walton Road into a commercial and residential hub.

Port St. Lucie officials have expressed interest in using Jupiter's Abacoa community as a model for developing the City Center. Guess what Abacoa has? A Florida Atlantic University satellite campus.

Or what about land in  Southern Grove , near the  Tradition Center for Commerce  and the Tradition Center for Innovation? The opportunities for synergy could be numerous.

(There are sites in Martin and Indian River counties, too, if their leaders were inclined to pursue this.)

Don't just assume problems can't be overcome

There were a couple of reasons why UF's talks with West Palm Beach fell through.

UF  couldn't agree on terms  with  Jeff Greene , a Palm Beach County billionaire who offered to donate part of the land needed for the project.

UF instead decided to conduct a six-month strategic review of its programs under the leadership of then-new president, former Nebraska U.S. Sen.  Ben Sasse .

Guess what? The Treasure Coast has available land Greene doesn't own. Guess what else? Sasse isn't UF's president any longer. The university is once again under the leadership of interim president Kent Fuchs, who might be amenable to resurrecting the business school plans.

I tried reaching out to UF's communications team, but didn't get a response before my deadline for this column. Although it hurts my ego to admit this, that doesn't necessarily mean UF administrators wouldn't pick up the phone, if the right people from our community were calling.

I've heard there might be another issue in play, with a dispute between two business school alumni who would both like to have the campus named after them.

Surely, if that's the main stumbling block, there must be a way to reach a compromise there. Why not name the campus after one of them and the building after the other?

That's how UF ended up with Steve Spurrier-Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Fortune usually favors the bold

The point is, we'll never know how discussions about a UF business school would go unless someone in the community is actually willing to initiate those discussions. Our leaders can do a little legwork now, or they can wait around to read about the business school campus being built in Sarasota, Fort Myers or some other community.

At that point, all we'll be able to do is wonder why we never get lucky breaks like that.

I'm not going to name names, but I have approached a couple of people in the community who I thought might have some interest in pursuing a project like this. They sounded intrigued, but I didn't get the sense they were spurred to action.

I understand why there might be some reluctance to go after another high-tech economic development project, in light of some of the community's past failures.

Port St. Lucie's recruitment of Digital Domain Media Group, a digital animation studio that  went belly up despite lavish government incentives , left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths. The rest of the 2000s-era  Research Coast efforts  likely have created a cautious, if not downright cynical, mood about pursuing what might seem like pie in the sky.

The difference here is, this wouldn't be pie in the sky. UF isn't some fly-by-night operator we know nothing about. It's the flagship of our state university system. If UF decides to put a graduate business school anywhere in the state, it's likely to be successful.

The world of academia moves on its own timetable, but if UF administrators thought having a graduate business school outside of Gainesville was a good idea at one point, that idea is likely to resurface again.

Is it tough to imagine somewhere like Port St. Lucie being home to a campus where students learn about cutting-edge technologies? Maybe, but was it tough to imagine a major university campus in north central Florida before UF was built there?

I believe there's an unexplored opportunity lurking out there. I just hope at least some of our community leaders can see it, too.

This column reflects the opinion of  Blake Fontenay . Contact him via email at  [email protected]  or at 772-232-5424 .

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