Funding Your Education

External Funding Opportunities

Prospective applicants are urged to apply for fellowships or grants from national, international, industrial or foundation sources. These awards enable students to supplement the funding received in the department and make them a more attractive candidate for future funding opportunities.

External Funding Opportunities
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Funding Requiring Institutional Endorsement

Many fellowships require applicants to obtain institutional nominations or endorsement from Vanderbilt. For these awards, Vanderbilt establishes a Priority Campus Deadline weeks or months before the funding organization’s (inter)national submission deadline. More information on the various awards requiring institutional nominations can be found on the Career Center website. 

For more information, contact: fellowships@vanderbilt.edu. 

  • Fulbright-Hayes

    The Fulbright program, like the Vanderbilt Way, strives to ensure that awardees reflect the diversity of U.S. society. They seek people from traditionally underrepresented audiences in all their grants, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, geographic location, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Learn more about graduate student funding opportunities through the Fulbright Program.

  • F99/K00 Award

    The purpose of the NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) is to encourage and retain outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated potential and interest in pursuing careers as independent cancer researchers. The F99/K00 award is intended for individuals who require one to two years to complete their Ph.D. dissertation research training (F99 phase) before transitioning to mentored postdoctoral research training (K00 phase). Learn more about graduate student funding opportunities through the F99/K00 award.

  • Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund

    The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund provides fellowships to fund advanced education and graduate study carried out entirely in the U.S. The fellowships are to be awarded only to candidates who have outstanding undergraduate records, have demonstrated a need for financial assistance, are U.S. citizens enrolled in accredited colleges and universities in the U.S. and have received baccalaureate degrees.

  • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

    The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) 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 NSF GRFP provides for three Tenure years of financial support over a five-year period. Learn more about the NSF GRFP.

School-Based Resources

Many programs and departments provide resources to assist their graduate students in finding and applying for external funding sources. Check with your  program contact or director of graduate studies to determine what opportunities may exist.  

For example, the School of Engineering provides this helpful guide to accessing external graduate fellowships. The School of Medicine offers the BRET Office of Career Development program that provides resources for fellowships and grant opportunities.  

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP)

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) 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 NSF GRFP provides for three Tenure years of financial support over a five-year period. Learn more.