Student Research Funding Opportunities

Funding Opportunities

Below is a non-exhaustive list of internal, federal, and non-federal grants and fellowships of interest to students in the social sciences and link to student research resources guides. For a more comprehensive database, visit the UChicagoGRAD Fellowships Database.

The University of Chicago’s centers, departments, and divisions offer grants and fellowships to graduate students. If you are interested in applying for funding, start with your academic department as some departments have internal funding opportunities that are not advertised to the campus at large.

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SSD Student Resource Guide
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Crown Family School Student Resource Guide
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National Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Enables predoctoral students to obtain mentored research training while conducting dissertation research.
Deadlines: Varies depending on the program

National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Provides 12 to 18 months of support for research on crime, violence, and other criminal justice-related topics.
Deadline: Spring

National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIG)
Offered in a variety of disciplines, funding supports research and travel in order to improve dissertation quality.
Deadline: Varies depending on the program

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Stipend and tuition support for graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees.
Deadline: Mid-October

Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship
Supports original and significant dissertation study of ethical or religious values in all fields of the humanities and social sciences.
Deadline: November

Fulbright Fellowship
Fellowships for 8–12 months of study or research abroad; criteria vary by country. UChicagoGRAD manages the internal application process.
Deadline: Late August (internal)

Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship
Supports doctoral students pursuing innovative research in the humanities and interpretive social sciences and who show promise of leading their fields in important new directions.
Deadline: October 29, 2025

National Academy of Education / Spencer Foundation Dissertation Fellowships
Supports students whose dissertations bring fresh and constructive perspectives to the history, theory, or practice of education.
Deadline: October 2, 2025

Questions?

For questions about funding, UChicagoGrad, your academic department, and the Dean of Students office can help provide answers. Identify the right resource for your question below.

UChicagoGRAD

Your Academic Department

Dean of Students Office