External Opportunities

University of Maryland graduate students have been highly successful in competing for fellowships awarded by outside agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, and the Ford Foundation. Even if you have a funding guarantee from your department, there are compelling reasons to apply for a competitive external fellowship.

• A competitive external fellowship is an honor that will stay with you throughout your career
• Distinguish your CV when you enter the job market.
• Clarify your thinking about your research and expose you to valuable feedback.
• Increase your flexibility in selecting advisors, choosing research projects, and conducting fieldwork.
• Help faculty support more students by bringing your own funding to a field.

Resources

SPINPlus Search System:  The university subscribes to the SPINPlus database that houses more than 40,000 funding opportunities worldwide for faculty, staff and students.  Use SPINPlus to set up search parameters and set up email alerts.

UMD National Scholarships Office (NSO):  The NSO office is located in Marie Mount Hall and they primarily support undergraduate students.  However, this office also provides support for graduate students applying for the NSF GRFP, the Fulbright, and several others. 

Limited Submissions: Students interested in being nominated for limited submission fellowships such as Apple Scholars and the Google PhD fellowship can review this webpage for more information.  Please consult with your department to learn about the nomination process.

External Opportunities