External Fellowships & Awards

PhD students in the Graduate School receive stipends and tuition fellowships to support their studies. However, students can benefit from applying for and receiving external awards. Professional benefits include:

• Experience in applying for funds
• Practice in discussing your research interests with a range of audiences
• Establishing a track record of successful funding applications

In addition, students who win external fellowships are eligible for our Combined Award policy, which provides a stipend bonus. External awards that meet a stipend threshold may also replace some teaching, or provide you with more flexibility regarding your teaching requirements.

If you win an external award, you must send a copy of your Notice of Award to the Office of Graduate Financial Aid (gradfinaid@yale.edu). The office will assist you in determining whether you are eligible for a Combined Award. 

If you have questions about how an external award will interact with Yale’s Financial Aid, including teaching, you can contact Associate Dean Robert Harper-Mangels.

Resources for Students Applying for External Awards

There are a variety of resources available on the web to assist you in looking for funding opportunities. Yale is a sponsor of the SPIN database (select Yale University from the organization list). Other funding opportunities can be found at the Yale Student Grants Database and at the Grant Forward Database.

The Office of Graduate Fellowships also runs a YaleConnect group with a regular newsletter during the academic year featuring the latest opportunities and tips for applications. Click on the link to join and sign up to receive the newsletter. 

If you are applying for external fellowships, we encourage you to work directly with your academic adviser(s) to prepare an application. Additional support with application essays is available from the Graduate Writing Lab

External Awards requiring nomination

Some external fellowship competition requires applicants to secure a nomination from Yale. When these competitions are announced, instructions for applying for a nomination will be posted here.

ACLS/ Mellon Dissertation Innovation Fellowships – The ACLS/Mellon research grants support outstanding scholarship in the humanities and interpretive social sciences for PhD candidates in the formative stage of dissertation development. Applications are normally due mid-fall. While an applicant does not require a nomination from Yale to apply, Yale does need to sign a statement confirming the eligibility of the student to accept this award, including a non-cumulative year of registration while on the fellowship. Applicants requiring this statement can designate Associate Dean Robert Harper-Mangels as the point of contact for this statement.

DAAD Research Grants – The DAAD German Exchange provides travel and fellowship support for students who wish to conduct research, artistic projects, or pursue degrees in Germany. For most awards, students will apply on-line directly through the DAAD application. However, Yale doctoral students interested in extended (7+ months) research grants in Germany and submitting an application in the Fall cycle may solicit a nomination from Yale. Instructions for obtaining a nomination will be provided when the fall application opens. For the spring application cycle, no nomination is required or available. Interested students should apply directly through the DAAD portal. 

Google PhD Fellowship – This fellowship supports the stipend and research of doctoral students studying computer science or conducting innovative research in areas relevant to computer science-related fields. Applicants must be nominated by Yale. When the next application becomes available, instructions for submitting an internal application for a nomination will be provided here. Last year, the deadline was in mid-April. The instructions for applying for a Google fellowship in Spring 2026 are available here, but be aware that requirements could change with future applications.

Schmidt Science Fellowship – The Schmidt Science Fellowship funds recent graduates in STEM fields who are interested in postdoctoral study that represents a significant shift away from the field or techniques used in their doctoral studies. This fellowship requires a nomination from Yale. The competition for the Fall 2027 award is now closed. We expect that the next competition, for Fall 2028, will be announced in Spring 2027, and will be open to those expecting to receive their PhDs between May 2027 and May 2028. Application information for a nomination (below) will be updated when the new competition is announced.

          Application instructions for Spring 2026 (now closed): Please submit your internal application to GSASadministrativedean@yale.edu no later than noon on Friday,  April 24th, 2026. Full details on how to apply can be accessed here and you can also download the required cover sheet. Applicants will be notified mid-May as to whether they have been nominated by Yale. For questions and further information please email robert.harper-mangels@yale.edu.

National Institute of Social Sciences - The NISS awards up to $5,000 each year through their Dissertation Grants Program to assist late-stage students to complete their dissertation. Yale is permitted to nominate two students for this award.  This fellowship is generally announced in the Spring. Instructions for applying in 2026 (now closed) can be found here, and will be updated when the new competition is announced in 2027. 

Other Fellowships directly supported by GSAS

Fulbright US Student Fellowship – The application for 2027-28 is now open. The national application deadline is Tuesday, October 6, 2026 (5pm). Any graduate or professional school student interested in applying for the 2027-28 academic year should register their interest by writing to the Fulbright Program Advisor at robert.harper-mangels@yale.edu.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program – application deadlines are 10^th – 14^th November, depending on field of study. Please contact the Graduate Writing Lab for information about workshops, information sessions, and one on one advising.