National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program
Website: NDSEG
Description
The National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship is highly competitive. Since its inception in 1989, NDSEG has awarded nearly 3,600 fellowships from over 58,000 applications to U.S. citizens and nationals who pursue a doctoral degree in one of fifteen supported disciplines at a U.S. institution of their choosing.
NDSEG Fellowships last for a period of up to three years (based on continued funding), and covers full tuition and mandatory fees. Fellows also receive a monthly stipend ($3,200), and up to $1,200 a year in medical insurance. The NDSEG Fellowship is sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) under the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (OSD) for Research and Engineering.
Supported disciplines:
Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Biosciences (includes toxicology)
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences (Note:PsyD programs are not eligible)
Computer and Computational Sciences
Electrical Engineering
Geosciences (includes terrain, water, and air)
Materials Science and Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering (includes undersea systems)
Oceanography (includes ocean acoustics, remote sensing, and marine meteorology)
Physics (including optics)
Areas of interest that fall outside of the list may be considered if it is a STEM field and is related to one or more of these fields. If you need help selecting one of our supported disciplines, we recommend utilizing your academic or research adviser for guidance.
Eligibility
There are four eligibility requirements: citizenship, discipline, academic status, and the ability to accept the full benefit. Applicants must meet all four requirements in order to be eligible.
CITIZENSHIP
The NDSEG Fellowship Program is open only to applicants who are citizens or nationals of the United States. The term "nationals" refers to native residents of a possession of the United States such as American Samoa. It does not refer to a citizen of another country who has applied for U.S. citizenship. Persons who hold permanent resident status are not eligible. Proof of citizenship will be required upon formal offer.
SUPPORTED DISCIPLINES:
Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering
Biosciences (includes toxicology)
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Cognitive, Neural, and Behavioral Sciences (Note:PsyD programs are not eligible)
Computer and Computational Sciences
Electrical Engineering
Geosciences (includes terrain, water, and air)
Materials Science and Engineering
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering (includes undersea systems)
Oceanography (includes ocean acoustics, remote sensing, and marine meteorology)
Physics (including optics)
Areas of interest that fall outside of the list may be considered if it is a STEM field and is related to one or more of these fields. If you need help selecting one of our supported disciplines, we recommend utilizing your academic or research advisor for guidance.
ACADEMIC STATUS
NDSEG Fellowships are designed to encourage baccalaureate recipients to enter graduate school and ultimately gain doctorates in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields. Applicants must have received or be on track to receive their bachelor's degrees by Summer.
STI-TEC and the DoD use academic status guidelines to ensure that students at or near the beginning of their graduate studies receive fellowships. Eligible applicants are enrolled in their final year of undergraduate studies through the second year of a traditional PhD program. See below for a breakout of eligibility criteria.
Undergraduate Students (degree must be received prior to the Fellowship Start date)
Recent Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Graduate Students (1st year, 2nd year)
Recent Master's Degree Recipients
Pre-Doctoral Students (1st year, 2nd year)
Dual MD-PHD Students
Dual PSYD-PHD Students
Applicants who are pursuing a Medical Degree are not eligible for the NDSEG fellowship.
ABILITY TO ACCEPT THE FELLOWSHIP
Intend to pursue a doctoral degree in order to be eligible for NDSEG Fellowship support. If you are awarded, you must start your tenure in the fall of that year. Fellowships awarded in the spring must start in September. Deferrals may be considered on a case by case basis, and must be authorized by NDSEG prior to acceptance. In most cases an NDSEG Fellowship is non-deferrable.
NDSEG Fellows must be enrolled full-time and must be pursuing graduate study at a U.S. institution; the NDSEG Fellowship does not pay for tuition at any non-U.S. institution.
A fellow may not accept simultaneous remuneration from another major fellowship. Fellows must be eligible to accept both the tuition benefit and the full stipend amount.
- senior
- graduate
- US Citizen
Procedure
Complete application instructions, application materials and online application form are available at http://ndseg.sysplus.com/.
Application Components:
- Personal Info / Application Form
- Personal Statement- Will be typed in a Form (500 words) No special formatting required - What are your short and long-term professional goals? How did these goals develop? How have you already begun to lay the foundation for these goals? How does this fellowship fit into these goals?
- Transcripts (Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's - Upload a PDF of the official - DO NOT mail or email to STI/NDSEG. Have an official copy mailed or emailed to you and upload into the application.
- GREs/MCATs - Test Taker Scores may be uploaded.
- Official Copies of GRE's and Transcripts will be requested prior to official award.
- Research Proposal (see details under research proposal)
- 3 References: Recommenders must complete the reference link. Separate letters on letterhead will NOT be accepted. The reference link includes a space for additional comments.
Research Proposal Instructions
- 3 Page Proposal Single line space
- 1 Page Max Cited Work
- 12Pt. Times New Roman Font
- Graphics and Charts may be included - a smaller font size may be used to label charts and graphics
Evaluation and Selection
- Proposed research relevant to the DoD. The research proposal should capture How well the proposal responds to one of the BAAs listed on the website under the DOD menu.
- Academic Achievement. This is based on your academic transcript, Major GPA, and GREs/MCATs.
- Reference Evaluation Forms. These forms should capture professional assessment of the applicant, a testimony to your scholarly excellence. References should be provided by an Advisor or Instructor.
- Personal Statement. Describe your academic or other interest, and personal achievements.
Contact Information
Systems Plus, Inc.
DoD NDSEG Fellowship Program Office
One Research Court, Suite 360
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: (301) 948-4232
Fax: (301) 948-3918
Email: NDSEG.PMO@sysplus.com