Fellowship funds come from two general sources ― outside or inside the Institute. Students are not required to have fellowship support, but applying to fellowships is highly encouraged. Students can ask the BE Graduate Board Fellowship Chair for help finding relevant fellowships and the BE Communication Lab for assistance preparing applications.
Information about taxes and vacation for for fellowship recipients is on the Pay and Benefits page.
International Students
This page lists some financial resources outside MIT that are specifically geared toward international students. International students should note that their home countries may have fellowships available to support their research in the US.
Internal Fellowships
Fellowships to support student study are available from both BE Department Funds and the MIT Office of Graduate Education.
Department Fellowships for First Year Students
First year students in the BE Department are supported by MIT and Department Fellowships. Funds for such awards are usually provided by gifts from alumni, unrestricted grants from industry, or from the Provost’s Office in the form of Presidential Fellowships. The recipient of a Departmental Fellowship is under no obligation, either real or implied, to the donor of the fellowship, other than to carry out their program of studying and research in a diligent manner.
Graduate students who are supported with a Departmental Fellowship have no limitations with regard to credit units that they may take. As a guideline, however, a full course load is considered to be 36-40 credit units each semester.
MIT Fellowships
Generous donors have provided MIT with permanent funds in support of fellowships, many of which have unique restrictions based on nationality, demographics, or course of study. The Office of Graduate Education administers a number of these endowed fellowships through an annual competition in March. All nominations (both for new awards and for renewal requests) must be submitted by the departmental graduate office on behalf of the student. Students who qualify for one of the fellowships should contact the BE Academic Office in order to be considered for nomination.
External Fellowships
Recipients of outside fellowships (NSF, DOD, Hertz etc.) should check with the coordinating official in the BE Academic Office (room 16-267), to determine any existing obligations regarding their fellowships.
Selected List of External Fellowships
The fellowships listed below are for U.S. citizens and permanent residents unless otherwise noted.
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program
GRF Operations Center Suite T-50
1818 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Fastlane Application Phone: 866-673-4737
E-mail: fastlane@nsf.gov
Homepage: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships
American Society for Engineering Education
1818 N Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 649-3831
Fax: (202) 265-8504
E-mail: ndseg@asee.org
Homepage: https://www.ndsegfellowships.org/
Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowships
DOE CSGF Program Coordinator
1609 Golden Aspen Drive, Suite 101
Ames, IA 50010
Phone: (515)956-3696
Fax: (515) 956-3699
Homepage: http://www.krellinst.org/csgf/index.shtml
Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Fellowships
2456 Research Drive
Livermore CA 94550-3850
Phone: (925) 373-1642 (8-1 PST only)
Fax: (925) 373-6329
Homepage: http://www.hertzfndn.org
Fellowships for Women
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation
Selected Professions Fellowships
Department 60
301 ACT Dr.
Iowa City, IA 52243-4030
Phone: (319) 337-1716, extension 60
E-mail: foundation@aauw.org
Homepage: http://www.aauw.org
Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future
Homepage: https://www.facultyforthefuture.net/
Fellowships for Minorities
GEM Fellowship Program
Box 537
Notre Dame IN 46556
Phone: (219) 631-7771
E-mail: gem@nd.edu
Fax: (574) 287-1486
Homepage: http://www.gemfellowship.org/
Ford Predoctoral Fellowships for Minorities
Fellowship Office, GR 346A
National Research Council of the National Academies
550 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 334-2872
E-mail: infofell@nas.edu
Homepage: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/fordfellowships/index.htm