International Students: Nsf Application Eligibility And Process

The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers various funding opportunities for graduate students and recent PhD graduates. While international students are not eligible for most NSF fellowships, they can participate as unfunded trainees in the NRT program. Additionally, international students can apply for the NSF-Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant, the SSRC International Dissertation Research Fellowship, and the Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fieldwork Grant. The NSF also offers international research opportunities through the International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program, which supports US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents pursuing STEM degrees.

International students can participate as unfunded trainees in the NRT program

International students are generally kept out of most fellowship programs. For instance, the NSF fellowships are only available to US citizens and permanent residents. However, international students can participate as unfunded trainees in the NRT program.

The NRT, or National Research Traineeship, is a prestigious program that offers unique, nationally recognized experiences. It is a research-based program that requires a thesis or dissertation. The traineeship is open to master's and doctoral STEM students. While the NRT stipends are restricted to US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents, international students can participate as non-stipend-supported trainees or as non-trainees.

The CCEDS NRT Program, or Coastal Community Environmental Data Scholars, is a great example of an NRT program that international students can join as unfunded trainees. This program is offered by the Water Resources Center at ECU and is open to graduate students from any M.S. or Ph.D. program. It focuses on using data science to address real-world environmentally-related issues that communities face. The program provides students with access to a range of programs, benefits, and community support.

Another example of an NRT program is the IRES, or International Research Experiences for Students. This program supports international research and research-related activities for US science and engineering students. While the funds are only available to US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents, international students can still participate in the program as unfunded trainees. IRES projects typically involve small groups of students who travel to a host institution for a summer-length research project.

International students are kept out of most NSF fellowships

International students are largely excluded from NSF fellowships, with one student commenting that they are kept out of 99.99% of them. This is due to eligibility requirements, which state that applicants must be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, for example, is only open to US citizens, as are the NSF's Summer Scholars Internship Program and Postdoctoral Research Fellowships.

The NSF's International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program, however, does offer international research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students. While the program is designed to support US students, international students can participate as unfunded trainees. The IRES program contributes to the development of a diverse, globally engaged STEM workforce by providing international research and research-related activities. Students do not apply directly to the NSF to participate in IRES activities; instead, they apply to NSF-funded investigators who have received IRES awards.

While international students are not eligible for many NSF fellowships, there are still funding options available to them. For example, international students can apply for the NSF-Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant, SSRC International Dissertation Research Fellowship, and the Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fieldwork Grant. It is important for international students to start planning their funding timeline as early as possible, as they have a limited number of awards to apply for.

NSF's IRES program offers international research opportunities

The National Science Foundation's (NSF) International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program offers international research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. The program aims to enhance US leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research and education, and to strengthen economic competitiveness by training the next generation of research leaders.

IRES provides funding for US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents to participate in international research and research-related activities. The program offers approximately $12,000,000 in funding for up to 25 awards in FY 2024, with a maximum of $150,000 per year for up to five years per award. IRES projects typically last three years but can be longer, and they must involve a coherent intellectual theme that may span multiple disciplines funded by the NSF.

Students do not apply directly to the NSF for IRES funding. Instead, they apply to NSF-funded investigators who receive IRES awards. To identify appropriate IRES projects, students should consult the directory of active IRES awards, which can be found on the NSF IRES Project Search website. Each project lists the contact information for the principal investigator or lead, who can provide information and application materials. These may include a statement of purpose, transcripts, reference letters, or other additional materials.

IRES projects involve groups of undergraduate and/or graduate students who engage in active, high-quality collaborative research at an international site with mentorship from international researchers. The projects focus on providing meaningful research experiences abroad, with substantial research mentorship provided by foreign mentors. IRES also encourages PIs to outline approaches to strengthen international collaboration beyond the trip itself, such as through virtual or hybrid interactions.

The IRES program has three tracks. Track I focuses on developing world-class research skills in international cohort experiences. Track II offers targeted, intensive learning and training opportunities leveraging international knowledge at the frontiers of research. Track III supports US institutional collaborations to develop innovative models for large-scale international research and professional development experiences for US graduate students.

International students can apply for the SSRC International Dissertation Research Fellowship

International students are not eligible for the NSF fellowships. However, international students can apply for the SSRC International Dissertation Research Fellowship IDRF program. The IDRF program is offered by the Social Science Research Council and supports graduate students in the humanities and humanistic social sciences. The program is open to students regardless of citizenship, enrolled in PhD programs in the United States.

The IDRF program offers six to twelve months of funding for international on-site dissertation research in combination with site-specific research in the United States. Applicants from disciplines such as Art History, Architectural History, Classics, Drama/Theater, Film Studies, Literature, Musicology, Performance Studies, Philosophy, Political Theory, and Religion can request three or more months of funding for international research. Other applicants, such as those in Anthropology, Geography, History, Political Science, and Sociology, must request a minimum of six months of research outside of the United States.

The program has four review stages for applications, each with its own evaluation criteria. The IDRF program is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and has supported over 1600 projects since its inception in 1997. The program's final cohort will include 60 graduate students conducting research across 13 disciplines and 12 regions worldwide.

The IDRF program supports research that advances knowledge about US Indigenous or non-US cultures and societies. Proposals for dissertation research with US Indigenous peoples, including Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, or Pacific Islanders, are invited. Proposals on non-US topics that identify the United States as a case for comparative inquiry are also welcome. However, proposals that focus predominantly or exclusively on the United States are not eligible.

The NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program is for US citizens

The NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program is only for US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. This program provides graduate students and undergraduates with paid opportunities to expand their skills and knowledge in science and engineering. The National Science Foundation (NSF) offers internships at its headquarters and research experiences across the world.

The NSF specifically mentions that applicants must be pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM or STEM education at accredited US institutions. The NSF also offers a prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Program that supports outstanding graduate students pursuing research-based master's or doctoral degrees in STEM fields.

International students are generally not eligible for NSF fellowships. However, international students can participate as unfunded trainees in the NRT program. Additionally, the NSF's International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program offers international research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students. IRES participants are mentored by researchers at a foreign lab, allowing them to build their professional network.

While international students may have limited funding options, there are still opportunities available. For example, international students can apply for major dissertation research grants such as the NSF-Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant, SSRC International Dissertation Research Fellowship, and the Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fieldwork Grant. It is important for international students to start planning their funding timeline early and explore various funding options to increase their chances of securing financial support.

Frequently asked questions