npsc [logo]national physical science consortium (graduate fellowships in the physical sciences)
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Selection Information

Number of Awards

Varies yearly.

Type

Fellowship.

Duration

The initial phase of the Traditional Fellowship covers the first two or three years of graduate school, depending on the employer who sponsors the fellowship, with the possibility of continuation for several more years providing all the conditions of the fellowship continue to be met. The maximum total duration is six years.

The Dissertation Support Program covers the period of dissertation research and defense, up to a maximum of four years

Amount

The annual stipend to the student currently is $16,000; NPSC charges an overhead fee of $5,000 per fellow supported per year. Including the stipend, tuition, fees, and salary for two summers of internship, the value of an NPSC fellowship t exceeds $200,000.

Fields of Study:

Though the fields supported may vary annually depending on employer needs, in general NPSC covers the following: Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geology, Materials Science, Mathematical Sciences, Physics, and their subdisciplines, and related engineering fields: Chemical, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, Mechanical.

Location or Type of Institution

Any participating NPSC Member University or College.

Eligibility

NPSC welcomes applications from any qualified U.S. citizen who has the ability to pursue graduate work at an NPSC member institution. NPSC attempts to recruit a broad pool of applicants with special emphasis on underrepresented minorities and women. Applicants should be in one of the following categories:

For the Traditional and Internship Programs:

  • Be in your senior year with at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA
  • Be in your first year of a graduate program pursuing a Ph.D.
  • Be in a terminal master's program (your university offers no Ph.D. in your discipline).
  • Be returning from the workforce with no more than a master's degree

For the Dissertation Support Program, be near the point at which your research will begin.

Persons who already possess a doctoral degree in any field are ineligible.

Selection

Selection is a two-step process. First, NPSC's Academic Screening Committee ranks applicants on the basis of likelihood that the applicant will earn a Ph.D. degree with distinction. The following factors, not in order, enter into the ASC's deliberations:

  • Academic standing (GPA).
  • Course work taken in preparation for graduate school.
  • Research experience at University and/or Industry.
  • Letters of recommendation from professors and employers. The most effective letters are from someone who has supervised or observed the applicant's participation in research.
  • The GRE General tests are required; the Subject test is suggested and may be required by your university.

Next, employers review the pool of applicants recommended by the ASC and advise NPSC of which students the employer wishes to support. NPSC then makes the award. Note that employers use criteria in addition to academic merit, such as academic discipline, proximity of graduate university, etc.

Application Procedure:

  1. NPSC mails posters and announcements to universities and colleges.
  2. Student accesses NPSC web site for the online application.
  3. Student completes the online application.
  4. Academic Screening Committee reviews.
  5. Employers select those they wish to sponsor.
  6. Award announcements are made in mid-March. Finalization of awards and letters to those not selected completed by approximately mid-April.

Application Deadline:

November 5, Annually.

Application period:

August 25- November 5.

For an Application:

Apply Now

Sponsor's Name:

National Physical Science Consortium
3716 South Hope Street
Suite 348
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Phone: (800) 854-NPSC or (213) 743-2409
Fax: (213) 743-2410
Email: npschq@npsc.org
Web: www.npsc.org