National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)
Masters Programs @Fellowships posted 4 weeks agoJob Description
Job Description: A highly competitive fellowship funded by the Department of Defense (DoD) that supports U.S. citizens in pursuing graduate degrees (primarily Ph.D., and sometimes master’s) in science, engineering, and other defense-related STEM disciplines. The NDSEG Fellowship’s purpose is to increase the number of scientists and engineers in the U.S. with advanced degrees, in fields critical to national defense and security. It is a portable award tenable at any accredited U.S. institution.
Role Description: NDSEG Fellows undertake graduate research of their choosing (in approved disciplines) with full financial support for up to three years. Fellows focus on their studies and research without additional service obligations to the government. During the fellowship, they are expected to maintain high academic standing and make progress toward their degree. There is no internship or work requirement, but fellows may be invited to DoD networking or conference events. The fellowship simply enables recipients to freely pursue research from the first year through the third year of graduate school. After the fellowship period, many NDSEG Fellows continue in their Ph.D. programs funded by their universities or other grants.
Application Cycle: Annual (application opens in August and closes in Oct/Nov; selections announced in the spring for fellowships beginning that fall)
What You’ll Need:
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- U.S. citizenship or U.S. national status (required)
- Either be in the final year of undergraduate study or early in graduate study. Eligible applicants include graduating seniors, recent bachelor’s grads, and first or second-year grad students in an eligible STEM program
- Strong academic record in science or engineering; research experience is highly valued
- Proposed graduate study in one of the DoD-approved disciplines (e.g., aeronautical engineering, computer science, physics, cognitive neuroscience, etc. – about 18 disciplines are listed)
Preferred or Required Qualifications:
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- Required: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field by the time of fellowship activation; intention to pursue a doctoral degree (the program is geared toward Ph.D. attainment)
- Preferred: Participation in research (publications, labs, internships) and excellent GRE scores (if required by grad program) can strengthen the application
- Must not already have a doctorate. While master’s students can apply, the goal is often to fund those who will proceed to a Ph.D.
Benefits and Perks:
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- Three years of full financial support for graduate study: NDSEG covers full tuition and required academic fees at the student’s institution, and provides a monthly stipend (annual stipend ~$40,800, i.e. $3,400 per month). It also includes up to $1,400 per year for health insurance.
- Freedom to choose any accredited U.S. university and advisor for your graduate research – the fellowship is portable and follows the student’s choice of program
- No military or federal service obligation attached – recipients can focus solely on their studies and are not required to work for DoD (though many pursue defense-related research and may later work with DoD labs by choice)
- Opportunities for professional development: fellows are often invited to NDSEG conferences and may have access to DoD research facilities for collaboration
Where and How You Can Apply:
Official Portal: ndseg.sysplus.com – NDSEG Application – Complete the online application form, including academic records, GRE scores (optional but recommended if available), three recommendation letters, and short essays about research interests and career goals. Applicants must also list target DoD discipline(s) and up to three graduate institutions. Results are announced via the portal and email in spring.
