Graduate Fellowships and Funding Opportunities#

Last edited by Eliza Diggins · 2026-05-13

This page collects fellowship and funding opportunities relevant to Berkeley Astronomy PhD students, along with a running history of program applications. If you have applied to any of these fellowships, win or lose, consider sharing your materials via the contributing guide to help future students. Anonymous entries are welcome.

Note

Deadlines and award amounts change year to year. Always verify details on the official program website before applying.

University Fellowships#

Listed here are fellowships administered by UC Berkeley and/or the Graduate Division. These are typically awarded as part of graduate admissions and do not require a separate application.

Chancellor’s Fellowship#

A merit-based fellowship offered to select incoming PhD students as part of their offer of admission. No application is required; it is included with the offer letter. Many students in the department receive it each year.

Award	$20,000
Duration	First year only
Eligibility	Incoming PhD students (no application required)

Berkeley Fellowship for Graduate Study#

A Graduate Division fellowship for continuing PhD students. Criteria and amounts vary by year and department. Contact the Graduate Division or your graduate advisor for details.

Eligibility	Continuing PhD students

See also

Berkeley Graduate Division Fellowships

Federal Fellowships#

The fellowships in this section are funded by US federal agencies and are typically open to students at any accredited US institution. Many have specific eligibility criteria related to citizenship, field of study, or stage of graduate education, so check the details before applying.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)#

The GRFP is the flagship federal graduate fellowship and one of the most broadly applicable for early-career US researchers. It funds three years of study usable over a five-year window at any accredited US institution. Astronomy students typically apply under Astronomical Sciences or Physics. Honorable Mention is a real and recognized outcome worth listing on your CV.

Award	$37,000 stipend + $16,000 cost-of-education allowance per funded year
Duration	3 funded years (usable over 5)
Eligibility	US citizens and nationals; one application allowed, in year 1 or early year 2 of a PhD program; college seniors applying before enrollment are also eligible
Deadline	Third week of October annually (exact date varies by field)

See also

NSF GRFP website

Berkeley Astronomy application history

Year	Applicant	Outcome
2025/26	Eliza Diggins	✅Awarded
2025/26	Ben Jacobson-Bell	✅Awarded
2025/26	Anastasia Wei	✅Awarded

DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGF)#

Highly selective fellowship for PhD students doing computationally intensive research. Fellows must complete a 12-week practicum at a DOE national laboratory. This is a notable draw for students interested in HPC, large-scale simulations, or connections to national lab science.

Award	$45,000 stipend + full tuition + $1,000 academic allowance per year
Duration	Up to 4 years (renewed annually)
Eligibility	US citizens and LPRs; undergrad seniors, first-year PhD students, or students matriculating into a PhD program by fall of the application year
Deadline	Mid-January annually

See also

DOE CSGF website

NASA Future Investigators in Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST)#

A NASA Science Mission Directorate grant where the graduate student designs and leads the research proposal. The student is listed as the “Future Investigator” and the faculty advisor serves as the PI of record. Astronomy students typically submit under the Astrophysics division or whichever SMD division best matches their science.

Award	Up to $50,000/year (approximately $40,000 toward stipend)
Duration	Up to 3 years
Eligibility	US citizens and nationals enrolled full-time in a master’s or doctoral STEM program
Deadline	Early February annually (check NSPIRES under the current ROSES solicitation)

See also

FINESST on NSPIRES

Astrobites application guide

DOE Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR)#

A research supplement that funds a PhD student to conduct thesis-relevant research at a DOE national laboratory for 3 to 12 consecutive months. This is a supplement to an existing stipend, not a standalone fellowship. Well-suited for students whose research overlaps with national lab capabilities such as instrumentation, computing facilities, or unique datasets.

Award	Up to $3,000/month living supplement + up to $2,000 travel reimbursement
Eligibility	US citizens and LPRs; enrolled full-time PhD students whose thesis research aligns with DOE Office of Science priority research areas
Deadline	Two solicitation cycles per year (roughly May and November)

See also

DOE SCGSR website

DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)#

A DoD-sponsored fellowship for early-career PhD students in fields relevant to national defense. Astronomy students may be competitive under Physics. Full tuition coverage is a notable benefit.

Award	$3,600/month ($43,200/year) + full tuition and fees
Duration	Up to 3 years
Eligibility	US citizens and nationals; applicants must be within the first two years of graduate study and have at least 3 years remaining in their program
Deadline	Mid-November annually

See also

NDSEG website

Private and Foundation Fellowships#

These fellowships are funded by private organizations, foundations, or companies. They often have specific focus areas such as applied research, cross-disciplinary training, or international collaboration.

Hertz Fellowship#

One of the most selective graduate fellowships in the US. The multi-stage interview process is notable on its own; interviewers probe how you think, not just what you know. Hertz emphasizes applied research with societal impact. Astronomy students have been competitive under physics. The stipend is portable and renewable for up to five years.

Award	$38,000/9-month stipend + cost-of-education allowance
Duration	Up to 5 years (renewed annually)
Eligibility	US citizens and LPRs; college seniors and first-year PhD students intending to pursue a PhD in applied physical or biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering
Deadline	October 31 annually

See also

Hertz Foundation website

Jane Street Graduate Research Fellowship#

Annual fellowship from the quantitative trading firm Jane Street for PhD students in CS, math, physics, statistics, and electrical engineering. International students are eligible. Astronomy students can apply under physics. If you already hold another fellowship, Jane Street will coordinate funding with your university.

Award	$45,000 stipend + full tuition and fees
Duration	1 academic year (renewable)
Eligibility	PhD students (domestic and international) with at least 1 year remaining, at accredited institutions in the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, or New Zealand
Deadline	November annually

See also

Jane Street GRF website

Quad Fellowship#

A cohort-based fellowship for STEM PhD students from Quad nations (US, Australia, India, Japan) and the 10 ASEAN countries. The focus is on building cross-country connections in science and technology. Less selective than most fellowships on this page and a good networking opportunity.

Award	$20,000 one-time stipend
Eligibility	Current or incoming full-time STEM PhD students who are citizens or LPRs of the US, Australia, India, Japan, or an ASEAN country
Deadline	Spring annually

See also

Quad Fellowship website

Templeton TEX Fellowship (Theory-Experiment Cross-Training)#

For PhD students in fundamental physics, astronomy, or cosmology who want to spend a year cross-training in the complementary discipline (e.g., an observer doing a year of theory, or a theorist joining an experimental group). You need a primary advisor at your home institution and a cross-discipline advisor who may be elsewhere. The fellowship must conclude before you are awarded your PhD.

Award	Up to $250,000 total (covers fellow salary, advisor support, travel, and materials across the full project period)
Eligibility	PhD students in physics, astronomy, or cosmology who are not yet in their final year
Deadline	Rolling / annual; check the Templeton Foundation website for the current cycle

See also

Templeton TEX website

Hearts for Humanity (H2H8)#

A small grant for UC Berkeley-based students. The application is minimal and the bar is low. Worth applying if you need a bit of supplemental funding.

Award	Small amount (varies by cycle)
Eligibility	UC Berkeley-based students

See also

H2H8 website