NSF GRFP Incentive Program

To encourage more students to develop competitive applications, UCI Graduate Division will provide a $500 award for graduate students who successfully submit a NSF GRFP application. Successfully funded applications will receive an additional $1000 award. Honorable mentions do not qualify.

Eligibility and Procedure: 

To qualify for the $500 submission award, you must: 

  • Be enrolled full-time (12 units) and in good academic standing in an eligible Master’s or Ph.D. program (self-supporting programs are not eligible)
  • Meet all NSF GRFP eligibility criteria
  • You must submit your fellowship applications at their respective due dates
  • Submit a Form with all required information by deadline of Sunday, December 7, 2025, 5:00 PM, including:
    • copy of your final fellowship application
    • NSF verification of receipt of application 

To qualify for the $1000 funding award, you must: 

  • Fulfill criteria stated above
  • Be enrolled full-time (12 units) and in good academic standing in an eligible Master’s or Ph.D. program (self-supporting programs are not eligible)
  • Satisfy all requirements of NSF GRFP award
  • Submit a Form with your NSF notice of award indicating funding approval**
  • Students who are notified that they have been awarded the NSF GRFP in Spring 2026 should expect to receive their stipend in Fall 2026.

 

**Graduate Division will make the final determination if your submission qualifies for incentives and reserves the right not to issue an award. Honorable mentions do not qualify. Applications must be received no later than 30 days after NSF notice of award.  

Award Disbursement and Payment Details

Incentive awards will be distributed in the academic term following submission of the required form. For example, forms submitted during the Fall term will be distributed in the Winter term.

To receive an incentive award, students must be enrolled full-time (12 units) and in good academic standing both in the term in which the form is submitted and in the term in which the award is disbursed.

Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in direct deposit through their student account. Students who are not enrolled in direct deposit will receive the incentive award as a paper check mailed to the address on file in their student record, which may result in delays. More information about setting up direct deposit can be accessed here.

Per federal guidelines, all fellowship and tuition support is considered when determining student loan eligibility. This incentive award could reduce your student loan eligibility if you receive federal student loans during the same academic year as awards.