Fellowships differ from other proposals in many ways. Most fellowships have set budget amounts and budget categories that can be requested. The content of a proposal is also different depending upon the sponsor; be certain to read through the guidance thoroughly.
When applying for a fellowship there are questions you need to ask:
WHO WILL RECEIVE THE FUNDING?
- If the fellow will receive the funding directly from the sponsor, the applicant can probably submit on his/her own without notifying OCG of the submission. If the fellow is not sure, contact your department's Proposal Analyst and ask for clarification.
- If the fellow will receive funding through the University, then they will need to work with their Proposal Analyst and go through the normal process for submitting an application.
- If the fellow has a choice, we recommend submitting through the University for tax and insurance reasons and the support OCG and Sponsored Projects Accounting (SPA) can provide for sponsor award and financial requirements. Follow the process for proposals as described in Get Started Now.
IS A FORMAL BUDGET OR OFFICIAL SIGNATURE REQUIRED?
- If an approved budget or an official signature is required you will need OCG’s help. Be sure to send the link to the solicitation when contacting your Proposal Analyst.
DOES THE FELLOWSHIP ONLY COVER THE COST OF IN-STATE TUITION?
Most fellowships only award tuition amounts sufficient to cover the cost of In-State tuition. Out-of-State and International student fellowship applicants especially need to be aware that their tuition may not be covered by a fellowship. It is the responsibility of all student fellowship applicants:
- To know how much of their tuition will be covered by a fellowship;
- To ensure they are aware of the options to cover the additional tuition costs. Options may include supplemental support from campus departments and, for out-of-state U.S. citizen students, applying for in-state status after the first year;
- To confer with their department or the Graduate School regarding tuition options before applying for fellowships, if not approved for In-State tuition; and
- To inform OCG Proposal Analysts when developing a fellowship budget if you need to include out-of-state tuition.
NIH Fellowships
NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Fellowships are the most common fellowships we submit at OCG. If you are applying for an NIH fellowship, contact the Proposal Analyst for your department at least 5 business days before the deadline. Your Proposal Analyst can provide additional resources, including a partially completed NIH ASSIST application, and assistance with submission of your proposal, which must be done through OCG.
The following documents will assist you in starting your proposal:
- OCG PSR Form
- NIH Fellowship F Series Budget Template Updated 03/2022
- NIH NRSA Fellowship Proposal Review Checklist
- How to Use ASSIST for NIH Fellowship Submissions
NASA Fellowships
NASA offers two fellowship programs, Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science Technology (FINESST) and NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO). If you are applying for a NASA fellowship, contact the Proposal Analyst for your department at least 5 business days before the deadline. Your Proposal Analyst can provide additional resources and assistance with submission of your proposal as required per program guidelines. The NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) has been replaced by the FINESST program. Only current fellows are eligible to apply for NESSF renewals.
The following documents will assist you in starting your proposal:
- NASA NSTGRO Introduction
- NASA NSTGRO Summary of Application Procedures
- NASA NSTGRO Budget Template
- NASA FINESST Summary of Application Procedures
- FINESST and NSTGRO call for proposals and submission instructions are located at the NASA NSPIRES solicitation index page. Click on “Solicitations,” then click on “Open Solicitations,” then select the “FINESST” or “NSTGRO” announcement
- NASA FINESST Budget Template - This spreadsheet has been expanded to provide the departments with more visibility into actual costs vs. funds covered by the grant. A print tab has been added which auto-fills from the main tab, and may be used as part of the budget information in the proposal.
- NASA FINESST Budget Narrative Template
- NASA FINESST Assurance Form
- NASA Fellowship Activity Summary of Application Procedures
- NASA Fellowship Activity Budget Template
- OCG PSR Form
- NSPIRES Help
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) proposals are submitted directly by the applicant follow and do not go through OCG. The following can assist you with your GRFP proposal:
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
- Registration Instructions for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
For further assistance, contact Gretchen O'Connell in the CU Graduate School.