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Apply for Research Fellowships

We encourage our students to apply for these prestigious scholarships

The Pratt School of Engineering encourages our graduate students to apply for competitively awarded research fellowships.

In addition to extra training, resources and career-building opportunities, a fellowship identifies as a student as top scholar, and bestows a measure of honor and recognition.

Duke Research Fellowships

Sloan Scholarships

In addition to the standard Duke PhD support package, each Sloan Scholar receives $40,000 in supplemental funding over five years in support of academic progress and enrichment.

Sloan Scholars also take part in a series of workshops, symposia, lunches, and periodic check-ins throughout their time at Duke. These events are designed to help Sloan Scholars fully integrate into the Duke community, empowering them to successfully complete their education and launch into their careers. Scholars will also have the benefit of guidance from designated faculty champions from their own departments, who will help them navigate graduate school.

Who is eligible?

Sloan Scholarships are awarded to students who are U.S. citizens AND have been offered admission to a participating Duke PhD program—which includes doctoral programs in the Pratt School of Engineering.

Each year, the PhD programs nominate newly admitted students as candidates for the scholarship. Students who are chosen for a Sloan Scholarship will be notified of this at the time they receive their offer of admission to Duke.

Learn more

Dean's Graduate Fellowships

Fellowships provided by the Dean of The Graduate School are provided to students who—by reason of their background, culture, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, work, and life experiences—contribute to a fuller representation of perspectives within the academic life of the university.

The fellowship provides stipends, tuition remission and fee coverage.

To the 12-month stipend of the first two years of study, the Pratt School of Engineering provides a third year of full stipend.

Who is eligible?

The Graduate School’s commitment to promoting and benefiting from diversity leads it to encourage nominations of students who are black/African American, American Indian/Alaskan native, and Hispanic/Latino Americans. All nominees must be US citizens.

Incoming students are nominated by their department; no direct application is necessary.

More information

More Opportunities at Duke


External Research Fellowships

Duke Engineering helps PhD students to develop strong proposals to competitively awarded external research fellowships.

Most students begin to apply after their first full year of coursework.

To find a program, see the constantly updated list of list of national competitive scholarships for graduate students compiled by the Duke Office of University Scholars & Fellows (OUSF) and visit the Duke OUSF website. Plus, check the constantly updated list of new Duke and external funding opportunities on a website dedicated to Duke Graduate Students.

Also, click below for links to current information about a selection of major external scholarship programs related to the study of engineering.

US Government-Funded Fellowships

  • National Science Foundation (NSF) Programs: Division of Graduate Education—Browse all NSF Graduate Fellowship Programs
  • U.S. Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship Program—Visit the DoD SMART website
  • National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship—Visit the NDSEG website
  • U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program—Visit the SCGSR program website
  • DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship—Visit the DOE CSGF website

Fellowships for Underrepresented Students

Private Merit-Based Fellowships