Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Reference letters and transcripts must conform to the following requirements:

  1. File size cannot exceed 10 MB
  2. File cannot be password protected or encrypted
  3. File cannot be empty
  4. Reference letter cannot exceed 2 pages
  1. OpenOffice inserts an unallowable font for superscript and subscript.
  2. Google Docs may not properly export bulleted text and should not be used.
  3. Certain LaTeX-generated PDF elements are not yet supported. If using LaTeX, use the function to create a PDF and check to ensure that it is accepted by the GRFP Application Module well in advance of the deadline.
  4. Microsoft Office for Macs "Save as PDF" functionality "Best for Printing" may not be supported. Instead, select the "Best for electronic distribution and accessibility (uses Microsoft online service)" option.
  5. Older versions of Microsoft Word (2007 or earlier) may produce font errors.
  6. For Microsoft Office, do not use "Print as PDF" to create a PDF. Instead, use "Export" and "Create PDF."

TRANSCRIPTS

  1. Are transcripts required? Yes. A transcript is required for each degree-granting program listed in the application. The NSF GRFP Application Module will not accept an application without a transcript.
  2. Do the transcripts uploaded with my application need to be official transcripts? No. You may upload either official or unofficial transcripts, as long as the unofficial transcript meets the requirements described in the NSF GRFP Solicitation. Redact sensitive personally identifiable information (date of birth, social security number) from the transcripts before uploading.
  3. My school doesn't give electronic transcripts. How do I include transcripts in my application? If you have a hard copy of your transcripts, you can scan and upload it. Redact sensitive personally identifiable information (date of birth, social security number) from the transcripts before scanning and uploading.
  4. I just started at my current institution and do not have a transcript. What can I do? If you just started at your current institution, you can upload an unofficial transcript, a class schedule, or enrollment verification form from your school showing the courses for which you are registered. It is helpful if the document you upload shows what courses you are taking in the fall as it gives reviewers some information about your coursework. An unofficial transcript, class schedule, or enrollment verification form should include your name and the name of your institution.
  5. My school offers official electronic transcripts that require the recipient to login and download the transcript. May I list the NSF GRFP's contact information, and have the NSF GRFP download the transcript and add it to my application? No. Applicants must upload transcripts directly into the NSF GRFP Application Module. Obtain a copy of your transcript, convert it to PDF and upload it into the NSF GRFP Application Module. Redact sensitive personally identifiable information (date of birth, social security number) from the transcripts before uploading.
  6. My school's official electronic transcripts are password protected. Can I still submit them? No. The NSF GRFP Application Module does not accept password-protected or similarly encrypted PDFs. If your school's electronic transcripts are encrypted, either obtain an unencrypted unofficial electronic transcript and make a PDF or scan a hard copy of your transcript and upload the scan. Redact sensitive personally identifiable information (date of birth, social security number) from the transcripts before uploading.
  7. I receive an error when uploading my transcript file. Many universities will place a layer of encryption on official transcript files which can cause issues when uploading to the NSF GRFP Application Module. If you receive an error, please print a copy of the transcript and scan to PDF prior to uploading. Check to make sure that your transcript has been uploaded properly.
  8. I have attended several schools. Do I need to list all of them and upload all of the transcripts? You should list all institutions from which you received a Bachelor's degree or higher-level degree, and upload transcripts from all degree-granting programs listed in your application. Transcripts from other institutions listed in your application (i.e., for coursework taken outside of a degree-granting program) are optional.

APPLICATION

  1. Are GRE scores required for the NSF GRFP application? No. GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores are not part of the NSF GRFP application.
  2. Can I include links with supplemental material, such as papers, videos, etc. for reviewers to consider? No. The only application content that is considered by reviewers is what is submitted via the NSF GRFP Application Module by the application deadline. Do not submit any other material. Nothing will be accepted via email. From the NSF GRFP Solicitation: "Only the information required in the Application Module will be reviewed. No additional items or information will be accepted or reviewed. Do not provide links to web pages within the application, except as part of citations in the References Cited section. Images must be included in the page limits. Review of the application and reference letters is based solely on materials received by the application and reference letter deadlines." Reviewers are instructed to evaluate only the evidence provided within the application.
  3. Can I obtain copies of past applications or statements from previously awarded applications? No.
  4. Will my application be reviewed if I submit it right after the deadline? No. The GRFP Application Module will not accept applications after the deadline. NSF must receive your application by 5 p.m. local time, as determined by the applicant's mailing address, on the Major Field of Study specific deadline day (see NSF GRFP Solicitation for application deadlines). E-mail or snail mail applications will not be accepted.
  5. How should I select my Major Field of Study? Select the Major Field of Study and the subfield that is closest to your research interests. If the subfield is not listed, it may not be eligible for NSF GRFP. Choose your Major Field of Study carefully. Your choice determines the disciplinary knowledge of the experts who will review your application. If you are offered a Fellowship, it will be in the Major Field of Study that you chose in your application and cannot be applied to another field or discipline for the first year of the Fellowship. The name of the degree program does not need to match the Major Field of Study exactly, but must be in the same discipline (i.e., a science discipline cannot be substituted for an engineering discipline or vice versa, e.g., chemistry for chemical engineering).
  6. My intended study is interdisciplinary, so I will select multiple fields for my application. Will my application be reviewed by reviewers drawn from these multiple fields? No. Your application will be reviewed in the Major Field of Study that you select. Check the list of eligible Fields of Study and the subfields in the NSF GRFP Solicitation Appendix and choose as your Major Field of Study the one that you consider most compatible with your research interests. Your reviewers will be drawn from experts within that field. You can consult your advisor(s) for input about this decision. NSF welcomes applications for interdisciplinary programs of study and research; however, data on interdisciplinary study is collected for informational purposes only. Interdisciplinary research is defined as "a mode of research by teams or individuals that integrates information, data, techniques, tools, perspectives, concepts, and/or theories from two or more disciplines or bodies of specialized knowledge to advance fundamental understanding or to solve problems whose solutions are beyond the scope of a single discipline or area of research practice" (Committee on Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (2004). Facilitating interdisciplinary research. National Academies. Washington: National Academy Press, p. 2). Applications must be received by the deadline for the Major Field of Study designated in the application. Applications will be reviewed only by experts in the Major Field of Study listed. If awarded, Fellows are required to enroll in a degree program in the Major Field of Study in which the application was funded.

STATEMENT FORMATTING

We strongly recommend using the templates for both Personal Statement and Graduate Research Plan available at https://nsfgrfp.org/ to ensure the statements will be format-compliant.

  1. What are the formatting requirements for the statements? See templates available at https://nsfgrfp.org/. The statements must be written using:

Compliance with these requirements will be automatically checked by the GRFP Application Module. If your documents are not compliant, they will not be accepted by the NSF GRFP Application Module.

REFERENCE LETTERS

  1. How can I find out if my reference letters have been submitted? Track the submission status of reference letters in the NSF GRFP Application Module. Click "Check Application Package Status" under the Application Package Optional Task List.
  2. What happens if more than three of my reference letters are submitted? You will be asked to assign a priority ranking to each reference writer you list. If more than three reference letters are submitted for your application, letters from the three highest ranked reference writers will be included in your application package for review.
  3. Can I change the priority rankings for my references? Not after the application is submitted. You can change the rankings of your reference writers in the NSF GRFP Application Module by selecting "Manage References" under the Application Package Optional Task List before your submit your application.
  4. My reference writer was asked to provide letters for several applicants and other applicants show up on his/her list of applicants, my name does not. How can I ensure that the letter is submitted? Reference letter requests are associated with the reference writer's email address. If you and another applicant provide different email addresses for the same reference writer, and the reference writer logs in to submit a letter using the email address listed by the other applicant, the reference writer will not see you on their list of applicants. In this case, the reference writer should create another login using the email address that you listed, or else you can edit the email address you entered for that reference writer to match the one listed by the other applicant(s).
  5. Can reference letters be submitted by email or by physical mail? No. All reference letters must be submitted online through the NSF GRFP Application Module. If you need assistance with the reference letter submission process, please contact the NSF Help Desk at fastlane@nsf.gov or 1-800-673-6188.
  6. My reference writer did not receive the email nominating them to serve as a reference writer or the email containing their temporary password. There are a few reasons that your reference writer may not have received the email nominating them as a reference writer. Please check the following if this occurs:
  7. I missed the deadline to submit my reference letter, how can I submit it now? All reference letters are due by the deadline published in the NSF GRFP Solicitation. There are no exceptions.

NOTIFICATIONS

  1. When will applicants be notified of the results? Reviewed applicants will be notified of the results of the competition by early April.
  2. How are notifications sent? Notifications are sent via email to the email address registered in the NSF GRFP Application Module.
  3. I did not receive a notification. What should I do? If you did not receive a notification, please check your spam or junk folder. If you cannot locate the email there, please email info@nsfgrfp.org from the address associated with your NSF GRFP application, and include your name, 10-digit applicant ID number, and primary mailing address.
  4. Can I receive additional feedback beyond the comments I received on my reviews? No. The reviews in the NSF GRFP Module are the only available feedback for NSF GRFP applications. The notification email will direct applicants to log in to the NSF GRFP Module in order to download their reviews. Reviews are available for a limited time only.
  5. Can I appeal the results of my application if I was not offered a Fellowship? No. Per NSF policy (PAPPG, Chapter IV), there is no reconsideration for fellowship decisions.
  6. Does NSF offer any additional Fellowships after the selection announcements? No.
  7. Is there a waiting list for NSF GRFP, and if so, how can I be placed on the waiting list? There is no waiting list.

INFORMATION FOR REFERENCE WRITERS

  1. I am unable to log in using the temporary password I received via email. If you have received your temporary password and are unable to log in to the NSF GRFP Reference Writer Module, check the following:
  2. I did not receive the email nominating me to serve as a reference writer or the email containing my temporary password. There are a few reasons that you may not have received the email nominating you as a reference writer. Please check the following if this occurs:
  3. I was asked to provide letters for several applicants, but one is not showing up on my list of applicants. How can I submit the letter? Reference letter requests are associated with the reference writer's email address. If two applicants list different email addresses for the same reference writer, and the reference writer logs in to submit a letter using the email address listed by the first applicant, the second applicant will not show up on that reference writer's list of applicants. In this case, you should repeat the first-time login process using the email address listed by the "missing" applicant.
  4. What are the format requirements for the letters of reference? The letter must be a PDF and adhere to the following requirements:
  5. Is there a page limit for letters of reference? Yes. Letters of reference are limited to a maximum of 2 pages in length. Please note that the NSF GRFP Module will not accept letters that are longer than 2 pages.
  6. Can reference letters be submitted by email or by physical mail? No. All reference letters must be submitted online through the NSF GRFP Module. If you need assistance with the reference letter submission process, please contact the NSF Help Desk at fastlane@nsf.gov or 1-800-673-6188. All reference letters are due by the deadline published in the NSF GRFP Solicitation. There are no exceptions.

INFORMATION FOR REVIEWERS

  1. How can I become an NSF GRFP Reviewer? Go to https://nsfgrfp.org/reviewers to register your interest in serving as a reviewer for NSF GRFP. No obligation is assumed by registering. After NSF GRFP assesses the needs for the upcoming competition, invitations are issued to prospective reviewers in October and November. If you are accepted as a reviewer, you will be expected to agree to: 1) view all reviewer training materials; 2) participate in a reviewer orientation webinar in November or December; 3) review 30 or fewer applications; 4) submit all reviews online by the review submission deadline; and 5) participate in an online review panel.
  2. I have served as an NSF GRFP Reviewer before. Do I need to view the training materials and participate in the orientation webinar again? Yes. NSF GRFP information and reviewer training is updated annually, and it is important that all reviewers are aware of these updates.
  3. Are NSF GRFP Reviewers paid? NSF GRFP reviewers are paid after panel participation and completion of review assignments. Panel participation is required for payment. The flat rate fee paid to reviewers eligible to receive payment is $200. You are not eligible to receive the payment if you are not a US citizen/permanent resident or if you are employed by the Federal Government.
  4. How will I receive the flat rate fee? NSF uses an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) direct deposit to your bank account using the NSF Guest Travel and Reimbursement System. An email will be sent to reviewers with information on how to register to receive reimbursement. No other forms of payment are used.
  5. I do not have a PhD, am I eligible to serve as a reviewer? NSF welcomes reviewers who are professional graduate education experts and you may serve regardless of having a PhD degree. However, reviewers should not be active graduate students.
  6. I am a current postdoc, am I eligible to serve as a reviewer? No. Reviewers should not be current postdocs, but the program hopes you will consider serving after you have completed your postdoc position.
  7. Am I eligible to serve if my student is applying or I have written a letter of recommendation for an NSF GRFP applicant? Yes, you are still eligible to serve as a reviewer. You may serve on the same panel as an application for which you have a conflict of interest (you are the applicant's advisor, wrote a letter of reference for the applicant, etc.). However, you cannot participate in the evaluation of applications that pose a potential conflict of interest or the perception thereof. If you are not comfortable serving on the same panel as an applicant you know, please let us know and we will attempt to place you on a different panel. If you feel you have a conflict of interest with an application, you may ask to have it replaced with a different application.
  8. I work at an institution or organization outside the United States, am I eligible to serve as a reviewer? Only individuals affiliated with a United States-based institutions or organizations may serve as reviewers for NSF-GRFP. Individuals working for institutions or organizations based or headquartered in the United States, but who are appointed or employed abroad, are eligible to apply.