THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Graduate Student Tool Kits
The Student Proposal Timeline was designed to help students plan for funding applications and provides SSD grant administrator contacts.
The National Science Foundation awards grants to doctoral students to improve the quality of dissertation research. These grants are offered in a variety of social sciences disciplines. Requirements and deadlines vary across programs, so interested doctoral students are advised to consult the NSF’s website and to carefully read the solicitations and instructions.
The SSRC provides documents to help you apply for an NSF DDRIG:
- Program list: deadlines, program officers, and SSD grants contacts
- NSF Proposal digest: instructions for preparing your application
The Sociology and Political Science programs are now run through their respective professional organizations, see infosheets below for more information:
NOTE: On Hold for 2024-25 AY
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funds innovative doctoral dissertation research in the social and behavioral sciences that is relevant to reducing and preventing violent crime, combating the opioid epidemic, promoting law enforcement officer safety, health, and wellness, rescuing and restoring crime victims, securing our Nation’s borders, and enhancing law enforcement investigations and prosecutions. This program furthers the Department’s mission by sponsoring research to provide objective, independent, evidence-based knowledge and tools to meet the challenges of crime and justice, particularly at the state, local and tribal levels.
The SSRC provides documents to help you apply for an NIJ GRF:
- Application Digest: Detailed instructions
- Application Checklist: Checklist of application components
The National Science Foundation offers prestigious fellowships to early-career individuals with the demonstrated potential to be high achieving scientists and engineers. Fellowships are given to early-career individuals who are beginning research-based Master’s and Doctoral programs in STEM or STEM Education. The program provides support for individuals who present a comprehensive plan for graduate education.
Changes to Eligibility Criteria for the 2025-26 Cycle:
- Applicants must be either in their final year of undergraduate study with intent to pursue a graduate degree the following year or in their first year of their first graduate degree program.
- Doctoral students beyond their first year of graduate study or those who have previously been enrolled in a graduate program are no longer eligible.