The Foundation supports graduate students working towards the Ph.D. degree in the applied physical, biological and engineering sciences. These fields include applied mathematics, statistics, and quantitative aspects of modern biology. Here, "applied" is broadly construed to mean fields of endeavor in which one applies, invents, and/or develops results from the basic physical sciences to generate solutions to problems of comparatively near-term, widespread human interest. The Foundation's efforts complement the applied physical sciences portion of the NSF's graduate fellowship program (and the Foundation coordinates with the NSF periodically). The Foundation does not support study in pursuit of the M.D. Degree or work in descriptive biology, although it may support the Ph.D. portion of a joint M.D./Ph.D. study program.
The annual competition for Graduate Fellowships begins with the application period which opens each year in August at which time a deadline consistent with those of NSF and other fellowship granting organizations will be posted. Only those applications which are complete, with all supporting materials and documents provided (including Reference Reports) by the posted deadline will be assured of full consideration by the Foundation. Untimely or incompletely-submitted applications will be entertained only at the Foundation's discretion and convenience.
Each year's competition concludes at the end of the following March, at which time the Foundation's Board of Directors determines the most highly qualified Fellowship applicants and the number of new Fellowships which available resources will be able to support. All Fellowship applicants are notified by mail of the Foundation's action on their application on or before April 1 of each year.
The Graduate Fellowship Award is based on merit (not need) and consists of a cost-of-education allowance and a personal-support stipend. The cost-of-education allowance is accepted by all of the tenable schools in lieu of all fees and tuition. Hertz Fellows therefore have no liability for any ordinary educational costs, regardless of their choice among tenable schools.
Specific Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants for Hertz Fellowships must be students of the applied physical, biological and engineering sciences who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States of America, and who are willing to morally commit to make their skills available to the United States in time of national emergency (see our Moral Commitmentsection).
- College seniors wishing to pursue the Ph.D. degree in any of the fields of particular interest to the Foundation, as well as graduate students already in the process of doing so, may apply.
- They do not support students pursuing advanced professional degrees other than the Ph.D., such as enrollees in M.D., LLD or MBA programs, although we will support the Ph.D. portion of a joint M.D./Ph.D. study program. For a list of general fields of study in which Graduate Fellowships are offered by the Foundation, see Fields.