Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships for Minorities
About the Program
The goal of the program, sponsored by the Ford Foundation and administered by the National Research Council (NRC), is to increase the presence of under represented minorities on the nation's college and university faculties. Predoctoral fellowships are awarded in a nationwide competition to individuals who demonstrate superior scholarship and show greatest promise for future achievement as scholars, researchers, and teachers in institutions of higher education.
Eligibility
There are approximately 50 three-year predoctoral fellowships awarded each year with and application deadline mid- November. Fellowships are open to U.S. citizens or nationals who are members of one of the following ethnic minority groups:
- Alaskan Natives (Eskimo or Aleut)
- Black/African Americans
- Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos
- Native American Indians
- Native Pacific Islanders (Polynesian or Micronesian)
- Puerto Ricans
Criteria
Awards are made only for study in research-based doctoral programs that lead to careers in teaching and research at the university or college level. Applicants must not have completed, at the time of application, more than two years in a current Ph.D. or ScD program in fields supported by this program. If the current program counts previously earned graduate work, credits transferred may not exceed 45 semester/60quarter hours. Fellowships are tenable at any accredited nonprofit United States Institution of higher education offering PhDs or ScDs in the fields eligible for support in this program.
How to Apply
Competing for a fellowship and applying to graduate school are two separate processes: success in one does not necessarily mean success in the other. All arrangements for acceptance to a doctoral program at the chosen institution are the responsibility of the applicant.
Exam
Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test scores are required.
Deadline
Postmark deadline for the Fellowship Application is mid-November.
