OGSPS Fellowships
The Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars (OGSPS) is proud to invest in the next generation of scholars through a portfolio of prestigious fellowships that reflect Purdue’s commitment to excellence, discovery, and impact. Through these opportunities, OGSPS helps attract the brightest minds to Purdue and champions the academic and professional success of our graduate community.
Reference Manuals
Reference materials include the Fellowship Manual and the Graduate Staff Employment Manual, which provide detailed guidance for OGSPS fellowships. These resources outline policies, eligibility requirements, tuition and fee coverage, and award provisions to help fellows and departments navigate funding and appointments with confidence.
Fellowship Manual
Guidelines and policies for OGSPS fellowships, including eligibility, award provisions, tuition and fee coverage, and administration details.
Graduate Staff Employment Manual
Comprehensive policies and procedures for graduate staff appointments, covering employment classifications, payroll, benefits, leaves, and responsibilities.
Recruitment Fellowships and Awards
Recruitment fellowships and awards are provided to exceptional incoming graduate students based on faculty nominations from their graduate program applications. Students do not apply separately. These prestigious awards provide financial support, community, and momentum, reflecting Purdue’s commitment to attracting world-class talent.
- Funding Allocated to Colleges: October
- Award Notification to Students: Determined by each college or graduate program
- Student Response Deadline: April
For recruiting outstanding Ph.D.-track students to Purdue graduate programs, each fellowship provides a four-year award with a salary, tuition coverage, and a medical insurance supplement. Recipients must begin their program in the fall following the award period. (Previously known as the Ross, Lynn, and Andrews fellowships.)
Support
- $28,000 per year minimum (2025-26 Rate)
- 1-2 years of support from OGSPS, provided as a Fellowship Administered as Assistantship
- 2-3 years of support from the student’s graduate program, typically provided as a research or teaching assistantship
For the recruitment of students pursuing Master’s-level graduate education, each fellowship provides a one-year award package, including a salary, tuition payment, and medical insurance benefits. Recipients are selected based on character, intellectual ability, and promise of degree attainment. The fellowship is funded through an endowment honoring David M. Knox, and each college may submit only two nominations per year.
Support
- $28,000 per year minimum (2025-26 Rate)
- 1 year of support from OGSPS, provided as a Fellowship Administered as Assistantship
For the recruitment of students with undergraduate degrees from Purdue for the furtherance of PhD research at Purdue University, each fellowship provides a one-year award package, including a salary, tuition payment, and medical insurance benefits. Recipients are selected based on character, intellectual ability, and promise of degree attainment. The fellowship is funded through an endowment honoring Charles C. Chapelle, and each college may submit only two nominations per year.
support
- $28,000 per year minimum (2025-26 Rate)
- 1 year of support from OGSPS, provided as a Fellowship Administered as Assistantship
The Presidential Excellence Award is a faculty-nominated award for outstanding PhD applicants who demonstrate strong potential to contribute to their discipline and to college and university priorities. Recipients receive $10,000 per year for up to four years as a supplement to their base stipend or salary. The award begins at the start of the recipient’s first semester and requires enrollment and satisfactory academic and research progress.
support
- $10,000 per year
- 4 years of support from OGSPS, provided as a stipend or salary supplement
Residential Graduate Fellowships
Residential Graduate Fellowships provide financial support to outstanding current graduate students. These fellowships reflect Purdue’s commitment to developing scholars who contribute to both research excellence and campus life. Fellows benefit from resources that support their academic, professional, and personal success as they progress through their graduate studies.
- Funding Allocated to Colleges: October
- Award Notification to Students: Determined by each college or graduate program
- Student Response Deadline: April
Provides support to outstanding Ph.D. candidates in their final year of doctoral degree completion. Bilsland Fellows are expected to devote full-time effort to the completion of all doctoral degree requirements to receive the doctoral degree at the conclusion of the fellowship tenure.
Support
- $28,000 per year minimum (2025-26 Rate)
- 1 year of support from OGSPS, provided as a Fellowship Administered as Assistantship
This faculty nominated fellowship was established as a “means for promoting a deeper interest in world problems, to the end that a better understanding of international relationships and world affairs may be advanced.” Recipients are doctoral candidates in one of the following Purdue graduate programs: Agricultural Economics, Civil Engineering, Foreign Languages and Literature, History, Management, or Political Science.
Support
- $28,000 per year minimum (2025-26 Rate)
- 1 year of support from OGSPS, provided as a Fellowship Administered as Assistantship
This faculty nominated fellowship was established for support and maintenance of one or more annual fellowships to be awarded to and used by graduate students who maintain citizenship in Romania or have some significant relationship with Romania as determined by the Vice Provost of OGSPS. Examples of this include residency, education, or research in Romania and formal outreach or engagement with Romania.
Support
- $28,000 per year minimum (2025-26 Rate)
- 1 year of support from OGSPS, provided as a Fellowship Administered as Assistantship
Administration of OGSPS Fellowships
The Graduate Excellence, Knox, Bilsland Dissertation, Ludwig Kruhe, and Puskas Memorial fellowships are provided as Fellowships Administered as Assistantships during the year(s) supported by OGSPS. Beginning in Fall 2026, the Chapelle Fellowship will also use this model.
The Presidential Excellence Award differs in structure, providing a $10,000 annual stipend or salary supplement in addition to a primary funding package (such as another fellowship or assistantship). Students are classified according to their primary funding package.
A student receiving a Fellowship Administered as an Assistantship is considered a Fellow Assistant and is classified as an employee of Purdue University at 0.50 FTE. Your status as an employee has implications for health and insurance benefits, vacation and leave, and taxes. In comparison, students receiving external fellowships (or the Chapelle Fellowship for 2025-2026) are not considered university employees (see “Managing Your Fellowship” on the External Fellowships page for more information).
- Tuition and some student fees are covered through tuition remission. Review your offer letter for details about fee coverage.
- Payment is provided as a bi-weekly salary with federal taxes withheld.
- Subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance are offered through the graduate staff medical insurance plan. Fellow assistants are also eligible for the student health insurance plan. Although not subsidized by the university, students covering one or more dependents should consider both plans. More information is available through Human Resources.
- Additional benefits such as paid leave and optional insurances are also available. Refer to the Graduate Staff Employment Manual for more information.
Students funded through external fellowships are typically not eligible for the graduate staff health insurance plan. Instead they use the Purdue student insurance plan. More information comparing coverage by the two plans is available through Human Resources.
Fellow Assistants are expected to devote their 50% FTE toward progress in their course of study and research. The exact duties will depend on individual degree programs and may include course work and research duties. Fellow Assistants should not be assigned teaching, administrative, or research duties that do not contribute towards their degree progress or dissertation research.
Fellow Assistants are considered employees of the university. Therefore, the salary earned from this position is subject to withholding for income tax, social security, and Medicare tax and is reported on the W-2 at year end. For further tax advice, students should consult a tax expert. The interpretation and implementation of the tax laws is the domain of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). OGSPS takes no position on the status of a particular taxpayer, nor does it have the authority to dispense tax advice.
More in Funding & Fellowships
Explore the pages below to discover additional funding opportunities and resources.
Contact Information
Fellowships Main Office
Address: Young Hall, Room 170. 155 Grant Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907-21147
Phone number: (765) 494-2600
Email addresses:
- For questions regarding applying for external fellowships: trainee-funding@purdue.edu
- For questions regarding OGSPS fellowships or managing awarded fellowships: fellowships@purdue.edu
- For questions regarding assistantships: gradfunding@purdue.edu