Hertz Fellowship 2027: STEM PhD Funding Worth Up to $250,000
Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Hertz Fellowship |
| Funded by | Fannie and John Hertz Foundation |
| Host country | United States |
| Level | PhD in applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering |
| Coverage | Up to five years of funding, valued up to $250,000 |
| Application opens | August 31, 2026 |
| Deadline | Late October 2026 (exact date to confirm in portal) |
| Eligible applicants | U.S. citizens and permanent residents, usually college seniors/gap-year applicants/first-year PhD students |
| Official website | https://www.hertzfoundation.org/hertz-fellowship/apply/ |
The Hertz Fellowship is a major U.S. STEM PhD fellowship for students pursuing bold research in applied sciences, engineering, mathematics, and related biological and physical sciences. The 2027 application opens August 31, 2026, with a late-October deadline.
For other urgent U.S. graduate awards, compare this with `/fulbright-us-student-program-2027-2028-guide` and `/knight-hennessy-scholars-2027-guide`.
What Does It Cover?
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Total value | Up to $250,000 |
| Duration | Renewable annually for up to five years |
| Hertz-only stipend | $38,000 nine-month personal stipend |
| Tuition | Full tuition equivalent through participating schools |
| Dependent child support | $5,000/year stipend for fellows with dependent children |
| Coordinated award option | If paired with another award, Hertz period can include full tuition equivalent and $44,000 nine-month stipend; NSF period example includes $9,000/year supplemental stipend |
| Community | Mentorship, symposia, networking, career support, and lifelong Hertz community access |
Eligibility
✅ You Must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Plan to pursue a PhD in applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering.
- Usually be a college senior, first-year graduate student, or gap-year applicant preparing for graduate school.
- Enroll full-time at an approved participating U.S. graduate school if selected.
- Make a moral commitment to make your skills available to the United States in times of national emergency.
❌ Not Eligible If:
- You need funding for a PhD outside the United States.
- You are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- You are beyond the first year of a PhD without an exceptional reason the fellowship would significantly change your research trajectory.
- Your field does not fit the applied STEM scope.
How to Apply: Step by Step
Step 1: Confirm field fit
Hertz looks for applicants in applied physical sciences, biological sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Map your research interests to real-world scientific or technological problems.
Step 2: Check your applicant stage
The standard applicant pool includes college seniors, gap-year applicants, and first-year PhD students. Master’s holders may still be eligible depending on whether they are entering a PhD and how graduate years are counted.
Step 3: Prepare research experience summaries
The application does not require a formal project proposal, but it does ask about current and prior research experiences and intended interests. Prepare concise descriptions of methods, results, and your independent contribution.
Step 4: Choose recommenders strategically
Ask recommenders who can describe your originality, technical depth, research independence, and capacity to pursue high-impact ideas.
Step 5: Submit before the late-October deadline
The 2027 application opens August 31, 2026 and closes in late October. The exact 2027 closing date should be confirmed in the application portal as soon as it appears.
Step 6: Prepare for interviews
Applicants who advance beyond pre-selection should hear by late November. Round 1 interviews occur in December and January, with Round 2 interviews in February 2027.
Comparison Table: Hertz vs Other U.S. Graduate Awards
| Fellowship | Level | Citizenship | Funding | 2026 deadline window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hertz Fellowship | STEM PhD | U.S. citizens/permanent residents | Up to $250,000 | Late October |
| NSF GRFP | Research master’s/PhD STEM | U.S. citizens/permanent residents | Stipend + COE allowance | Usually November by field |
| Knight-Hennessy | Stanford graduate programs | Global | Full funding | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Fulbright U.S. Student | Study/research/ETA abroad | U.S. citizens | Varies by country | Oct 6, 2026 |
Insider Tips
1. Make the case for research leverage
Hertz asks whether the award will unlock a more ambitious research path. Show how flexible funding changes what you can investigate.
2. Write for scientists outside your subfield
Interviewers and reviewers may be brilliant but not specialists in your exact niche. Explain the problem, why it matters, and why your approach is distinct.
3. Do not wait for the exact deadline to appear
Because the official page says late October, prepare as if the deadline is the last full week of October until the portal confirms the exact date.
4. Coordinate with NSF and other fellowships
Hertz can coordinate with other awards, including NSF, to maximize support. Applying to multiple programs can be sensible if timelines overlap.
5. Highlight independent judgment
Strong applications show not only lab participation but also decisions you made, hypotheses you tested, and problems you solved.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 2027 Hertz Fellowship application open?
The official application page says the 2027 application opens on August 31, 2026.
What is the Hertz Fellowship deadline?
The official 2027 timeline says late October 2026. Applicants should confirm the exact closing date inside the application portal.
How much is the Hertz Fellowship worth?
The fellowship is valued at up to $250,000, with options including tuition equivalents and personal stipends.
Can international students apply?
No, unless they are U.S. permanent residents or citizens. The FAQ states applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Timeline Table
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| August 31, 2026 | Application opens |
| September 2026 | Information sessions |
| Late October 2026 | Application deadline |
| November 2026 | Reference deadline and preselection |
| December 2026-January 2027 | Round 1 interviews |
| February 2027 | Round 2 interviews and finalists |
| April-May 2027 | Recipients notified and announced |
| Fall 2027 | Funding begins |
Your Action Plan
1. Verify your citizenship/permanent resident status and PhD eligibility.
2. Draft two research-experience summaries: one technical, one plain-language.
3. Identify recommenders who know your research independence.
4. Register when the application opens on August 31.
5. Submit well before the late-October closing window.
6. Prepare for December-January technical interviews.
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