What do Fellows Receive?

Flexibility
There are no requirements to pursue a particular topic or to do research in a particular lab. Each Fellow is free to choose a mentor based on mutual interest rather than availability of funds. While experiences vary, it is not unusual for a Ph.D. program to encompass six years. With the benefit of three years of guaranteed funding, SGF recipients are in a strong position to secure departmental and faculty research funds to complete their education.

The fellowship is awarded to the fellow, and is portable within the University. It is allowable for a fellow to change departments as long as he/she is accepted into the doctoral program of an SGF eligible department. The fellowships are not available to terminal M.S. candidates or to postdoctoral students.

Stipend and Allowances
The standard SGF fellowship is a three-year award, four quarters per year, and consists of tuition to cover minimum full-time enrollment (eight, nine, or ten units or TGR when eligible) and a stipend.

During fellowship use, Fellows who do not waive coverage in Stanford's student health insurance plan, Cardinal Care, are eligible for a full health insurance subsidy as defined by the University program.

A three-year SGF award, begun in Autumn Quarter 2013-14, will have a total value exceeding $220,000.

For 2012-13, annual tuition costs exceed $35,000 and the annual stipend is $35,360 ($8,840 quarterly payment). For 2013-14, annual tuition costs exceed $37,000 and the annual stipend is $36,500 ($9,125 quarterly payment). SGFs enrolled in Cardinal Care are also eligible for the full Cardinal Care subsidy during quarters of fellowship use. For 2012-13 the full Cardinal Care subsidy is $600 per quarter, paid in each of the three billed quarters (autumn, winter, spring) or half of the annual premium of $3,600. Cardinal Care rates for 2013-14 have not been posted yet.

Award Offer Letter
A Stanford Graduate Fellow must refer to the award offer letter from his/her department for a complete and accurate description of the configuration of an individual’s SGF award. Some variations to the standard award configuration complement the academic requirements and needs of different programs. Some two-year awards are made each year.

Multiple Award Eligibility
A Stanford Graduate Fellowship may be awarded singly or as a combination award, in conjunction with a nationally competitive fellowship or with another award (e.g. NSF, NDSEG and others). Several agencies have agreed to a dual fellow designation for students in receipt of an outside fellowship and the SGF.

Receipt of an outside award and a SGF typically extends the length of a Fellow's guaranteed support, up to a maximum of five years. Note for the NSF example: Based on academic needs and the year that the NSF is awarded to the student, the order of the NSF and SGF years can be revised by contacting VPGE fellowship staff.

NSF-SGF dual award example	Year 1, 2, 3	NSF supplemented to SGF levels
	Year 4, 5	Full SGF support

 

Students with a combination award are responsible for compliance with the policies of both awards.

Tax information for SGF Recipients

 

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