§1869. Scholarships and graduate fellowships

(a) In general

The Foundation is authorized to award scholarships and graduate fellowships for study and research in the sciences or in engineering at appropriate nonprofit American or nonprofit foreign institutions selected by the recipient of such aid, for stated periods of time. Persons shall be selected for such scholarships and fellowships from among citizens, nationals or lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens of the United States, and such selections shall be made solely on the basis of ability; but in any case in which two or more applicants for scholarships or fellowships, as the case may be, are deemed by the Foundation to be possessed of substantially equal ability, and there are not sufficient scholarships or fellowships, as the case may be, available to grant one to each of such applicants, the available scholarship or scholarships or fellowship or fellowships shall be awarded to the applicants in such manner as will tend to result in a wide distribution of scholarships and fellowships throughout the United States and as will address national workforce demand in critical STEM fields. Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit the Foundation from refusing or revoking a scholarship or fellowship award, in whole or in part, in the case of any applicant or recipient, if the Board is of the opinion that such award is not in the best interests of the United States.

(b) Amount

The Director shall establish for each year the amount to be awarded for scholarships and fellowships under this section for that year. Each such scholarship and fellowship shall include a cost of education allowance of at least $16,000, subject to any restrictions on the use of cost of education allowance as determined by the Director.

(c) Outreach

The Director shall ensure program outreach to recruit fellowship applicants from fields of study that are in areas of critical national need from all regions of the country, and from historically underrepresented populations in STEM.

(May 10, 1950, ch. 171, §10, 64 Stat. 152 ; Pub. L. 86–232, §5, Sept. 8, 1959, 73 Stat. 468 ; Pub. L. 86–550, June 29, 1960, 74 Stat. 256 ; Pub. L. 87–835, §2, Oct. 16, 1962, 76 Stat. 1070 ; Pub. L. 90–407, §8, July 18, 1968, 82 Stat. 364 ; Pub. L. 99–159, title I, §110(a)(13), Nov. 22, 1985, 99 Stat. 891 ; Pub. L. 99–383, §7(c), Aug. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 814 ; Pub. L. 101–589, title III, §302(c), Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2895 ; Pub. L. 111–358, title V, §510(d), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4010 ; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title III, §10313(b)(2), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1524 .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–167, §10313(b)(2)(A), inserted "and as will address national workforce demand in critical STEM fields" after "throughout the United States".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–167, §10313(b)(2)(B), substituted "of at least $16,000" for "of $12,000".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–167, §10313(b)(2)(C), added subsec. (c).

2011-Pub. L. 111–358 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserted heading, and added subsec. (b).

1990-Pub. L. 101–589 substituted ", nationals or lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens" for "or nationals" in second sentence.

1986-Pub. L. 99–383 struck out ", within the limits of funds made available specifically for such purpose pursuant to section 1875 of this title," after "The Foundation is authorized to award".

1985-Pub. L. 99–159 substituted "study and research in the sciences or in engineering" for "scientific study or scientific work in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, engineering, social, and other sciences".

1968-Pub. L. 90–407 inserted social sciences to the enumerated list of sciences, and substituted "throughout the United States" for "among the States, Territories, possessions, and the District of Columbia".

1962-Pub. L. 87–835 authorized the Foundation to refuse or revoke a scholarship or fellowship award if they believe such award is not in the best interests of the United States.

1960-Pub. L. 86–550 authorized the selection of nationals for scholarships and fellowships.

1959-Pub. L. 86–232 substituted "appropriate" for "accredited" and struck out "of higher education" after "foreign institutions".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Graduate Student Support

Pub. L. 111–358, title V, §510(a), (b), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4010 , provided that:

"(a) Finding.-The Congress finds that-

"(1) the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program is an important program for training the next generation of scientists and engineers in team-based interdisciplinary research and problem solving, and for providing them with the many additional skills, such as communication skills, needed to thrive in diverse STEM careers; and

"(2) the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program is no less valuable to the preparation and support of graduate students than the Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship program.

"(b) Equal Treatment of IGERT and GRF.-Beginning in fiscal year 2011, the Director shall increase or, if necessary, decrease funding for the Foundation's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program (or any program by which it is replaced) at least at the same rate as it increases or decreases funding for the Graduate Research Fellowship program."

[For definitions of terms used in section 510(a), (b) of Pub. L. 111–358, set out above, see section 2 of Pub. L. 111–358, set out as a note under section 6621 of this title, and section 502 of Pub. L. 111–358, set out as a note under section 1862p of this title.]

Continuation of Existing Offices, Procedures, and Organization of the National Science Foundation

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–407 intended to continue in effect the existing offices, procedures, and organization of the Foundation, see section 16 of Pub. L. 90–407, set out as a note under section 1862 of this title.