Conducting a search for funding may actually help you in the process of sharply defining the dissertation topic. If you plan an academic career, it is important to become familiar with funding sources and the grantwriting process while still in graduate school. Familiarity with grants also can be advantageous in a wide range of other professions, from science and engineering to the arts. Types of Grants Graduate students are eligible for some types of grants and not for others. External research funding for graduate students is almost always in the form of a fellowship or support for a specific research project that will be the basis of the student's thesis or dissertation.
More funding opportunities are open to doctoral students than to master's-level students.
Research awards cover all or some of the expenses of carrying out a specific thesis or dissertation research project. Fellowships often pay tuition and a stipend. Travel awards help support research that must be done at another location, such as studying the collections at a particular museum or research library. Types of Funding Sources Federal government agencies, such as the National Science Foundation and the Department of Health and Human Services, are major sources of funding. Some federal agencies have programs specifically for graduate research and dissertation support.