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.
State government agencies also fund various grant programs. Private and community foundations are another source of funding. Most foundations restrict their grantmaking to specific areas of interest and specific geographic areas. Applicants must have innovative ideas and must carefully target those foundations most likely to be interested in the project topic. Corporations sometimes provide support for research that is of interest to them.