Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowships (US)

Deadline: 15-Oct-2026

The Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowships support U.S. institutions in training new graduate students in food, agriculture, and natural resources. The program provides institutional awards of approximately $78,000 to $705,000 to support fellowships for eligible U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents pursuing master’s, DVM, or doctoral degrees. Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowships The Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowships program supports graduate education and workforce development in the food, agricultural, and natural resource sciences. The program is designed to increase the pipeline of highly trained domestic agricultural students who can contribute to the mission of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Rather than providing funding directly to individual students, the program awards grants to eligible U.S. colleges, universities, and research foundations. These institutions then select qualified graduate students and provide fellowship support according to the criteria approved through their applications. The fellowships support new full-time graduate students pursuing master’s, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), or doctoral degrees in relevant food and agricultural science disciplines. Program Overview The fellowship program strengthens the U.S. agricultural research and education workforce by supporting graduate-level training. The program is intended to help universities develop the next generation of scientists, researchers, educators, veterinarians, and professionals working in food, agriculture, natural resources, and related disciplines.

Key program details include:

- Estimated total funding: $14 million

- Individual institutional awards: Approximately $78,000 to $705,000

- Eligible degree levels: Master’s, DVM, and doctoral programs

- Funding duration: Up to 24 months for master’s students

- Funding duration for DVM/doctoral students: Up to 36 months

- Study requirement: Full-time and uninterrupted study is expected

- Primary beneficiaries: New U.S. graduate students in food, agricultural, and natural resource sciences

- Application route: Eligible institutions apply; students do not apply directly to USDA

Why This Fellowship Program Matters The U.S. food and agricultural sector requires a strong pipeline of scientists and professionals capable of addressing challenges related to food production, natural resources, agricultural sustainability, animal health, environmental management, and rural development. The National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowships program addresses this workforce need by helping eligible universities train highly qualified graduate students.

The program can contribute to:

- Increasing the number of trained agricultural scientists and professionals. - Strengthening graduate education in food and agricultural sciences. - Supporting domestic agricultural workforce development. - Preparing students for careers in research, education, government, industry, and related fields. - Expanding institutional capacity to train future agricultural leaders. Who Is Eligible to Apply? The primary applicants are accredited U.S. institutions with the capacity to teach and award graduate degrees in food and agricultural sciences.

Eligible applicants may include:

- Accredited U.S. colleges and universities. - Eligible land-grant institutions. - Other accredited institutions capable of awarding relevant graduate degrees. - Research foundations maintained by eligible institutions. Research foundations associated with eligible institutions may apply where permitted by the program requirements. Institutions may subcontract with other organizations when necessary to implement approved project activities. Individuals cannot apply directly to USDA for these fellowship awards. Instead, an eligible university or institution applies for funding and subsequently selects students who meet the fellowship eligibility requirements. Who Can Receive Fellowship Support? The fellowship funding is intended for new full-time graduate students.

Eligible fellows must generally be:

- U.S. citizens. - U.S. nationals. - U.S. permanent residents.

Students may pursue:

- Master’s degrees. - Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degrees. - Doctoral degrees. The fellow must be entering a qualifying graduate program and must meet the program’s requirements regarding previous enrollment. A student must not have completed more than one semester of full-time study in the same academic program at the same degree level before receiving fellowship support. Degree and Study Requirements The program emphasizes full-time graduate education. Master’s fellows may receive support for up to 24 months, while DVM and doctoral fellows may receive support for up to 36 months. The program expects fellows to maintain uninterrupted, full-time study during the supported period. This structure is intended to help students progress efficiently toward completion of their graduate degrees and develop the expertise needed for careers in food, agriculture, and natural resources. How the Fellowship Program Works The funding process operates through eligible academic institutions rather than individual student applications.

The general process is:

- An eligible U.S. institution prepares an application. The institution develops a proposal describing its graduate training capacity and fellowship strategy. - The institution submits the application. The application is reviewed according to the program’s funding and eligibility requirements. - USDA awards funding to selected institutions. Successful institutions receive an institutional grant. - The institution identifies eligible students. Universities develop selection criteria consistent with their approved application. - Qualified students receive fellowships. Selected students use the fellowship sup