The National Science Foundation aims to ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science, mathematics, and engineering in the U.S. and to reinforce its diversity by offering approximately 900 graduate fellowships each year, including awards for women in engineering and computer and information science. Fellowships provide three years of support for graduate study leading to research-based master's or doctoral degrees in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering that are supported by the NSF, and are intended for students in the early stages of graduate study. The approximate yearly worth of the scholarship is $27,000.

In considering applications, reviewers are asked to assess:

• intellectual merit, which includes intellectual and scientific ability; the ability to work as part of a team as well as independently; and the ability to communicate, and to plan and conduct research.
• the broader impact of the applicant's contributions to society, and commitment to diversity.

Fellowships provide:

• three years of support for graduate study leading to research-based master's or doctoral degrees in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering that are supported by the NSF,
• $30,000 annual stipend
• $10,500 cost-of-education allowance
• $1,000 one-time international travel allowance
• TeraGrid Supercomputer access