See also:
National Excellence Fellowship

National Excellence Fellowships

Program Description

The National Excellence Fellowship program awards fellowships for graduate study at Texas A&M University leading to doctoral degrees in all areas of engineering and engineering-related disciplines. National Excellence Fellowships are intended for individuals intent on pursuing doctoral studies who intend on pursuing an academic career. The objective is to recruit new graduate students, who are the best and brightest, to our college. All nominees are expected to have exceptional qualifications and be ready to begin doctoral level study and research. The National Excellence Fellowship program supports the vitality of the engineering, scientific and technological workforce in the United States and to reinforce its diversity. Having a strong science and technology knowledge base that will permanently reside in the United States is critical in maintaining this country's strength in higher education, economic development, and national security. Participants in this program are expected to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in engineering and technology. These individuals will be crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation's technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well being of society at large.

Award Information

The National Excellence Fellowships will be awarded to students selected for the fall semester, but spring semester start dates will be an option. There are two program levels that are competitively awarded; Level I and Level II. There is not a separate application for Level II fellowships.

Level I Awards

The Level I National Excellence Fellowship program will provide $40,000 annually for 4 years, which includes a stipend and tuition/fee allowance. The fellowship award will be reviewed annually for renewal of the second, third and fourth years. While being supported under the Level I program, students, in coordination with their faculty advisors, will be expected to submit proposals to obtain complementary fellowship funding for their doctoral studies. It is the intention of this program to be a precursor to the federal and/or corporate fellowship programs that have the same eligibility criteria. It is fully expected that recipients will submit proposals to these programs, and any awarded funding will act as replacement or partial funding for the remaining years of the fellowship award period. An annual report on proposal activity is required.

Level II Awards

The Level II National Excellence Fellowship program will provide $15,000 annually for 4 years. Students will be encouraged to submit proposals to external sources for continued funding, but it will not be required. The recipient's accepting department must commit to providing a teaching or research assistantship for the term of the fellowship. The fellowship award will be reviewed annually for renewal of the second, third and fourth years.

Eligibility

Nominees must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident pursuing a Ph.D. in an engineering or engineering-related discipline, with the intent of pursuing an academic career. A masters degree in an engineering or engineering related discipline is required.

Nomination

Applications will be due on February 1 for the following fall semester. Special cases for spring semester awards will be considered. All applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of endowed chair professors within the College of Engineering.

Apply

All National Excellence Fellowship applicants must first apply to graduate school through their chosen engineering department. You may email or call the appropriate departmental contact listed below for more information. In order to apply to the National Excellence Fellowship program you need to:

  1. Download the application and fill out
  2. Prepare the required summary (see "Special Instructions" on application)
  3. Send the application, summary and a current resume to your departmental contact
  4. Items may be sent electronically, but application must be signed

List of Departmental Contacts