Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowships (SIGF)

2026 SIGF applications are now open! Apply via VPGE by February, 11, 2026!

The Stanford Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellowship (SIGF) Program is a competitive, university-wide program overseen and administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education that awards three-year fellowships to outstanding doctoral students engaged in interdisciplinary research. Since 2008, 466 students have received a SIGF. The SIGF supports Stanford doctoral students in undertaking novel, cutting-edge research and pursuing questions that cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. Examples include:

  • Interdisciplinary initiatives in bio-x, biomedical research and biosciences; international studies; creativity and the arts; K-12 education; and environment, energy, and sustainability
  • Multidisciplinary inquiry within and between the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences
  • Other emerging areas of interdisciplinary study

Browse the list of 2025 SIGF Fellows

*Applications are submitted directly to the Vice Provost for Graduate Education

Fellowship Terms

Stipend Support:

  • Annual stipend paid over 4 quarters for three years. The 2025-26 stipend level for VPGE-administered fellowships is set at $58,200 ($14,550 per quarter). The 2026-27 stipend level for VPGE-administered fellowships is TBD.
  • In Year 3, a fund of $3000 ($750/quarter) will facilitate intellectual and professional development in interdisciplinary research.
  • Fellows with TGR enrollment before Year 3 will also receive the additional stipend of $750 per quarter to facilitate intellectual and professional development in interdisciplinary research.

Tuition: 

  • In Years 1 and 2, the SIGF pays tuition for 8 - 10 units for Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters, plus Summer tuition for 3 units.
  • In Year 3, the SIGF pays TGR tuition for four quarters.

Banking:

  • SIGF Fellows can reserve (i.e., defer or bank) up to four quarters of support, with a maximum of two quarters per academic year, during the lifetime of their SIGF provided that all SIGF support is used within the first six years of graduate study, which includes summer quarter of the sixth year.


Important Dates

  • Application Opens: January 7, 2026 (application link)
  • Application Deadline: February 11, 2026 at 11:59pm PT
    • Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all materials are submitted before the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Award Notifications: May 18, 2026
  • SIGF Acceptance Deadline: May 26, 2026


Eligibility

Stanford graduate students must fulfill the following criteria to be eligible to apply for the SIGF:

  • Applicants must be enrolled in a doctoral degree program in any of Stanford’s seven schools.
  • Applicants must be currently in the first three years of a doctoral program at Stanford University, based upon the matriculation date.
    • If an applicant is initially admitted to a non-terminal master's degree program (please consult department if unsure) in the same department as their doctoral program, the time spent in the master's program counts towards the first three years of graduate study. In this case, applicants must be within their first three years of graduate study (master's plus doctoral quarters) and be enrolled in an open/active doctoral program at the time of application.
  • Students who have a nationally competitive fellowship (e.g., NSF, NDSEG) or other external fellowship that can be supplemented by the SIGF are eligible to apply.

Ideally, applicants will be in the second or third year, and have demonstrated academic excellence and evidence of the potential for innovative research in an interdisciplinary area. Ability to link intellectual innovation with solving societal problems, an interest in communicating research to a broader audience, and a capacity for future leadership will also be considered positive qualifications.

Please visit SIGF program and application web page to learn more about how to apply, required documents, and the application review process, or contact the VPGE office by email (vpgefellowshipteam@stanford.edu).

Contact Information

Brian Sharbono
Director, Programs 
650.721.2916
sharbono@stanford.edu