At ProFellow, we are committed to making funding opportunities accessible to diverse audiences and sharing advice on the competitive application process. We curate hundreds of fully funded PhD programs in our free database and regularly publish information on how to fully fund your PhD, including tips and interviews written by fellows who have fully funded their PhD and aim to pay it forward and inspire the next generation of applicants.
In 2024, our community of readers picked the Top 10 Most Popular Fully Funded PhD Programs from the free comprehensive funding database! These programs include opportunities in social policy, data science, psychology, education, anthropology, public health, creative writing, and more!
Congratulations to the programs that made the list! The ProFellow community thanks you for providing fully funded PhD programs so individuals can pursue the careers they want without the burden of substantial student debt.
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1. Brandeis University Fully Funded PhD in Social Policy
Brandeis University’s Fully Funded PhD in Social Policy at the Heller School equips students with the tools to address critical social issues through rigorous, innovative research. The program offers a flexible curriculum with core research design, interpretation, and ethics classes, allowing students to tailor their studies to concentrations in health, behavioral health, economic and racial equity, and children, youth, and families. Students benefit from small class sizes, supporting close faculty interactions and collaborative cohorts. Full-time PhD students receive comprehensive funding, including tuition, fees, and health insurance, with additional specialized fellowships available. These include the NIAAA Fellowship for research in substance abuse, which provides a stipend of $28,224 for three years, and the Sillerman Center Fellowship, supporting dissertations in social justice philanthropy.
2. Boston College Fully Funded PhD in Organization Studies
Boston College’s Fully Funded PhD at the Carroll School of Management prepares students for academic careers through a rigorous curriculum and renowned faculty. The program provides a strong foundation in organizational theory, research methods, and statistics, complemented by coursework in teaching skills. Students complete a major empirical research project by the third year and gain teaching experience. With a focus on independent and collaborative research, students are encouraged to present at conferences and publish in leading journals. Doctoral students receive full tuition remission and a $43,000 annual stipend for up to five years, contingent on maintaining good standing. This funding is paired with research and teaching assistantships, ensuring students dedicate their full energy to the program year-round while gaining valuable academic experience.
3. University of Pennsylvania Fully Funded PhD in Education
The University of Pennsylvania’s fully funded PhD in Education at the Graduate School of Education provides comprehensive training across diverse fields, including programs in educational linguistics, human development, education policy, and learning sciences. Students benefit from the Dean’s Fellowship and Research Apprenticeship, which offers full tuition coverage, health insurance, and a four-year living stipend. There are also research and teaching opportunities and additional summer funding. The program emphasizes interdisciplinary training and offers unique resources such as predoctoral training programs. Graduate students can also access additional funding through Penn’s Grad Center Fellowships and Graduate Resident Advisor positions.
4. University of California Berkeley Fully Funded PhD in Public Health
The University of California, Berkeley offers a fully funded PhD in Public Health, allowing students to pursue interests in one of many divisions such as biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, and infectious diseases and vaccinology. Doctoral students receive funding for up to five years through Graduate Division Fellowships, soft-money grants, and fee remission provided by roles as Graduate Student Researchers (GSR) or Graduate Student Instructors (GSI). These funding packages include tuition, fees, health insurance, and a monthly stipend for students in good academic standing, although housing is not covered. With interdisciplinary divisions and tailored degree opportunities, Berkeley Public Health equips students to advance public health knowledge and become leaders in their field.
5. New York University Fully Funded PhD in Cultural Anthropology
NYU offers its fully funded program through the Henry Mitchell MacCracken Program, providing funding for five years. This funding includes tuition, a stipend, and health insurance. PhD students are also encouraged to seek additional support from external sources, such as NSF Graduate Training Fellowships, to supplement their funding, particularly for dissertation research, typically conducted after three to four years of residence. The program emphasizes rigorous training in social and cultural theory, ethnography, and the representation of anthropological knowledge, with faculty and student research spanning diverse global contexts, including Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. While teaching is not required, students are encouraged to engage in teaching assignments beginning in their second year as part of their professional development, with additional compensation provided.
6. University of Manitoba Fully Funded PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies
The University of Manitoba offers a fully funded PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies through the Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace & Justice. This interdisciplinary program analyzes the structural roots of social conflicts, inequalities, and divisions while exploring community building, peace, and justice strategies. The program emphasizes rigorous research and professional commitment to address the critical need for conflict resolution and peacebuilding in today’s world. Funding is provided through academic awards, financial aid, and Graduate Research Assistant positions, ensuring qualified students can focus on their studies and research. Graduates from the program are well-equipped for diverse careers in not-for-profit organizations, advocacy, government agencies, businesses, educational institutions, and international non-governmental organizations, addressing global challenges such as humanitarian aid and governance development.
7. University of Maryland Fully Funded PhD in Psychology
The University of Maryland offers a fully funded PhD program in Psychology, providing specialized training in Clinical, Cognitive, and Neural Systems, Counseling, Developmental, and Social, Decision and Organizational Science. The program combines core courses, advanced coursework, and extensive research, preparing students to become experts in their field. Funding is provided through fellowships, teaching and research assistantships, which include tuition remission, stipends, and subsidized health insurance. Students also benefit from state-of-the-art research facilities and diverse opportunities for academic and professional growth in the Washington, D.C., area. The department aims to provide a culture of inclusion and diversity, ensuring a supportive student environment.
8. University of Southern California Fully Funded PhD in Creative Writing and Literature
The Ph.D. in Creative Writing & Literature at USC’s Department of English is a competitive dual-degree program that combines creative writing and literary studies into a cohesive educational experience. Students take courses and complete a dissertation with creative and critical manuscripts. The program’s faculty includes Pulitzer Prize winners, Guggenheim Fellows, and National Book Award recipients, who provide mentorship and guidance. Students are encouraged to explore interdisciplinary scholarship and can pursue graduate certificates in fields such as Gender Studies, Visual Studies, and East Asian Studies. There are also options to participate in student-run projects. Admission is highly competitive, with guaranteed five-year funding, including fellowships and teaching assistantships, as well as full tuition remission and health insurance.
9. University of Michigan Fully Funded Joint PhD in Women’s and Gender Studies
The University of Michigan offers a fully funded joint PhD in Women’s and Gender Studies, combining feminist theory and methodologies with one of three disciplines: English, History, or Psychology. The program provides interdisciplinary research opportunities, mentoring, and a vibrant student community, drawing from the resources of a major research university. Students complete coursework and examinations in both their primary discipline and Women’s and Gender Studies, with the option of focusing their dissertation project within one discipline or as an interdisciplinary endeavor. Fully funded for five or six years through fellowships and assistantships, graduates are well-prepared for careers in both their chosen discipline and Women’s and Gender Studies programs.
10. Northwestern University Fully Funded PhD in Statistics and Data Science
The Ph.D. program in Statistics and Data Science at Northwestern University offers comprehensive training in both the theoretical and methodological aspects of statistics and data science, with applications across various fields. The program is designed to be flexible, allowing students to tailor their studies to match their interests and career goals and encouraging cross-disciplinary work. Graduates are prepared for careers as university professors and researchers, as well as research statisticians and data scientists in industry, government, and non-profits. Students are guaranteed five years of funding, including support through university fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships.
If you enjoyed this list, you may also want to check out the Top 10 Most Popular Fully Funded Master’s Programs of 2024.
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