External Fellowships

Applying for external fellowships is an important part of graduate education. Funds from a successful application can be used to supplement funds provided by GSAS, and the application process can aid both in clarifying the aims of a research project and in the cultivation of grant-writing skills.

Doctoral students are required to apply for an external fellowship within their first four years of study; the External Fellowship Policy page outlines how funds from a successful application may be disbursed.

Resources for Applying for External Fellowships

Subscription-Based Databases

All GSAS students have access to the following fellowship databases through subscriptions from the university:

  • InfoEd SPIN — database of research grants and funding opportunities from InfoEd Global; requires login from a Columbia IP address
  • Foundation Center — database of foundation and public charity programs that fund students, artists, researchers, and other individual grantseekers; requires login from a Columbia IP address or an active UNI and password

    In addition to using the Foundation Center's online database, GSAS students may also find it helpful to visit the library at the New York branch:

    Foundation Center – New York
    79 Fifth Avenue
    Second Floor
    New York, NY 10003-3076 (map and directions)
    (212) 620-4230 
    foundationcenter.org/newyork

Free Databases

The following databases are maintained by other institutions but are publicly searchable:

Other Resources

The sites listed below are provided as possible resources; the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is not responsible for content on external sites and does not endorse products or services.