§1135c — Title 20 Education | U.S. Code

§1135c Awards to graduate students

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 28— - HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VII— - GRADUATE AND POSTSECONDARY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS › Part Part A— - Graduate Education Programs › Subpart subpart 2— - graduate assistance in areas of national need › § 1135c

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Academic departments must promise eligible graduate students a stipend for as long as it takes to finish their graduate program, but never more than 5 years. Departments can only make that promise if they have the money to pay it from this program or from school funds. The federal Education Department will pay schools to provide the stipends. For anyone getting their first stipend in 2009–2010 or later, the stipend level must match the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship rate for that year, except it must be lowered if the student’s demonstrated financial need (under part F of subchapter IV) is less. If a school pays more of a student’s tuition and fees than the federal payment, the extra can count toward the school’s required contribution to the program. Students only get awards while they are making satisfactory progress, working essentially full time on their study or research, and not holding other paid work except part-time teaching, research, or similar jobs that help their degree progress.

Title 20, §1135c

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)An academic department, program or unit of an institution of higher education shall make commitments to graduate students who are eligible students under section 1091 of this title (including students pursuing a doctoral degree after having completed a master’s degree program at an institution of higher education) at any point in their graduate study to provide stipends for the length of time necessary for a student to complete the course of graduate study, but in no case longer than 5 years.

(2)No such commitments shall be made to students under this subpart unless the academic department, program or unit has determined adequate funds are available to fulfill the commitment from funds received or anticipated under this subpart, or from institutional funds.

(b)The Secretary shall make payments to institutions of higher education for the purpose of paying stipends to individuals who are awarded fellowships under this subpart. The stipends the Secretary establishes shall reflect the purpose of the program under this subpart to encourage highly talented students to undertake graduate study as described in this subpart. In the case of an individual who receives such individual’s first stipend under this subpart in academic year 2009–2010 or any succeeding academic year, such stipend shall be set at a level of support equal to that provided by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program for such academic year, except such amount shall be adjusted as necessary so as not to exceed the fellow’s demonstrated level of need as determined under part F of subchapter IV.

(c)An institution of higher education that makes institutional payments for tuition and fees on behalf of individuals supported by fellowships under this subpart in amounts that exceed the institutional payments made by the Secretary pursuant to section 1135d(a) of this title may count such excess toward the amounts the institution is required to provide pursuant to section 1135b(b)(2) of this title.

(d)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), no student shall receive an award—

(1)except during periods in which such student is maintaining satisfactory progress in, and devoting essentially full time to, study or research in the field in which such fellowship was awarded; or

(2)if the student is engaging in gainful employment other than part-time employment involved in teaching, research, or similar activities determined by the institution to be in support of the student’s progress towards a degree.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to this section were contained in section 1134p of this title, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–244. A prior section 1135c, Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1031, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title X, § 1002, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1563, related to minority support in science and engineering programs, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–244, § 3, title VII, § 702, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1585, 1803, effective Oct. 1, 1998. Another prior section 1135c, Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1021, formerly § 1071, as added Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1),

June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 322, established Bureau of Occupational and Adult Education and set forth functions, personnel etc., of the Bureau, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 94–482, title II, § 204(c)(3), Oct. 12, 1976, 90 Stat. 2215, eff. Oct. 1, 1977. Subsequent to repeal, this prior section 1135c was renumbered section 1021 of Pub. L. 89–329 and amended by deleting “this title” by Pub. L. 96–374, title X, § 1001(b), Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1491. Another prior section 1135c, Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1004, as added Pub. L. 90–575, title II, § 271, Oct. 16, 1968, 82 Stat. 1048, provided for consultations respecting improvement of graduate programs, prior to the general amendment of subchapter X of this chapter by Pub. L. 92–318. A prior section 714 of Pub. L. 89–329 was classified to section 1132b–3 of this title, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 105–244. A prior section 1135c–1, Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1032, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title X, § 1002, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1563, related to the special service projects program, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–244, § 3, title VII, § 702, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1585, 1803, effective Oct. 1, 1998. Another prior section 1135c–1, Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1022, formerly § 1072, as added Pub. L. 92–318, title I, § 186(a)(1),

June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 323; amended Pub. L. 96–88, title III, § 301(b)(2), Oct. 17, 1979, 93 Stat. 678, renumbered and amended Pub. L. 96–374, title X, § 1001(b)(1), title XIII, § 1391(a)(1), Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1491, 1503; Pub. L. 98–524, § 4(c)(3), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2488, established a Community College Unit in Department of Education, prior to the general amendment of part B of subchapter X of this chapter by Pub. L. 99–498. A prior section 1135c–2, Pub. L. 89–329, title X, § 1033, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title X, § 1002, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1563; amended Pub. L. 102–325, title X, § 1002(c),

July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 780, related to supportable activities, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–244, § 3, title VII, § 702, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1585, 1803, effective Oct. 1, 1998.

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–315, § 703(b), substituted “2009–2010” for “1999–2000” and “Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program for such academic year” for “Foundation graduate fellowships”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–315, § 703(e)(4), made technical amendment to references in original act which appear in text as references to section 1135d(a) and 1135b(b)(2) of this title.