Title 20 › CHAPTER 28 — HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › SUBCHAPTER VII — GRADUATE AND POSTSECONDARY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS › Part A — Graduate Education Programs › subpart 1 — jacob k. javits fellowship program › § 1134
The Secretary must give Jacob K. Javits Fellowships for graduate study in the arts, humanities, and social sciences to students with strong achievement, financial need, and clear promise. Awards go to students who are eligible for any grant, loan, or work aid under section 1091 and who plan to pursue a doctoral degree, except that students in fields where the master’s is the highest degree may get the fellowship for a master’s. Each fellowship pays for one academic year and can be renewed for up to 4 years. Money appropriated in a fiscal year must be used for fellowships in the academic year that begins after July 1 of the fiscal year following the year the money was appropriated. A school may let a fellow pause studies for up to 12 months for work, travel, or independent study that supports the academic program and keep paying the stipend during that time. For other major reasons like active military service or serious illness, a school may allow a pause for the length of service or up to 12 months, but without stipend payments. Applications must be available by October 1 before the award year, and winners must be announced by March 1 before the award year. The Secretary may hire a private group to run the program if that is more efficient.
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Reference
Citation
20 U.S.C. § 1134
Title 20, Education
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110