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§1135c Awards to Graduate Students

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Colleges must promise eligible graduate students a stipend long enough to finish their graduate program, but never more than five years. A department can only make that promise if it has enough money from the fellowship program or from the school. The federal government will pay colleges so they can give these stipends. For any student who gets their first stipend in 2009–2010 or later, the stipend must match the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship amount for that year, unless the student’s calculated financial need under part F of subchapter IV is lower, in which case the stipend is reduced to that need. If a college pays more for a student’s tuition and fees than the federal payment, the extra can count toward the school’s required share of support. Students only receive awards while they are making satisfactory progress, working full time on their studies or research, and not doing outside paid work except part-time teaching, research, or similar jobs that the school says help their degree progress.

Title 20, §1135c

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(a)Commitments to graduate students

(1)In general

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)Special rule

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)Amount of stipends

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)Treatment of institutional payments

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)Academic progress required

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.