The Native and Indigenous Graduate Fellowship

The Native and Indigenous Fellowship

Application deadline: June 15, 2026 

Presented through the University Graduate School, Bloomington, the Native and Indigenous Graduate Fellowship (NIGF) is intended to support graduate study among students from indigenous communities across the United States.  

NIGF Recipients receive one year of funding from the University Graduate School Bloomington (UGS), with no service obligations beyond continued academic progress.  

During this year, fellows receive: 

• A base stipend of $30,000, which the department, college, or school may supplement 

• Subsidized health insurance provided by UGS

• Opportunity to participate in mentoring workshops in the Graduate Mentoring Center

The department, college, or school is encouraged to supplement this award with tuition and fee remission

Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria

Background 

Applicants must be either incoming students proposing to enter a PhD or master’s degree program on the IUB campus or a current student in a PhD or master's degree program. All applicants must provide confirmation of representation in federally recognized tribal affiliation data or provide official documentation of their tribal identification. 

Potential for Academic Excellence 

A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is preferred. However, a candidate’s overall academic profile will be considered—including additional coursework, curricular activities, research experiences, and other scholarly or creative endeavors—to assess their potential for academic excellence. 

Potential Contributions to Indiana University Bloomington 

Applicants should demonstrate strong alignment with IU’s academic community and its commitment to fostering intellectual engagement, innovation, and scholarly impact. This may include a record of collaborative research, interdisciplinary inquiry, leadership in academic or professional settings, contributions to public scholarship, or initiatives that expand knowledge in emerging fields. 

Application Materials

Incoming Students

Departments may nominate newly admitted students by submitting the following items :

• A complete copy of the student's application for admission to Indiana University as a single PDF or WORD document in this order:
  • Application form
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Statement of purpose
  • Recommendation letters
  • Transcripts
• A supporting statement from the department addressing:
  • Why this candidate is outstanding
  • A description of mentoring structures, research support, and academic resources available to this student within the department
• Confirmation of native or indigenous status

Current students

Students may apply directly to the University Graduate School on their own behalf by submitting the following items for consideration:

• A letter of application (not to exceed 2 pages) addressing:
  • The significance of your research
  • Your academic and career goals
  • A rationale for why you should receive this fellowship
• A curriculum vitae
• An unofficial transcript for all graduate work at Indiana University Bloomington
• Confirmation of Native or Indigenous status
• The email address for 1 individual who will provide a letter of recommendation addressing your strengths and suitability for the award. Please inform the letter writer that they will receive an email.