The GEM Fellowship Program 2027 in the USA provides graduate students with financial support, industry experience, and access to leading STEM universities and employers across the United States.
The National GEM Consortium offers fellowship opportunities at both the master’s and PhD levels in engineering and science disciplines.
The program is designed to increase access to graduate education and create pathways into advanced technical careers, including research and development, product development, engineering, and scientific fields.
GEM Fellows can pursue their graduate degrees at participating GEM Member Universities. Depending on the fellowship designation, the program can provide full tuition and fees, stipends, and paid summer internships with GEM Employer Members.
The 2027 application cycle opened on July 1, 2026, and the complete application deadline is November 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
Degree Level
The GEM Fellowship Program is available for:
- Master’s degree programs
- PhD programs
The fellowship supports graduate-level programs in engineering, applied science, and related STEM fields at participating GEM Member Universities.
Available Subjects
The GEM Fellowship supports a broad range of engineering, science, and applied STEM disciplines. Potential fields include:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Agricultural Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Automotive Engineering
- Biochemistry
- Bioengineering
- Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Industrial Engineering
- Information Systems
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Materials Science
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Operations Research
- Organic Chemistry
- Petroleum Engineering
- Physics
- Robotics and Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Systems Engineering
The actual programs available depend on the participating GEM Member Universities and their graduate departments.
Benefits
The financial package depends on the fellowship type and degree level.
Master’s Fellowship:
Employer Fellows may receive:
- A minimum total stipend of $16,000 throughout the master’s program.
- Full tuition and fees provided by the GEM Member University.
- Up to two paid summer internships with GEM Employer Members.
University Fellows receive full tuition and fees from the participating GEM Member University.
Associate Fellows receive full tuition and fees and at least $8,000 per year for a master’s program.
PhD Fellowship:
Employer Fellows may receive:
- At least a $16,000 stipend per academic year.
- Additional university funding through assistantships, grants, or other sources to bring financial support up to the funding level of other funded PhD students in the department.
- Full tuition and fees through the fifth year of the PhD program.
- At least one paid summer internship with a GEM Employer Member.
Associate PhD Fellows receive full tuition and fees and at least $16,000 per year from the GEM Member University. After the first year of GEM support, continued PhD funding is generally provided through the participating university through assistantships, institutional awards, or other funding sources.
Paid Industry Experience:
- A major feature of the GEM Fellowship is its connection with employers. Summer internships provide fellows with practical engineering or scientific work experience.
- Internships generally last around 12 weeks, and interns receive a salary determined by the sponsoring employer.
- Travel reimbursement may also be provided according to the employer’s policy.
Is the GEM Fellowship Fully Funded?
- The GEM Fellowship is commonly described as a fully funded fellowship because eligible fellowship packages can cover full tuition and fees and provide substantial stipend support.
- However, the exact financial package depends on the fellowship designation, university, degree level, and funding arrangements.
- For PhD students, GEM funding through the national office covers the initial year, while continued support through up to the fifth year is provided by the GEM Member University through mechanisms such as assistantships and other funding sources.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should carefully review the requirements for their intended degree and fellowship designation.
- For the Master’s Engineering and Science Fellowship, applicants may be undergraduate seniors, current graduate students pursuing an MS or PhD, or post-baccalaureate graduates returning to graduate school. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8/4.0 is required. Applicants must also agree to complete two summer internships with the sponsoring GEM Employer beginning the summer after sponsorship.
- For the PhD Engineering and Science Fellowship, applicants may be undergraduate seniors, current graduate students, or post-baccalaureate students pursuing doctoral study. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 is required, along with the contractual requirement to complete an internship with a GEM Employer Member during the summer immediately following sponsorship.
Additional requirements include:
- S. citizenship or permanent residency.
- Pursuing an eligible STEM graduate program.
- At least one year remaining in the graduate program when awarded the fellowship.
- Enrollment at a participating GEM Member University.
- Satisfactory academic progress.
- Agreement to comply with GEM and employer requirements.
- GEM does not fund online programs.
Graduate University Requirement:
- GEM applicants are generally required to apply directly to at least three GEM Member Universities for STEM graduate programs.
- These university applications must be submitted according to each institution’s own admission deadline and no later than January 15, unless the university’s relevant STEM deadline is earlier.
- An exception may apply to students already matriculating in qualifying programs at a GEM Member University when that university confirms its willingness to sponsor the applicant.
- Admission to a GEM Member University does not automatically guarantee that the GEM Fellowship can be used there. The university must confirm its support for the fellowship.
GRE Requirement:
- The GRE is not required for the GEM Fellowship application. However, GEM strongly encourages applicants to take the GRE because scores may help qualify applicants for multiple GEM Member University programs. Applicants may submit available GRE information through the GEM application.
Application Procedure
Applicants should complete the GEM application through the official eGEM system.
Step 1: Create an eGEM Account
- Register through the GEM online application system and create your applicant profile. The current 2027 application cycle opened on July 1, 2026.
Step 2: Complete the GEM Application
- Provide accurate information about your educational background, employment history, research experience, and academic goals.
- Applicants should prepare an unofficial transcript and resume for the application.
Step 3: Submit a Statement of Purpose
- Applicants must provide at least a one-page statement of purpose describing their academic, research, and/or career goals.
Step 4: Request Recommendations
- Applicants should request recommendations through the online GEM application system.
- GEM’s application instructions state that at least two recommendations must be submitted online by the application deadline.
Step 5: Apply to GEM Member Universities
- Applicants should apply to at least three GEM Member Universities offering suitable STEM graduate programs, unless an applicable exception applies. University admission is a separate process from the GEM Fellowship application.
Step 6: Complete Employer and University Requirements
- Eligible applicants may be considered for employer sponsorship. GEM matches applicants with employer members based on compatibility, and selected applicants may receive internship opportunities and sponsorship arrangements.
Required Documents:
Applicants should be prepared to provide:
- Resume
- Unofficial academic transcript
- Statement of Purpose
- Recommendation submissions
- Educational history
- Employment history
- Research experience, where applicable
- GRE information, if applicable
Additional documentation may be required by individual GEM Member Universities during the graduate admission process.
Application Deadline:
- The GEM Fellowship 2027 application deadline is November 13, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. The current application cycle opened on July 1, 2026.
- Applicants should not wait until the final day because recommendations and other required application components must also be completed before the deadline.
Fellowship Timeline:
The current GEM application cycle follows a general annual schedule:
- July 1, 2026: Application cycle opens.
- November 13, 2026: GEM application deadline.
- November 2026–January 2027: Graduate university applications are completed according to university deadlines, with January 15 as the GEM-related deadline where applicable.
- December 2026–June 2027: Employer interviews and sponsorship selections may take place.
- March–June 2027: Selected applicants verify university admission and complete fellowship agreements.
- May–August 2027: Summer internships take place.
- September 2027: Fellows meet with their GEM University representative on campus.
Fellowship Duration:
- Master’s fellows are generally expected to complete their degree coursework within four semesters or six quarters.
- PhD fellows can receive support through the fifth year of their doctoral program, subject to the fellowship’s funding arrangements and satisfactory academic progress. After the first year of GEM support, fellows generally receive continued financial support through their GEM Member University.
Important Points:
The GEM Fellowship is specifically designed for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, so international students who do not hold either status are not eligible.
The fellowship is also different from a conventional scholarship because it combines graduate education funding with industry experience. Employer-sponsored fellows are expected to complete the required summer internship, and failure to accept a GEM summer internship offer can result in cancellation of the fellowship.
Applicants should also remember that GEM does not fund online programs and that each university can have its own admission and fellowship requirements.
