APSA Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant Now Accepting Applications | Deadline: June 1, 2025

The Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant project provides support to enhance and improve the conduct of doctoral dissertation research in political science. Awards support basic research which is theoretically derived and empirically oriented.

The APSA Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant program intends to award between twenty and twenty-five yearly of between $10,000 and $15,000 to support doctoral dissertation research that advances knowledge and understanding of citizenship, government, and politics.

Applications for the 2025 APSA Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (DDRIG) are due June 1, 2025, at 11:59pm Eastern Time. Apply here!

APSA may be unable to make grant awards for the 2025 cycle if APSA receives a notice of discontinuation of funds and/or does not receive the remainder of the funds obligated for the administration of this grant from the National Science Foundation. The issuance of this call for applications for research grants does not constitute a guarantee that APSA will make these grant awards.

Eligibility

The APSA Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants are available to all US-based graduate students who are at the point of initiating or are already conducting empirical dissertation research focused on advancing knowledge and understanding of citizenship, government, and politics.

Applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• Applicants must be enrolled at a doctoral degree granting university at the time of application.
• Applicants must be enrolled at a university accredited in and having a campus located in the United States.
• Applicants must have completed all preliminary degree requirements at the time of their application, including having successfully completed comprehensive exams and a dissertation prospectus defense.
• Applicants must be sponsored by their dissertation adviser.
• Applicants must be endorsed by their graduate institution. If the grant application is successful, grant funds will be distributed through the student’s host institution.

For more information about the grant, the application, and eligibility, visit the APSA DDRIG website. If you have any additional questions, please contact Elizabeth at dissertations@apsanet.org.