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UC LEADS Fellowship

Scholar presents their research at UCSB at the end of their 2024 summer
Scholar presents their research at UCSB at the end of their 2024 summer

The UC Office of the President now supports the UC LEADS Fellowship, designed to increase the application, admission and enrollment of talented UC LEADS scholars in UC STEM Ph.D. programs.

Graduate Program Application Fee Waivers
The application fee is waived for UC LEADS alumni applying to master’s and doctoral programs at all 10 of our UC campuses. (Note: this waiver applies to UC master's applications as well, though the fellowship is for UC Ph.D. students only.)

Fellowship Award Details
For funding eligibility, UC LEADS alumni must apply and be admitted to a UC STEM Ph.D. program within 5 years of completing their UC LEADS undergraduate program. If you are receiving this email, you are likely eligible. There is no additional application, and there is currently no limit to the number of awards that will be given.

  • Fellowship Funding
    Beginning with alumni applying to a UC STEM Ph.D. program to enroll in fall 2025, all admitted UC LEADS alumni are eligible to receive competitive funding packages of at least 5 years. The UC LEADS Fellowship is a cost-shared award package between UCOP and your UC graduate program, and includes tuition and fees, stipend/salary support (at the competitive level for your program), and a summer stipend (for at least the 2 years covered by UCOP). Additional funding details will be provided in the offer letter once you are accepted into a program.
  • Living supplement/transition award
    Enrolled UC LEADS Fellows will receive a $3,000 transition supplement, to support moving expenses and/or the transition to graduate school at a UC campus.
  • Professional development
    Enrolled UC LEADS Fellows will receive a $5,000 professional development funding allocation that may be used at any time during their Ph.D. program.

Extra support

Students in eligible disciplines (Physics/Astronomy, Computer Science/Computer, Engineering, and Math/Statistics) are eligible for the Cal-Bridge Doctoral Professional Development Program (DP2), a four-year cycle of professional development workshops focused on the development of effective pedagogy/communication and research skills.