The Hertz Fellowship 2026
- Omran Aburayya
- Sep 26
- 4 min read
If you are a highly motivated student in the applied physical or biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering, ready to tackle major, near-term problems facing society, the Hertz Fellowship is one of the most prestigious U.S. awards you can apply for. The 2026 Hertz Fellowship application is now open (until October 31, 2025), offering up to five years of support—financial, professional, and communal—to propel the work of the nation’s most promising innovators. Here's everything you need to know.
🎓 Fellowship Summary
Location: United States (full-time, in-person PhD at an institution in the U.S.)
Host institution: Any U.S. university hosting a PhD program in the eligible fields; also must be recognized by the Hertz Foundation (or negotiations may be made if not already participating)
Study level: PhD (or the PhD portion, in the case of combined MD/PhD)
Target group:
U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Applicants who are college seniors, first-year graduate students, or in a gap period preparing to apply to grad school
Applicants whose work is in the applied physical and biological sciences, mathematics, or engineering, with focus on solving important societal challenges.
Fields of study / focus: Applied physical sciences, biological sciences, engineering, mathematics; emphasis must be on research or work addressing “major, near-term problems facing society.”
Award value / coverage: Up to US$250,000 over up to five years, which includes a stipend, full tuition equivalent, cost-of-education allowance, and extra support if the fellow has dependent children.
Award duration: Up to 5 years, renewable annually.
Application deadline: October 31, 2025 (for the 2026 cycle).
Start date: After selection; notification to fellows is expected around April 2026, with the formal announcement in May 2026.
Eligibility:
U.S. citizen or permanent resident
College senior, first-year grad student, or in a gap period before starting a PhD program.
Must intend to enroll full-time, in-person in a PhD program in an eligible field.
Not for professional degrees (JD, MD, MBA, DPH, DVM) except PhD portion of dual-degree programs where PhD qualifies.
🧭 Fellowship Overview
The Hertz Fellowship is more than just funding:
It is awarded through a rigorous merit-based selection process refined over many decades.
Selection criteria include: deep, integrated knowledge, creative problem solving, commitment to greater good, active leadership, and a history of achievement.
Fellows are required (non-binding) to make a moral commitment to make their skills available to the U.S. in times of national emergency. This is not a legal contract.
There are regular information sessions to help applicants understand best practices for applying. For the 2026 cycle, sessions were scheduled for September 10 & 16, 2025.
Timeline for the 2026 application includes: application opens August 28, 2025; deadline October 31, 2025; references due November 3; preselection mid-November; interviews in Dec/Jan and Feb; finalists notified around February, and award announcements in April/May 2026.
🎁 Benefits of the Hertz Fellowship
Financial Support:
Nine-month personal stipend (≈ US$38,000/year) during the academic year.
Full tuition equivalent covered.
Additional stipend (~US$5,000/year) for fellows with dependent children.
Flexibility to coordinate with other fellowships or grants to maximize compensation.
Professional Development and Community:
Lifelong mentorship: dedicated mentors from the scientific/engineering community.
Networking: symposia, workshops, events with other Hertz Fellows.
Opportunities during non-funded months (summers) to pursue additional research projects or internships.
Academic Freedom & Flexibility:
Ability to choose advisor/research group, explore ideas beyond constraints of an advisor’s grants.
If awarded another fellowship/grant, the Hertz Foundation may coordinate support so you can benefit from both.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, you must satisfy all of the following:
Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Be either:
a college senior, or
a first-year graduate student, or
in a gap period preparing to enter graduate study.
Plan to pursue a full-time, in-person PhD in one of: applied physical sciences, biological sciences, engineering, or mathematics.
Your work must address major, near-term societal challenges. You need to present how your research can make an impact.
If applying as part of a dual-degree program (e.g., MD/PhD), only the PhD portion is supported. Other purely professional degrees are not eligible.
✍🏻Application Procedure
Here’s how to apply, and what you'll need:
Procedure:
Register / sign up via the Hertz Fellowship “Apply” page.
Attend (optional but strongly encouraged) information sessions to understand best practices.
Complete the online application by October 31, 2025.
Submit reference letters (deadline ~ Nov 3, 2025)
Preselection phase in early November; if selected, participate in interviews in December/January and February.
Finalists notified by February; recipients by April (formal announcement in May)
Documents & Application Components:
Application form / online submission with essays (about your proposed field, future expectations, personal statement)
List of academic honors, awards, publications (if any)
Graduate school plan: choice of field, why that field, what school(s), research interests.
Four letters of recommendation from people familiar with your academic/research ability
Supplemental materials (e.g. publications, prior research) if available
💡 Extra Information
The fellowship requires you to commit morally (non-binding) to making your skills available to the U.S. during national emergencies. This reflects the foundation’s belief in science & technology serving public good.
There is a list of participating schools (over 50) that have agreements with Hertz so that stipend, tuition etc. are coordinated. If your institution is not on the list, Hertz may negotiate. (See in FAQ section)
If you are a finalist but not selected, there are partnerships (e.g. Case Western Reserve, Texas A&M) that may offer full financial benefits to finalists.
Given the competitiveness, strong recommendation letters, well-defined research plan, evidence of leadership and impact, and a clear narrative of how your work addresses societal challenges are very important.
