Doctoral Intranet

Research Funding Resources

Kellogg PhD Research Funding Overview

Doctoral students may apply for funding to support dissertation research. Approved research funding can be applied towards items such as data sets, subject and surveying fees, field research (including travel), and research assistants. All funding must be spent within the current fiscal year: September 1 - August 15.

Funding of up to $2,700 may be provided by the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office may consider providing additional funding in the form of matching funds if the student has secured funding from an external source (i.e. an advisor, a center, TGS, etc.). 

Students may apply for funding jointly with another eligible Kellogg PhD student. Each student on a joint application may receive funding up to $2,700 and be considered for matching funds if they have secured funding from an external source. Each student must submit their own complete Pre-Work Form and application. Joint projects with faculty are not eligible for Kellogg PhD Research Funding. 

Please note: Research funding requests submitted through this application cannot be used to cover expenses that have already been incurred. Applications are limited to the current academic/fiscal year and must be submitted by the published deadlines in the fall, winter, or spring quarter. Therefore, requests for funding related to data acquisition, field experiments, or the hiring of research assistants should be submitted before any costs are incurred. This ensures that the appropriate review and consultation with Kellogg Research Support and your research advisor occur prior to any spending.

The application requires the support of the student’s faculty research advisor. Students should consult with their research advisor prior to applying for funding.

Eligibility

  • Kellogg PhD student
  • Enrolled full-time and in good academic standing
  • For Accounting, Finance, Financial Economics, MECS, Marketing, or Operations students:
    • Passed the Second-Year Research Paper requirement
  • For MORS or MORS & Sociology students:
    • Passed the Candidacy Paper requirement
  • In years 3–6 of the PhD program (as of the quarter of application)

Application Deadlines

The Spring 2026 Pre-Work deadline is May 1, 2026. The Spring 2026 application deadline is May 8, 2026.

Late Pre-Work Forms and applications will be considered for the next application cycle. 

Application Process

The process has been structured into two steps:

  1. Pre-Work Form
  2. Research Funding Application

Step 1: Submit a Pre-Work Form

Before submitting an application, students must complete and submit a Pre-Work Form. This form ensures that the proposed research project is reviewed prior to submission of a research funding application and that all proposed costs—particularly those related to data acquisition—are verified. Students are encouraged to consult with the Research Support team for guidance before submitting the Pre-Work Form. After the form is submitted, the Research Support team will follow up with the student if any edits or clarifications are needed.

The Pre-Work form will be reviewed in this order by:

  1. The Research Support team
  2. The student's research advisor
  3. The student's Director of Graduate Studies

Timing of Pre-Work Form

The Pre-Work Form is available year-round, but keep in mind there are deadlines for each quarterly application cycle.

For projects involving the purchase or acquisition of data sets, timing can vary based on the nature of the project. Meeting the Pre-Work Form deadline does not guarantee that the student will be ready to submit the full application by that quarter’s deadline. If your project requires data acquisition, we strongly recommend submitting the Pre-Work Form as early as possible. 

Proposed Research Budget

The Pre-Work Form requires a preliminary budget that includes all funding sources—up to $2,700 from the Dean and any additional support (e.g., faculty advisor’s research account, department, center)—and information on any past Kellogg PhD Research Funding received. Legal costs for data acquisition must be included in the budget. These may be $200-$300, but costs vary depending on the project. Legal review is required by Northwestern and assures the student’s intellectual property rights and right to publish.
 
External funding sources must be confirmed (not just applied for) in order for the Dean's Office to consider providing matching funds. For those applying for TGS' Graduate Research Grant, please note that decisions are typically released two months after each cycle's recommendation letter deadline.
Quarter Fall 2025 Winter 2026 Spring 2026
Pre-Work Form Deadline September 15 January 16 May 1
Application Deadline
 October 15 February 15 May 8

Step 2: Submit the Research Funding Application

Once the Pre-Work Form is fully approved, the student will receive a link to the online application form via email and must submit a completed application.

Review Process

Applications are reviewed by:

  1. The PhD Program Director
  2. The PhD Program Faculty Director
  3. The Senior Associate Dean for Strategy and Academics

Decisions will typically be communicated within one month of the quarterly deadline. 

Questions? Contact: kellogg-phdfunding@kellogg.northwestern.edu. 

 

TGS Graduate Research Grant

The Graduate Research Grant is a competitive award granted by The Graduate School to help PhD and MFA students and postdoctoral scholars in historically underfunded disciplines meet expenses related to scholarly research and creative endeavors. 

There are two application cycles each academic year for this grant. For more information regarding eligibility and deadlines, please visit The Graduate School website.