Academic departments and programs of IHEs that provide courses of study leading to a graduate degree may apply. Non-degree granting institutions may submit joint proposals with degree-granting IHEs. Students are NOT eligible to apply directly for this grant; they must apply through their schools.

Grantee Institutions of Higher Education will provide GAANN fellowships to students of superior ability who demonstrate financial need and plan to pursue the highest degree in a designated area of national need. The student must also be a U.S. citizen or a National, or a permanent resident of the U.S. or U.S. Territories.

The current areas of national need include: Area studies, biology sciences/life sciences, chemistry, computer and information sciences, engineering, foreign languages and literature, mathematics, nursing, physics, and educational evaluation, research, and statistics.