Applicant Information

PD Soros Eligibility Guide for PhD Applicants

June 20, 2025

Wondering if you’re eligible for the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans (PD Soros) as a PhD student? Here’s what you need to know.

When Are PhD Students Eligible to Apply for PD Soros?

If you are a PhD student or a future PhD student, you are eligible to apply to PD Soros:

When you are applying to a PhD program; and

During your first or second year of a PhD program.

If you already have started the third year of the graduate degree program you are seeking funding for as of the PD Soros application deadline, then you would not be eligible to apply.

Important: If your PhD program includes a master’s degree on the way to the PhD, PD Soros considers those years as part of the PhD. If you are a PhD student, you are not eligible to apply for PD Soros once you’ve started the third year of the PhD program, regardless of whether it’s labeled as a “master’s” or “PhD” phase.

A Quick Example

If you start your PhD program (including a master’s component) in Fall 2025:

Fall 2025–Spring 2026: Year 1 of the PhD – Eligible to apply.

Fall 2026–Spring 2027: Year 2 of the PhD – Eligible to apply.

Fall 2027: Year 3 of the PhD – Not eligible to apply.

Eligibility is determined based on where you are in the program at the time of the application deadline.

What if I earned my master’s degree at one university but will pursue my PhD at a different university?

Great question! If the credits from your master’s degree will count toward your PhD at the new university, we consider that master’s to be part of your PhD program. If the credits from your master’s degree will not go towards your PhD then we would not consider it part of the PhD program.

Applying for PD Soros While Still Applying for PhD Programs

You can apply to the PD Soros Fellowship while also applying to PhD programs. You do not need to know what program you will be attending to be eligible to apply for the PD Soros program. When you apply, you must be planning on being enrolled in a full-time, accredited PhD program based in the United States by the following fall.

Questions?

If you’re unsure how your program structure affects eligibility, contact your program director or email us at [email protected].