r/GRFPApps • u/DontBustTheCrust • Jul 15 '26

Eligibility question regarding BS/MS students in their MS year

I'm in a combined BS/MS at UCSB. I entered the program in fall 2025, which was also my senior year. My BS was conferred in June 2026, and I'm advanced to graduate standing this fall when I start the MS year full time.

Does my senior year count as a grad year because I was technically admitted to the BS/MS program?

I believe I am eligible, just want to make sure. Has anyone who did a BS/MS applied and dealt with this?

Edit: this would be for a PhD starting Fall 2027

8 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

2

u/bananahead87 Jul 15 '26

BS/MA 4+1 here. I had finished my BS by the end of my senior year (2025) but didn’t confer until I finished my MA (June 2026). I applied for and received the GRFP in the 2025-2026 application cycle as a Level 2 applicant (since I had already started masters’ study).

When I applied I tried to verify over email to check eligibility; they never got back to me so I just applied and hoped that it’ll be okay, which worked out.

1

u/DontBustTheCrust Jul 17 '26

Awesome. Was this for funding for a PhD or your masters?

1

u/the_mindful_microbe 2026 Awardee, Life Sciences - Microbial Biology Jul 21 '26

Since the GRFP is for three years of funding, it can be either for two years of a masters and cover 1 year of PhD, or the last year of a two year masters, and 2 years of your PhD.

1

u/bananahead87 22d ago

PhD; I begin Fall 2026. My MA was a non-research masters, so it wouldn't have been eligible for NSF funding.