Scholarships and research support for M.S. and Ph.D. candidates pursuing advanced technical degrees in engineering and the sciences with partner universities.
Now in its 50th year, the program has provided annual tuition scholarships and stipends to over 1,000 graduate students from civilian and from military backgrounds. Applicants are required to be accepted into a thesis-bearing degree program; however, this not required at the time of application
Draper Scholars conduct their own research under the supervision of both a university faculty advisor and a Draper technical staff supervisor. A unique facet of the program is the collaboration between scholars and technical staff to solve real-world problems, develop technologies in world-class laboratories, and publish in top-tier journals and conference presentations.
When and how to Apply
Applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are now closed.
Students are strongly encouraged to coordinate with Draper staff and university faculty before applying to the Scholars Program. Please refer to the Research Topics section of this webpage for research areas of interest and technical points of contact.
Please email [email protected] with any questions.
Scholar Application materials required: Resume and Transcript, Statement of Purpose, Names of Two References and University Application Status
- Draper Scholar Program supports M.S. and Ph.D. study in technical areas of interest to Draper in engineering and the sciences. All Draper Scholars must complete a thesis.
- Support includes tuition and stipend; tuition is at a rate agreed to by Draper and the university while stipend is at the university's set rate.
- Draper Scholar Program supports a Masters Student for two years and a PhD Student for 5 years, provided adequate progress continues to be made.
- Active-duty military personnel pursuing graduate study and other students with active clearance may work on classified projects.
- The program is open to U.S. citizens only.
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
- Advanced Position, Navigation and Timing
- Autonomy
- Biosecurity
- Cyber
- Design Methodology
- Human System Technology
- Hypersonics
- Materials Design & Development
- Rad-Hard MicroElectronics
- Sensors and Comms
- Space Technology
- Terrain Relative and Vision Aided Navigation
Students are strongly encouraged to coordinate with Draper staff and university faculty before applying to the Scholars Program.
Participation in the Draper Scholars Program is limited to participating Universities as listed below:
- Boston University
- Brown University
- Harvard University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Northeastern University
- Purdue University
- Rice University
- Tufts University
- University of Colorado, Boulder
- University of Massachusetts, Lowell
- University of South Florida
- Resume and Transcript
- Statement of Purpose
- Names of Two References
- University Application Status
Students are strongly encouraged to coordinate with Draper staff and university faculty before applying to the Scholars Program. Please refer to the Research Topics section of this webpage for research areas of interest and technical points of contact.
Collaborative Research Template (Please complete this form and send to [email protected])
Collaborative Research Sample (This is an example template)