NRSA Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for FY 2026
Notice NOT-OD-26-044 supersedes NOT-OD-25-105 and establishes stipend levels for fiscal year 2026 Kirschstein-NRSA awards for undergraduate, predoctoral, and postdoctoral trainees and fellows, as shown in the tables below.
The stipend levels are to be used in the preparation of future competing and non-competing NRSA institutional training grant and individual fellowship applications (see Updated DSP NRSA Budget Template). They will be administratively applied by NIH to all applications currently in the review process.
Stipends Effective with all Kirschstein-NRSA awards made on or after October 1, 2025, the following annual stipend levels apply to all individuals receiving support through institutional research training grants or individual fellowships.
Undergraduates: For institutional training grants supporting undergraduate trainees (T34, TL4), appointments for undergraduate candidates will continue to be made by distinct categories (i.e., Freshmen/Sophomores and Juniors/Seniors), but the stipend levels for the categories will be the same:
Career Level
Stipend for FY 2026
Monthly Stipend
Freshmen/Sophomores/Juniors/Seniors
$14,916
$1,243
Predoctoral Trainees and Fellows: For institutional training grants (T32, T35, T90, TL1) and individual fellowships (F30, F31), one stipend level is used for all predoctoral candidates, regardless of the level of experience.
Career Level
Years of Experience
Stipend for FY 2026
Monthly Stipend
Predoctoral
All
$29,364
$2,447
Postdoctoral Trainees and Fellows: For institutional training grants (T32, T90, TL1) and individual fellowships (F32), the stipend level for the entire first year of support is determined by the number of full years of relevant postdoctoral experience when the award is issued. Relevant experience may include research experience (including industrial), teaching assistantship, internship, residency, clinical duties, or other time spent in a health-related field beyond that of the qualifying doctoral degree. Once the appropriate stipend level has been determined, the trainee or fellow must be paid at that level for the entire grant year. The stipend for each additional year of Kirschstein-NRSA support is the next level in the stipend structure and does not change mid-year.
This Notice is a Request for Information (RFI) inviting feedback on the Framework for the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2027-2031 (FY27-FY31).
The Framework for the plan below, articulates NIH’s Priorities in three key areas: biomedical and behavioral science research; scientific research capacity; and scientific research operations. These Priorities apply across NIH.
NIH-Wide Strategic Plan Framework
Priority 1: Research Areas
Goal 1: Advance Foundational Knowledge of Human Health and Disease
Goal 2: Prevent Disease and Promote Health Across the Lifespan
Goal 3: Advance and Optimize Interventions, Treatments, and Cures
Priority 2: Research Capacity
Goal 1: Develop and Sustain an Interdisciplinary Research Workforce
Goal 2: Build, Improve, and Sustain Research Resources and Infrastructure
Priority 3: Research Operations
Goal 1: Enhance Scientific Stewardship and Decision-Making
Goal 2: Foster Transparency and Accountability to Improve Public Trust in Science
Request for Comments
This RFI invites input from stakeholders throughout the scientific research, advocacy, and clinical practice communities, as well as the general public, regarding the above proposed framework for the NIH-Wide Strategic Plan for FY27-FY31.
The NIH seeks comments on, but not limited to, NIH’s Goals across the three Priorities articulated in the framework—including potential benefits, drawbacks, opportunities, or challenges, and other areas of focus for consideration.
How to Submit a Response
All comments must be submitted electronically on the submission website.
Full Notice
National Institutes of Health NOT-OD-26-047 March 16, 2026
NIH seeks public input on a Proposed Clinical Trial Specific Application Form designed to streamline investigator-initiated clinical trial applications. Specifically, NIH proposes to combine components of the current Research Plan in clinical trial applications and the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information Form into a single, consolidated form. By requiring a semi-structured application specifically designed for clinical trials, NIH aims to (1) simplify the application process for investigators and (2) improve the availability of critical information needed for the review of clinical trials.
See the Full Noticefor details regarding the proposed form and the information requested by NIH.
