Dissertation, Thesis, or Equivalent Project Fellowship Program (PBDT)

The Dissertation, Thesis, or Equivalent Project Fellowship (PBDT, for its Spanish abbreviation) is a competitive fellowship that will allow the recipient to devote full time to their dissertation, thesis, or equivalent project required to complete the degree. It provides a monthly stipend of $1,200 for students pursuing a master’s degree and $1,500 for doctorate students. The fellowship recipient may also apply for other available DEGI funds for traveling—for research purposes or to attend congresses—and publication fees. It is necessary that the student demonstrates the need to strengthen their research or present the results of their work. This fellowship does not include a tuition waiver. The student must apply for the fellowship through the announcement published on our website at the beginning of the second semester. The specific dates are announced in due course. Students pursuing a master’s degree in which a doctoral degree does not exist and students pursuing a doctoral degree may apply for this fellowship.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Be a full time student, as defined in Academic Senate Certification 38, 2012-2013; Certification 51, 2017-2018; or Certification 95, 2019-2020.
  • Be a doctoral student, or a master's student if your program does not have a doctoral degree.
  • Be within the time established to complete the degree, in accordance with Certifications No. 38 (2012-2013), No. 51 (2017-2018), and No. 95 (2019-2020) approved by the Academic Senate, as applicable.
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.50 in a scale of 4.0.
  • Have passed all courses, the degree exam, and have their proposal for dissertation, thesis, or equivalent project approved.
  • Be in the final stage of research and writing, and expecting to complete the degree in the period in which they will enjoy the fellowship.
  • The graduate student may not have a full time or part time job, nor a professional services contract within or outside the Institution for the duration of the fellowship.
  • Students admitted to online programs denominated as self-sustaining or self-financing are not eligible for this fellowship.
  1. Meet all eligibility requirements. 
  2. Submit a detailed work plan (nature of the research, activities completed and those remaining to complete the dissertation, thesis, or project). The work plan must be accompanied by a schedule showing that the student is able to complete all degree requirements during the scholarship period. (Supplement 3) 
  3. Demonstrate academic trajectory, as shown in the student’s credit transcript and academic progress record. 

The required documents to apply for the Dissertation, Thesis, or Equivalent Project Scholarship are: 

  • Completing the online application (using the institutional email). 
  • Project summary in essay form (Supplement 2). 
  • Detailed work plan (nature of research, activities carried out and those remaining in order to complete the dissertation, thesis, or project), with measurable expectations during the term of the scholarship (August 2024-May2025) (Supplement 3). 
  • Copy of the approved dissertation, thesis or project proposal. 
  • CIPSHI or IACUC authorization (if applicable). 
  • Curriculum Vitae or Portfolio. 
  • Lists of presentations in forums, in and outside Puerto Rico. 
  • List of research, publications and/or creative works. 
  • Certification of eligibility (document included in the application, Supplement 4) 
  • Academic transcript. 
  • 2 letters of recommendation from professors (letters of recommendations will only be accepted during the call period at the following email address: estudiantil.degi@upr.edu, in case the professor wishes to do so confidentially). 
  • 1 letter of recommendation from the project director/advisor (letters of recommendations will only be accepted during the call period at the following email address: estudiantil.degi@upr.edu, in case the professor wishes to do so confidentially). 
Fellowship recipients may receive other financial aid, as long as it is not subsidized with institutional or DEGI funds. The sum of the money awarded and the additional financial aid may not exceed the cost of studies established by the institution.
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