Direct comparison
F31 vs. F32 — NIH Fellowships Compared
F31 (predoctoral) vs F32 (postdoctoral): how NIH's individual NRSA fellowships differ on eligibility, duration limits, stipend, and application mechanics.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | F31 (Predoctoral) | F32 (Postdoctoral) |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual NRSA Fellowship | Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual NRSA Fellowship |
| Who is eligible | Student enrolled in a research doctoral program, at the dissertation-research stage | Researcher who already holds, or is about to complete, a qualifying doctoral degree |
| Who holds the award | The student, as PD/PI, with a named faculty sponsor co-signing | The postdoctoral researcher, as PD/PI, with a named faculty sponsor supervising the training plan |
| Typical sponsor institution | Usually the student's own doctoral institution | Typically an institution other than the one that granted the applicant's doctorate |
| What it funds | Dissertation research training only (not clinical training) | A defined mentored postdoctoral training plan; no independent research budget |
| Aggregate NRSA support limit | Up to 5 years at the predoctoral level (6 for dual-degree F30), combining T32 + F31 time | Up to 3 years at the postdoctoral level, combining T32 + F32 time |
| FY2026 stipend | Flat $29,364/year ($2,447/month), no step-up by experience | Stepped by years of postdoctoral experience: $63,480/year at 0 years up to $77,076/year at 7+ years |
| Tuition/fees component | 60% of actual tuition/fees, up to $16,000/year | Institution-specific allowance set by the same annual NIH stipend notice |
| Institutional allowance | Fixed per-fellow amount for supplies, travel, training costs | Paid to host institution; covers the fellow's health insurance, supplies/equipment, books, travel |
| Parent funding opportunity | PA-25-422 | PA-25-423 |
| Standard application deadlines | April 8, August 8, December 8 (F-series standard cycle) | April 8, August 8, December 8 (F-series standard cycle) |
| Diversity-specific track | F31-Diversity, for candidates from underrepresented groups per NIH criteria | No parallel diversity-specific F32 track; standard F32 eligibility applies |
| Position in training pipeline | Doctoral stage — precedes the F32 | Postdoctoral stage — typically follows an F31 or T32, precedes K99/R00 |
Common questions
FAQ
Can a researcher hold both an F31 and an F32?+
Yes, but not concurrently and not for overlapping career stages -- the F31 funds predoctoral dissertation research and the F32 funds postdoctoral training after the doctorate is conferred. A researcher who held an F31 as a student can separately apply for an F32 once the doctorate is complete; the two are sequential, not simultaneous.
Does time on a T32 institutional training grant count against F31 or F32 support limits?+
Yes. NIH tracks aggregate Kirschstein-NRSA support separately at the predoctoral and postdoctoral levels, and each ceiling (5 years predoctoral, 3 years postdoctoral) combines any mix of institutional T32 time and individual F31/F32 time already received, not just time on the individual fellowship itself.
Does the F32 sponsor have to be at a different institution from the one that granted the applicant's PhD?+
It isn't an absolute rule, but NIH's stated intent is for the fellow to train in a genuinely new research environment. An F32 application with a sponsor at the applicant's own doctoral institution typically needs to make a stronger case for why the proposed training is still substantively new.
Do the F31 and F32 use the same application deadlines?+
Yes -- both fall under NIH's standard F-series fellowship deadlines of April 8, August 8, and December 8.
