AAUS Foundation Research Scholarship (Doctoral Award)

AAUS Foundation Research Scholarship (Doctoral Award)

You get a one-off grant of about 2,750 EUR (3,000 USD) for the top-ranked proposal, or about 1,375 EUR (1,500 USD) for second place. You can spend the money freely on your project: travel, fieldwork, materials and other research costs. It is paid directly to you. The award comes from the American Academy of Underwater Sciences Foundation (AAUS Foundation). It goes to Ph.D. students who use scientific diving as their main research tool or who study scientific diving itself. From 2026, a partnership with the Mary G. Jameson Foundation funds two first-place doctoral awards of about 2,750 EUR each, instead of one.

Who can apply

• Degree: You are enrolled in a Ph.D. programme.
• AAUS membership: You are an active AAUS member (student or full) when you apply. If you are not a member yet, you can join, but you must wait 24 hours before the application portal opens to you.
• Research topic: Your project uses scientific diving as its main research tool, or it studies scientific diving itself.
• Diving standards: You dive under an AAUS-approved programme. If your organisation is not an AAUS member, you show that its diving standards match or exceed AAUS standards, usually by handing in its diving standards manual.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply. International students are welcome.
• Field of study: Any subject, as long as scientific diving is part of your research.
• One application: You may apply for only one AAUS research scholarship per year.

How to apply

You apply online through the AAUS scholarship portal and log in with your membership details. You submit a research proposal of 3 to 5 pages that covers your methods, why the research matters and a budget. You also add a support letter from your faculty advisor. The deadline is 30 June each year, and winners are announced on 1 October.

How realistic are your chances?

The rules cut the field narrowly: you must be a Ph.D. student, an AAUS member, and running a project built around scientific diving. That keeps the eligible group small. In 2025 there were 28 proposals across both the master's and doctoral levels, so a strong, well-argued proposal is what decides it. From 2026 there are two first-place doctoral awards instead of one, which slightly improves the odds for a good match.