5 Prestigious US Fellowships That Can Turn Your Health Economics Dissertation Into Funded Research

February 19, 2026

Feeling overwhelmed by dissertation costs? This guide shows how a specialised health economics fellowship USA dissertation can help. We cover 5 top US health economics funding programs, who they’re for, what they cover, and how to apply. By aligning your proposal with each funder’s goals, you can secure up to ~$30K in support.

If you are working towards a PhD in health economics at a US institution, you already know the financial pressures of dissertation research. Accessing proprietary datasets like the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey or licensing econometric software such as Stata all add up quickly. A health economics fellowship USA dissertation program can ease that burden significantly while also boosting the credibility of your academic profile.

The good news is that several well-established fellowships exist specifically to support doctoral candidates at this stage. However, each one offers something slightly different, be it health policy economics dissertation USA, industry mentorship or access to elite research networks.

In this article, we walk through five of the most relevant health economics fellowship USA dissertation programs. Plus, we’ll also be breaking down who qualifies, how much you can receive, and what the application process looks like.

Key Points for a Quick Look

A health economics fellowship USA dissertation covers critical costs like data access, software, travel, and living expenses for a US health economics PhD fellowship.
Major health economics fellowships include AHRQ, NBER, Chicago’s Becker Friedman Institute, PhRMA Foundation, and UChicago’s ECCHC initiative.
Most awards offer a health economics PhD fellowship USA (often to US citizens or residents, though some welcome international candidates). Typically, you must be in a US program or proximal.
Tailor your project to each agency’s priorities (e.g., equity for AHRQ, real-world outcomes for PhRMA). Strong proposals and advisor letters are key.
Beyond money, fellowships also offer mentorship and community. In fact, Past recipients co-author NBER papers or land academic fellowships in health economics.

Why Funding Is Essential for Your Health Economics Dissertation?

Doing a PhD in health economics is exciting, but it can also get expensive. You’ll need high-quality data (like MEPS), statistical software (SAS), and maybe conference travel to present your work. These costs can easily run into the low five figures. Fellowships can shoulder much of this burden. They free you from extra teaching, allow you to focus on US health economics fellowship research, and often add prestige to your CV.

A funding award gives you more than money. Apart from monetary benefits, the following are the perks of a health economics fellowship USA dissertation:

It validates your work: if the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) backs your project, it signals impact on real-world policy.
It also plugs you into mentors and peers. For instance, fellowships through Chicago’s health economics initiatives pair you with top scholars and put you into UChicago seminars.
It speeds up your network progress. For instance, NBER-affiliated fellows often turn their work into working papers and journal articles faster than isolated students.

A recent bibliometric study, confirmed by a top-rated dissertation writing service, i.e., The Academic Papers UK, found that health economics output has surged over time. In 2017, scholars published 86 health economics papers, about 4 times the annual rate of two decades earlier. In fact, this growth is humongous in the US. American researchers account for about 37 per cent of all health economics publications. This concentration means US agencies and institutes pour millions into the field. As a US-based PhD, tapping into these resources is the smartest way to advance your research.

Myth vs Fact: Funding Fellowships

That said, you do face competition as fellowships aren’t given automatically. You’ll need a solid proposal showing why your work matters. The application timeline is also critical, as many deadlines cluster in autumn. Nonetheless, there are some wrong myths about the health economics fellowship USA dissertation as busted below:

Myth: Fellowships are only for postdocs.

Fact: Many programs explicitly target pre-docs nearing dissertation. For example, AHRQ’s R36 grant and PhRMA’s predoctoral awards are open to ABD PhD students.

Myth: You must be a US citizen to apply.

Fact: Several awards welcome international students. The Chicago ECCHC and PhRMA fellowships accept any health economics doctoral fellowship candidate at a US university.

Myth: It’s impossible to fund travel and living costs.

Fact: Fellowships often include allowances for conferences and a living stipend. The NBER aging fellowship, for instance, offers $100K funds, allowing you to work near Cambridge for a year.

Top 5 US Fellowships for Health Economics Dissertations

If you’re ready to apply, here are 5 leading health economics fellowship USA dissertations programs to consider. These fellowship opportunities for health economists USA cater to a slightly different slice of health economics. Before we deep dive, you need to understand that these stipends don’t offer a fixed amount of money; the amount varies from person to person. Nevertheless, find out more below about these best US fellowships for health economics research below:

Fellowship 1: AHRQ Health Services Research Dissertation Program (R36 Grant)

Run by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (part of HHS), the R36 grant is a premier award for health services research dissertation USA. It’s essentially a mini-grant that lets you focus on issues like affordability and equity. Hence, projects must tie directly to AHRQ’s priorities (safety, tech use, care access, reducing disparities).

Who Can Apply for the AHRQ Program?

To qualify, you must be a US citizen, non-citizen national or permanent resident enrolled full-time in an accredited doctoral programme. You need to have completed all non-dissertation requirements, including qualifying exams, by the time you submit your application. AHRQ encourages applicants from interdisciplinary backgrounds. Therefore, you can blend economics with public health economics dissertation, nursing, biostatistics or health informatics.

What Does the Grant Cover?

The Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA fellowship (often used for health economics training via AHRQ) provides a predoctoral stipend of $28,788 per year as a subsistence allowance. For your entire degree, you could receive up to $143,940 in total stipends. Here is a breakdown of these scholarships:

Component	Description	Annual Amount	Per Session/Budget Period Note	Total Over 5 Years (Max)
Stipend	Subsistence allowance to cover living expenses	$28,788	Paid monthly (~$2,399); full-year support.	$143,940
Tuition & Fees	Covers 60% of your institution’s actual tuition/fees	Up to $16,000 (standard US fellowship for healthcare economics PhD students)	Per academic year, prorated if partial year.	Up to $80,000 (or $105,000 for dual-degree)
Institutional Allowance	Covers training-related expenses	$4,750	Annual	$23,750
Childcare Costs (Optional)	Reimbursement for licensed childcare if applicable.	$3,000	Per budget period	$15,000
Training Related Expenses (if via Institutional Grant like T32)	Additional for institutional programs	$4,750	Annual; overlaps with allowance in some cases.	$23,750
Total Potential per Year	Sum of all applicable components (excluding overlaps).	$53,538 (standard, no childcare/dual-degree)	Varies by needs and award type.	$267,690 (standard)

Pro Tip: To strengthen your application for a health economics research grant USA, like the AHRQ R36, this complete guide can help you. It provides step-by-step strategies for building the evidence base that funders look for: a complete guide to writing a literature review.

Fellowship 2: NBER Predoctoral Fellowship in Ageing and Health Research (NIA-Funded)

The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), with support from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), offers this health economics fellowship USA dissertation for projects at the intersection of health and aging. Fellows join a vibrant Cambridge community studying ageing. They include working with the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) or Medicare claims. The focus is broad as long as health outcomes research dissertation USA are central.

Eligibility for NBER Predoctoral Fellowship

Applicants must be PhD candidates (typically in economics or related fields) who will be ABD during the fellowship year. The program is technically based at the NBER’s Cambridge. Therefore, fellows spend the year there (or at least in the Boston area). US citizens or permanent residents are eligible (internationals living in the Boston area may qualify). The call invites about 8 health economics fellowship USA dissertations per year.

NBER Predoctoral Fellowship Coverage

The award includes a one-year stipend (currently about $27,144 for 12 months) plus support for travel and research. You get an office at NBER, access to NBER’s computer facilities, and tuition support if needed. Funds cover data expenses and a small allowance (typically under $2,000) for conferences. The stipend level is set by NIH/NIA for predoctoral fellows.

Fellowship 3: Becker Friedman Institute Health Economics Research Fellowship (UChicago)

The Becker Friedman Institute (BFI) for Economics at the University of Chicago runs an initiative to fund health economics research by early scholars. Every year, it awards a health economics fellowship USA dissertation of $25,000 to PhD candidates in their final year. There’s no tuition or fees, as it’s purely a stipend.

The idea is to spur innovative healthcare cost analysis dissertation of how markets, policy, and behaviour shape healthcare. Here is the eligibility criteria for BFI:

You need to be an advanced PhD student (usually ABD) or a new PhD student. However, applicants can be at any institution (US or abroad).
A strong economics background is expected, like quantitative health economics research training USA, and familiarity with econometrics or modelling.
Both US and international students can apply. The program is open to economics, business, or US fellowship programs in health policy.

Pro Tip for BFI: Focus on Foundational Research

If you are applying for a BFI fellowship, you should focus your health economics fellowship USA dissertation on “foundational research.” This involves studying the basic forces of supply and demand, incentives, and labour trends within the healthcare sector. Such a health economics dissertation guidance USA fellowship values research that examines how medical technology and innovation influence costs and quality.

For example, past research at the BFI has investigated the effect of access to health insurance on job mobility and the wage distribution in healthcare economics research fellowship USA. By showing how your work addresses these issues, you will align yourself with the institute’s core mission.

Fellowship 4: PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

The PhRMA Foundation (a non-profit backed by the pharmaceutical industry) offers a health economics fellowship USA dissertation for research. This is perfect for cost-effectiveness analysis dissertation USA, health outcomes, patient preferences, or drug pricing/value. It aims to train students in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) relevant to pharmaceuticals.

Eligibility for PhRMA Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

Applicants must be PhD candidates (typically ABD) at a US university (full-time, not necessarily US citizens). Disciplines include economics, pharmacy, public health, etc. You should be engaged in health economics dissertation topics USA, like comparative effectiveness, QALYs, patient-centered outcomes, or health equity in treatments. The program encourages patient involvement in research design.

Funding & Coverage

This health economics fellowship USA dissertation provides $30,000 per year for 1 or 2 years. There is no tuition or fee coverage, as it is purely a stipend. The award can span 12, 18, or 24 months; you get half each year (after satisfactory progress). The stipend must be paid through the university. The grant allows up to $1,000 per year of the stipend for thesis-related travel or incidentals. Here is what this health economics dissertation research funding USA package includes:

Annual stipend: $30,000 per year for 12 to 24 months
Research budget: $5,000 for data access, software and materials
Mentorship: Pairing with industry experts in pharmaceutical economics and health technology assessment
Career bridge: Direct exposure to pharma sector networks, valuable for a postdoctoral health economics fellowship in the USA

Fellowship 5: UChicago Initiative on Enabling Choice & Competition Predoctoral Fellowship

This University of Chicago award supports dissertation research on how markets and competition affect health care. Topics include hospital choice, insurance plan design, provider behavior, or any analysis of patient/physician decision-making. The program’s motto is to strengthen our understanding of health markets. Therefore, they project on regulations, cost-sharing, or ACA impacts.

Eligibility for UChicago Initiative Fellowship

Any PhD candidate (US or international) doing health economics research can apply. There’s no citizenship requirement. You should be enrolled at a U.S. university (or plan to be a resident in Chicago for healthcare economics PhD funding). The competition is open to economics, policy, or related students who have a clear dissertation topic in health markets.

Economic Evaluation in Healthcare Dissertation

The award is $17,500 total for the UChicago Initiative Predoctoral Fellowship. You receive $10,000 at the start and the remaining $7,500 upon demonstrating dissertation progress or completion. Here is a quick breakdown of this US fellowship for health policy research:

Stage	Amount	Condition
Initial award	$10,000	Upon selection
Progress payment	$7,500	Demonstrated research progress
Total	$17,500	—

Comparison Table: At-a-Glance Guide to the 5 Fellowships

This table summarises the five key health economics fellowship USA dissertation for health economics dissertation research. This tested and verified table by leading dissertation writing services in the UK highlights stipend levels and the most essential details for quick comparison to help you decide which ones to pursue:

Fellowship Abbrev	Stipend Amount	Key Details Duration Extras
AHRQ Dissertation	28788 per year NRSA level	9 to 17 months plus up to 16k research costs US citizen required, ABD stage
NBER Aging Health	26152 to 27144 for 12 months	1 year office tuition support, limited travel, ABD Boston area, US citizen preferred
BFI Health Econ	25000 one-time	Final dissertation year pure stipend open to an international student with a strong economic background
PhRMA Predoc	30000 per year	1 to 2 years plus 5k research plus 1k travel ABD at US university open to non-US citizens
ECCHC UChicago	17500 total 10k plus 75k	Dissertation support, staged payments open to international health markets, focus

Conclusion

Funding should never be the reason your dissertation stalls. By targeting these health economics fellowship USA dissertations, you can turn expenses into covered budget lines and gain valuable mentorship. Each program serves different angles of health services economics research USA, so pick the one that matches your topic. Tailor your proposal to what the sponsor cares about. For example, highlight health equity impacts for AHRQ or the economic value of new treatments for PhRMA.

Remember that success takes strategy. Use our table to map focus areas, start writing early, and work closely with your advisor. Getting a fellowship is competitive, but even applying teaches you to sharpen your research pitch. With funded research support, you’ll not only produce better results but also set yourself up for a stronger career. Many funded dissertations lead to PhD jobs, publications, and industry contacts. In short, the right fellowship can turn your thesis into funded, high-impact research.

Frequently Asked Questions About Health Economics Fellowship USA Dissertation

1. Who is eligible to apply for a health economics fellowship?

Most of these health economics fellowship USA dissertations target PhD students who are in the dissertation (ABD) phase. Many prefer U.S. citizens or permanent residents, but several also welcome international students at U.S. universities. You typically need to be enrolled in an accredited program and have a clear research plan. Check each program’s criteria: for example, the AHRQ R36 explicitly requires U.S. citizenship, while Chicago’s fellowships accept anyone working in the field.

2. How long do health economics fellowships usually last?

It varies by program. Many are 1-year awards: AHRQ R36 covers up to 1.5 years, the NBER and BFI awards are typically 12 months, and PhRMA can be 12–24 months. UChicago’s ECCHC fellowship is shorter. The duration often aligns with final-year dissertation work. Some programs allow renewal or extensions (e.g., PhRMA’s second year after a progress report).

3. What is the application process like for a health economics dissertation fellowship?

Most applications involve submitting a research proposal (often 1–6 pages), your CV, academic transcripts, and letters of recommendation (usually including your advisor’s letter). Each funder has its own online portal or grants system. For instance, AHRQ uses Grants.gov with a formal grant application; the NBER uses a job portal listing; PhRMA uses ProposalCentral. Deadlines usually fall in the fall or spring. Advice: start early, get feedback on your proposal, and explicitly address the funder’s goals.