Microsoft invites applications for two large awards for students in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Mathematics graduate programs.

• The Microsoft Research Graduate Women’s Scholarship is a one-year scholarship program for outstanding women graduate students and is designed to help increase the number of women pursuing a PhD. This program supports women in the second year of their graduate studies. Women who are interested in this scholarship must apply during first year of graduate studies. The award is valued at US$15,000 for the 2013–2014 academic year, plus a conference and travel allowance of US$2,000 for recipients to attend a conference in their field of study. Note: Applicants must be entering their first year of graduate studies.
  
• The Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship Program is a two-year fellowship program for outstanding PhD students nominated by their universities. This program supports men and women in their third and fourth years of PhD graduate studies. To be eligible for this fellowship, you must apply during your second or third year of PhD studies. The award includes tuition and a US$28,000 per year stipend, as well as a $4,000 travel allowance.
  

There is a maximum of three applicants per university department for each award, so if you're interested in this award, please let your grad program assistant know as soon as possible — if there are more than three applicants from your department, they may need to implement an internal adjudication process.

Application deadline is Thursday, October 9, 2012, at 11:59 pm, Pacific time. (Applications open on August 14.)