PMI Thesis & Doctoral Research Program
Funds graduate student research advancing project management theory and practice, with outputs expected for both scholarly and practitioner audiences.
Funder: Project Management Institute
Due Dates (Anticipated): July 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Typical maximum award up to $50,000; project duration up to 24 months; no indirect/overhead costs allowed.
Summary: Supports graduate student research (master’s and doctoral) advancing project management theory and practice, with deliverables expected for both scholarly and practitioner audiences.
Key Information: Only graduate students (masters/doctoral, part- or full-time) conducting project management research are eligible; applications open annually in spring/summer.
Description
The PMI Thesis & Doctoral Research Program provides grant funding for graduate students (master’s and doctoral, part-time or full-time) whose research advances academic knowledge and practical improvement in project, program, or portfolio management. Funded projects are expected to produce outputs such as practitioner summaries, white papers, scholarly publications (e.g., in the Project Management Journal®), and conference presentations. The program operates within the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) extensive academic ecosystem, connecting researchers to a global network of scholars and resources dedicated to advancing project management theory and practice.
