Often a sponsor limits applications for a grant or fellowship by instructing universities to nominate either one or a small number of candidates, effectively placing on them the task of pre-screening applicants. The eligibility and nomination rules of these programs, many of which are established annual competitions, vary widely. 

Certain grant and fellowship programs focusing on biomedical research are administered by HMS Foundation Funds at Harvard Medical School. Some of these programs, and ones listed with the University Committee on Biological Sciences are open to researchers from other schools. HMS Foundation Funds also manages applications for HMS internal competitions, and selects HMS applicants to compete in University-wide limited submission competitions, which are managed by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.