What is the Difference between Fellowship and Scholarship?

The difference between a scholarship and a fellowship is that Scholarships are limited to monetary rewards; students do not receive any additional benefits. Fellowships go beyond monetary benefits. Research fellows may receive fellowships in the form of jobs, status, or recognition to help them contribute to the educational system.

Quality education is available across the world but there are plenty of deserving students who cannot afford them due to financial constraints. To lend hand to these students many organizations and governments across the world run several programs to provide different forms of financial aid. The most common among them are scholarships and fellowships. Both terms are often misunderstood by the students as it is financial aid given to students to pursue their education. Eventhough it is a financial aid, both has requirements that differ from each other. In this article let’s look into the difference between fellowship vs scholarship and get to know the terms in detail.

Table of Contents

• What is Scholarship?
• What is Fellowship?
• What is the difference between fellowship and scholarship
• FAQ

What is Scholarship?

A scholarship is a type of financial aid or grant given to students in recognition of their academic achievements that can help students achieve their educational goals. Scholarships can be offered by a variety of organizations, including educational institutions, corporations, foundations, and government agencies. These organizations offer scholarships as a way to support the education of deserving students, promote academic excellence, and invest in the future.

Scholarships can be used to cover a wide range of educational expenses, including tuition fees, textbooks, living expenses, transportation costs, and other related expenses. The funds are typically disbursed directly to the educational institution or the student, depending on the terms and conditions of the scholarship. 

Students can apply for scholarships at different times depending on the organization offering the scholarship. Some scholarships have deadlines that coincide with the start of the academic year, while others may have rolling deadlines throughout the year.

The criteria to get a scholarship can vary depending on the organization offering the scholarship. Typically, academic performance is one of the most important criteria, and students with high grades or standardized test scores are more likely to receive a scholarship. Other factors such as financial need, leadership skills, community involvement, and extracurricular activities may also be considered.

What are the types of Scholarships for Higher Education?

There are several types of scholarships available to support different types of students.

• Need-Based Scholarships: These scholarships are for economically weak students. It is awarded based on financial need and is typically reserved for students from low-income families.
• Athletic Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who demonstrate exceptional skill and talent in their chosen sport.
• Merit-Based Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded based on a combination of academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and other factors that demonstrate exceptional merit. The majority of schools, colleges, and institutions in every country award this type of scholarship.
• Test Scholarships: There are several globally reputed tests that makes students to gain admission into renowned institutions and study abroad. An excellent score on these tests can get you a scholarship. Some tests that offer scholarships are GRE, GMAT, SAT, and IELTS.
• Corporate Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded by corporations to support the education of students who are pursuing careers in fields related to the corporation's business.

Some of the Famous scholarships for Indian students:

• Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program
• Chevening Scholarships
• Rhodes Scholarships
• The JN Tata Endowment – Higher Education of Indians
• QS Undergraduate Scholarship
• Gates Millennium Scholarship in the USA.

What is the Eligibility to apply for Scholarship?

The criteria to get a scholarship can vary depending on the organization offering the scholarship. Typically, academic performance is one of the most important criteria, and students with high grades or standardized test scores are more likely to receive a scholarship. Other factors such as financial need, leadership skills, community involvement, and extracurricular activities may also be considered. Students are eligible to apply for scholarships prior to their undergraduate or graduate studies for merit-based scholarships. 

When to apply for a Scholarship? 

Scholarships are typically provided for an upcoming academic year or session. Students should therefore apply for the scholarship as soon as possible if they plan to enroll in classes for the upcoming academic year to pursue graduate or undergraduate degrees.

How to apply for a Scholarship?

The application process for scholarships can vary. Visit the website of the organization, college, or agency offering the scholarship to check the eligibility criteria and application procedures. Some popular scholarships require a nomination from the candidate's educational institution.

What is Fellowship?

A fellowship is a financial grant or stipend awarded to individuals to support their academic or professional pursuits in their area of study or expertise usually for a specific period of time.

Fellowships can be offered by a variety of organizations, including universities, research institutions, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private foundations. These organizations offer fellowships as a way to invest in talented individuals who are working on important research or initiatives that align with their mission and goals.

Fellowships can be used for a range of purposes, including conducting research, writing, attending conferences, collaborating with other experts, and gaining new skills or knowledge. The application process for fellowships can vary but typically involves submitting a proposal outlining the proposed research or project, as well as a resume or CV, letters of recommendation, and other supporting materials. Deadlines for fellowship applications can vary and may be dependent on the organization offering the fellowship. 

Fellowships can cover a range of expenses related to the fellow's academic or professional pursuits, including tuition fees, research expenses, travel costs, living expenses, and other related expenses. The specific expenses covered will depend on the terms and conditions of the fellowship. The criteria to receive a fellowship can vary depending on the organization offering the fellowship, but generally, it is awarded based on merits, such as academic achievement, research or professional experience, leadership skills, and other factors related to the fellow's area of study or expertise.

What are the types of Fellowships?

There are several types of fellowships available to support different types of individuals and pursuits.

• Research Fellowships: These fellowships are typically awarded to support research projects in a specific field of study.
• Doctoral and Postdoctoral Fellowships: These fellowships are awarded to individuals who are seeking to gain additional research or professional experience. Scholars recieve a PhD fellowship in the form of a stipend, temporary employment as lecturers, and a scope for better opportunities.
• Medical fellowship: These are fellowships awarded to physicians who have completed their general medicine course and taken up a specific field of medicine. There are numerous medical specialties, and there are subject-specific fellowships available. This encourages medical professionals to succeed and advance to the level of master practitioners. These scholars receive assistance from a number of medical schools and research institutions as they practice medicine and conduct research. In return for this, they get monetary help to continue their further research and development work.
• Professional Development Fellowships: These are fellowships awarded to individuals who are seeking to gain additional skills or experience in a particular profession or industry.
• Travel Fellowships: These are fellowships awarded to individuals who are seeking to travel to attend conferences or conduct research in a specific location.

Famous fellowships for Indian students:

• Young India Fellowship
• Teach for India Fellowship
• Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship
• SBI Youth for India Fellowship
• Prime Minister Research Fellowship
• Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship.

What is the Eligibility to apply for Fellowship?

The criteria to receive a fellowship can vary depending on the organization offering the fellowship, but generally, According to the UGC NET eligibility criteria for 2024, the NTA revised the upper age limit for the Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) as 30 years. The candidates must be between 20 and 30 years old to apply. Additionally, applicants must have completed their graduation (in any discipline) or be on track to complete it before the fellowship begins.

Additionally, you must be proficient in the language in which you intend to conduct your research. 

When to apply for a Fellowship?

The application process for fellowships can vary but typically involves submitting a proposal outlining the proposed research or project, as well as a resume or CV, letters of recommendation, and other supporting materials. Deadlines for fellowship applications can vary and may be dependent on the organization offering the fellowship. Keep track of all important dates on the official fellowship websites and apply on time.

How to apply for a Fellowship?

If you're planning to apply for a fellowship, start by identifying opportunities that align with your career goals, academic field, and interests. Many government agencies, higher education institutions, and non-profit organizations offer fellowships. Visit their official websites to find relevant opportunities and submit an online application.

Know the Difference between fellowship and scholarship

The difference between a scholarship and Fellowship is that Scholarships are a form of financial aid given to pursue further education while Fellowships are granted to those with more experience who research a certain discipline at universities. Let’s look into the differences between the two in detail.

Major Differences between Scholarship and Fellowship
Basis of difference	Scholarship	Fellowship
Factors	Determined by various factors such as necessity, merit, or others	Fellowship is based on the student's merit or excellence.
Coverage	Pays the tuition fees.	Can be an internship or any other type of service opportunity for the student
Education	Financial aid is offered to do further education	It is a merit-based fellowship
Organizations	Supported by the government, schools/colleges/universities or any other group	Supported by Governments, research organizations, commercial enterprises, universities, and other institutions.
Study level	Given to students’ level and beyond	Granted generally to experienced individuals to apply
Purpose	Given to help students with their basic studies.	Scholars are given grants to undertake studies on a specific topic.
Renewability	Some scholarships are renewable in the sense that students can apply for them again as well.	Only for a set time and cannot be extended
Time of application	Accessible from the very beginning of one's academic career, i.e., even before starting university or undergraduate education	No fellowships are available for early-career academics.
Criteria of application	Criteria that students requesting financial assistance must meet academic performance, participation in sports competitions, creative talents competitions, and many others.	Based only on academic criteria

One top difference between a scholarship and a fellowship is that wherever the term scholarship is used, financial assistance or aid is always included. The financial aid provided by the university, research institute, or foundation, whether it be a tuition fee, daily allowance, or any other form of monetary support, is an essential component of the scholarship.
However, rewards for fellowships are typically not offered in the form of financial assistance.

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• UK scholarships for Indian Students
• Scholarship for Indian Students in Canada

Conclusion

The difference between scholarship and fellowship and the detailed explanation of these two given in this article will be helpful to gain a detailed insight into fellowship vs scholarship and clear all your doubts.

FAQ

1. What is the difference between fellowship and scholarship?

The difference between Fellowship and Scholarship is that Fellowship is rewarded to candidates who research a certain discipline at universities while Scholarship is a financial aid given to pursue further education.

2. What is the purpose of a fellowship?

The purpose of a fellowship is to support talented individuals who are seeking to make     significant contributions to research either independently or as a part of a larger project in their field of study or expertise and to provide them with the resources needed to achieve their goals.

3. Who is eligible to apply for a Scholarship?

The qualifications required to be eligible for scholarships can differ depending on the organization or institution that is providing the financial aid. In general, students who are currently enrolled in a degree program or who have been accepted into a degree program are eligible to apply for merit-based scholarships.

4. When to apply for a scholarship?

Generally, scholarships are awarded for the upcoming academic year/session. Thus, students seeking admission in the next academic year to pursue graduate or undergraduate degrees should apply for the scholarship as early as possible.

5. What are the disadvantages of fellowships?

The main disadvantage of fellowships is that they are highly competitive. It is not easy as getting a fellowship by just applying. In addition to this, it requires a commitment to work hard. Fellowships are not a good fit for those who procrastinate or give up easily.