Understanding the differences between Fellowships and Scholarships is a crucial aspect for students who intend to study abroad. While both offer financial support, they can cater differently to students’ academic and professional development. Let us dive deeper into this topic:
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FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPS: THE DIFFERENCES
Some institutions may interchangeably use the words scholarships and fellowships to refer to grants for higher education, however, there lies key differences. Let us take a look at that:
| PREREQUISITES | FELLOWSHIPS | SCHOLARSHIPS |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Fellowships are a reward for significant research and innovation | The scholarship is a helping aid |
| Type of Grant | Monetary or Non- Monetary grants | Only monetary grants |
| Offered to | Researchers or trainees (Research graduate, Doctoral, and Postdoctoral level) | Undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students |
| Based on | Standalone research expenses | Tuition fees, living and travel expenses |
| Offered by | Govt. Research Organizations or universities supporting individual research niche | Government, private, and public universities/ colleges or other private funding |
| Application Time | Later stages of study | Can be applied earlier, along with or even before the course admission |
| Renewability | Can not be renewed | It can be renewed |
Also read, Colleges vs Universities
WHAT IS SCHOLARSHIP
A scholarship is an aid given financially to students by the government or universities to support them in their academic endeavors of undergraduate, postgraduate, or further studies. It could be one-time monetary support or even continual funds provided each semester or academic year for the welfare of students.
TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDY ABROAD
Based on the purpose of aid and the eligibility, we can classify the different types of scholarships:
- Merit-Based Scholarships/ Academic Scholarships- As the name suggests, merit-based scholarships are provided to students who have proved their academic excellence time and again and are willing to study further by getting aid based on their marks.
- Need-Based Scholarships/ Bursaries- The students who wish to pursue higher education but are hindered because of financial stability are supported with the help of these need-based scholarships.
- Scholarships by Major- Scholarships can also be filtered by the major you opt for in your academics. Many universities at the undergraduate or postgraduate level offer opportunities to opt for scholarships based on your chosen major.
- Legacy Scholarships- Legacy scholarships are offered to students having a familial connection with the university. In simple terms, it provides financial support to the children, spouse, or other family members of the alumni, depending on the university.
Check out the Top 10 Scholarships in Canada for International Students.
HOW TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
The basic application procedure for scholarships generally remains the same everywhere. Let us have a look:
- Research about suitable scholarships
- Prepare all the required documents
- Write Personal Statements
- Fill out Application forms
- Make payments and submit applications
- Follow Up
- Prepare for Interviews (if any)
Know how to develop a College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile.
LIST OF TOP 10 PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIPS ABROAD
Here is a list of the top prestigious scholarships abroad with deadlines:
- Full Bright Scholarships-varying
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship– September, 2025
- Rotary Foundation Global Study Grants – 30th June, 2025
- Chevening Scholarship– varying according to countries
- DAAD Scholarships– 15th January/ 2025
- Joint Japan World Bank Scholarships– May 2025
- Australia Awards Scholarships– April, 2025
- Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme -October 2025
- Clarendon Scholarships- University of Oxford – Jan, 2025 / Dec, 2025
- Commonwealth Scholarships – December, 2025
Check out this FAFSA aid for international students dreaming to studying in the UK.
WHAT IS FELLOWSHIP
Fellowship is allowed to aid in the pursuit of individuals’ own research and study, provide opportunities for specialized training or delve deeper into a specific sector of work. A fellowship could be an amount of money or things holding different values like research opportunities or recognized status in an academic institution to take forward the education system by promoting research and development works in the field.
TYPES OF FELLOWSHIPS TO STUDY ABROAD
Fellowships at different levels serve different purposes and provide help based on that. The different types of fellowships offered abroad are:
- Medical Fellowships- A medical fellowship is a period of medical training for physicians who completed their course and are willing to gain expertise in their desired medical field.
- Graduate Fellowships- Graduate fellowship encompasses different categories of financial support including the fellowship for dissertation, different traineeships, or even predoctoral fellowships providing economic benefits to graduate students.
- Research Fellowships- A research fellowship could be in the form of a grant, endowment, or various dedicated sources of funding that help you build an independent research career.
- Post Doctoral Fellowships- Postdoc is a stepping stone towards a full-time professional. It is granted to scholars who have shown significant competence in their Ph.D. and are willing to take their journey of research further.
- Visiting Fellowships- Visiting fellowships are often offered to doctoral or postdoctoral candidates who are visiting different research centers/institutes to carry out their research work.
Read about the Top Fully Funded Scholarships in Germany.
HOW TO APPLY FOR FELLOWSHIPS
Applying for fellowships abroad could be a daunting task and demands rigorous effort. Here is how to move forward with this:
- Look out for fellowships that match your eligibility criteria and suit your preferences
- Go through the fellowship scheme and application guidelines as it could play an important role in further application procedures.
- Applying for fellowships is tough, you can attend webinars, application workshops, or even reach out to support services at the host institution.
- Start with the application by writing a fellowship proposal.
- Describe yourself, your project proposal, and the reason for that particular institution of choice very clearly and concisely
- Gather all the necessary documents and submit
- You will be contacted by the concerned authorities after this step
TOP 10 PRESTIGIOUS FELLOWSHIPS ABROAD
- Rotary Peace Fellowships – February 2025
- Marie Sklodowska- Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowships – 11th September,2025
- TED Fellowship Programme – 8th Dec 2025
- Royal Society Newton International Fellowships – Different dates for Different fellowships
- The German Chancellor Fellowship for Tomorrow’s Leaders
- Harvard University Society of Fellows – 1st August 2025
- Humane Studies Fellowship – 1st Dec
- Global Changes Fellowship – April, 2025
- National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships – varying
- Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program – February 2025
CONCLUSION
You may have recognized the distinct roles of scholarships and fellowships after going through this guide about how scholarships are offered to serve different needs while fellowships are not merely monetary benefits. This could help you make an informed decision of choosing the right support for your academic and professional growth.