A fellowship and a scholarship are both types of grants, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. The majority of fellowships are also scholarships, but not all scholarships are fellowships. Differences can be subtle and are dependent on the grant-making organization.
Scholarships are typically awarded to undergraduate college students for the purpose of covering general education costs. They may be restricted in terms of the type of major a student pursues, but the majority are unrestricted and provide financial aid to students who excel in school. Some take into account need or may necessitate specific skills. The Miss USA and Miss America pageants, for example, are both scholarship programs in which the winners receive funds to further their education at the undergraduate or graduate level.
Most scholarships, on the other hand, are awarded solely on the basis of an application and any qualifications that make a person particularly qualified for the award. A person’s last name, status as a single parent, the fact that she has a disabling condition, or her specific research goals as a student are all unusual circumstances that may qualify her for a scholarship. Students who will attend school full-time, have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least a B, and can demonstrate financial need may be eligible for more general scholarships offered by countries and states.
A distinction between a fellowship and a scholarship is that most fellowships are not awarded on the basis of financial need. They’re usually based on a person’s ability, GPA, and qualifications to work in a particular field. Fellowships are usually paid for some type of work, such as teaching at the college level while pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree, or completing additional training in a hospital to earn board certification as a specialist in a specific field of medicine after graduating from medical school. This money is typically used to fund internships or fieldwork so that students, usually at the graduate level, can further their education in their chosen field.
There are some paid internships available to undergraduate students that can be classified as fellowships or scholarships. Many of the country’s most prestigious museums offer fellowships and internships to undergraduate students in their junior or senior year of college.
The fellowship also entails a set of deadlines and a set number of months during which work or internships must be completed and people must be paid. The main distinction between a fellowship and a scholarship is that most scholarships last at least one semester in school, though some may be given more broadly to cover school costs. Fellowships can last a few days, a few weeks, a few months, a year, or a couple of years, depending on the scope of the work involved, and they typically pay in monthly stipends rather than awarding the entire amount at once.