myUface Blog

In place of our usual mailbag on Friday, I am going to continue to write about financial aid for international students by answering a wonderful question I received:

What is the difference between a “scholarship” and a “fellowship?”

This is really a great question, as the two terms are often used as if they are interchangeable (I have myself been guilty of that particular offense).

The short answer is that there is not necessarily a difference between the two, as both involve providing a student with financial support for his or her education.  The Worchester Polytechnic Institute’s website concludes:

There is very little difference in practice, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably.

The differences between a scholarship and a fellowship mainly have to do with:

• the way that aid is distributed
• the purpose of the aide
• the kind of support offered

Generally speaking, scholarships are for undergraduate study, are intended to help students with a demonstrated financial need, and are disbursed in large sums, usually once per semester.

Fellowships, on the other hand, are generally offered to graduate students, are awarded on the basis of merit alone, and are disbursed in increments, often as a bi-weekly or monthly stipend.

For those interested in more details, this site has a good summary.

Bottom line: don’t worry about the terms “scholarship” and “fellowship.”  Focus on the details of individual scholarships and fellowships – that’s where you’ll find the most interesting and useful information.

Posts in this Series

1. Your Education is an Investment - 08 Jul
2. Researching Scholarship Opportunities - 07 Jul
3. How to Ask Questions About Financial Aid - 28 Jun
4. Ninth Option for Financial Aid: Loans - 27 Jun
5. The Difference Between Scholarships and Fellowships (This post)
6. Eigth Option for Financial Aid: U.S. Universities - 25 Jun
7. Seventh Option for Financial Aid: Ethnic Communities in the United States - 24 Jun
8. Sixth Option for Financial Aid: Private Organizations in the U.S. - 23 Jun
9. Fifth Option for Financial Aid: U.S. Government Programs - 22 Jun
10. Fourth Option for Financial Aid: Scholarships from International Organizations - 20 Jun
11. How to Ask for Support - 18 Jun
12. Looking for Support in Your Country: Why it Makes Sense - 17 Jun
13. Third Option for Financial Aid: Individuals in Your Country - 16 Jun
14. Second Option for Financial Aid: Private Businesses or Foundations in Your Country - 15 Jun
15. First Option for Financial Aid: Government Programs in Your Country - 14 Jun
16. The Third Step in Financial Aid: Find What's Available - 11 Jun
17. The Second Step In Financial Aid: Identify Your Assets - 10 Jun
18. The First Step In Financial Aid: Identify Your Needs - 09 Jun
19. Finding Financial Aid for your U.S. Education - 08 Jun