Difference Between Scholarship and Fellowship

Difference Between Scholarship and Fellowship: A scholarship is a financial aid provided to help students pay for their secondary, UG,and PG. A fellowship is a kind of scholarship that is awarded solely on the basis of merit and is completely sponsored for a specific duration, ranging from a few weeks to several years for research work. 

Some scholarships allow students to reapply because they are renewable whereas fellowships have a set terms that cannot be extended. 

Scholarships and fellowships are two of the most common ways the government provides financial assistance to students who lack financial resources and cannot afford higher education.

What is the Difference Between Scholarship and Fellowship

Both the scholarship and the fellowship pay for a student's living expenses, educational costs, study materials, and essential financial expenses but scholarship and a fellowship are slightly different from one another, and the detailed distinction is added below for candidates:

What is the Difference Between Scholarship and Fellowship

Parameters	Scholarship	Fellowship
Definition	Scholarships are money awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement to encourage them for further studies.	Fellowship is a financial or non-financial award given to research scholars to support their ongoing work in education and promote overall development.
Coverage	Scholarships pay for every expense incurred by the student. These include living expenses, study materials, utilities, and sometimes travel expenses.	Fellowships involve more than just financial awards as they can be awarded in the form of cash assistance, jobs, research opportunities.
Eligibility	All students of all educational levels are eligible for scholarships and are generally awarded during postsecondary education,  undergraduate and graduate studies, and doctoral research.	Fellowships are offered for a variety of courses for doctorate, post-doctoral, and post-graduation courses.
Purpose	Scholarships are awarded with the intention of benefiting the students who receive them. The most likely recipients of scholarships are those who are financially disadvantaged and meticulous.	A fellowship's primary pupose is to advance research and improve the quality of the educational system and to improve the educational system by having scholars contribute to it.
Awarding Institutions	Both public and private universities offer scholarships.	The majority of fellowships are awarded by academic institutions or foundations having ties to the education industry.
Additional Perks	Scholarships are limited to monetary awards; recipients do not receive any further perks.	The benefits of fellowships go beyond money. Fellowships can assist research fellows contribute to the educational system in the form of jobs, recognition, or status.

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What is a Scholarship?

A scholarship is a financial aid or grant awarded to students who have demonstrated academic excellence or are from economically weaker backgrounds. Students who have achieved academic success, strong grades, and high test scores are eligible for this financial aid. 

• Numerous educational institutes, including colleges, schools, and universities, provide scholarships and they can be both public and private. 
• The eligibility and restrictions of a scholarship program determine the total amount of money that can be awarded. The fund is adaptable and can pay for things like tuition, lodging, transportation, meals, and other costs associated with pursuing an education. 
• Scholarships are available for education at the school, college, and university levels. 
• Scholarships based on sports, education, and other criteria come in a variety of forms. 
• Students using scholarship programs to study abroad is becoming increasingly common. 
• There is no payback associated with a scholarship. It indicates that the kids are not required to repay the sum. 
• A scholarship fund may pay all or part of the cost of education, depending on the recipient's eligibility. 

Also Check: 10 Ways to Avoid Scholarship Scams in India & Abroad

Types of scholarships

There are usually two types of scholarships need based scholarship and merit based scholarships:

1. Need-based Scholarships: Students from low-income backgrounds are eligible for these kinds of awards. This type of scholarship is awarded to individuals who can submit valid proofs that they have faced some difficulty finishing their education. 

2. Merit-based on Scholarships: Excellent academic performance is the requirement for eligibility for a merit-based scholarship, which is the most prevalent type of scholarship in schools, colleges, and universities worldwide.

Also Check: Top Scholarships in India and Abroad

What is a Fellowship?

A fellowship is a financial prize given to students who have demonstrated academic excellence. A scholarship and a fellowship are not the same thing. Fellowships provide research scholars and PhD holders with financial support or limited status in exchange for their contributions to the advancement of educational research and development. 

• It can only relate to attending an academic institution while working unpaid. 
• Fellowships are awarded following graduation. 
• A financial reward may be given to academics and researchers in recognition of their contributions to research and development. 
• The fellowship program includes fellows enrolled in doctoral programs and they actively contribute to a project and advance the field of research. 
• The government or the organization compensates them for their contribution by providing a set amount of funding to support the continuation of their research. 
• However, occasionally, research fellows don't receive any funding; instead, they get recognition for belonging to a reputable organization. 

Also Check: Discipline Level Scholarships

Types of Fellowships

There are majorly of three types of fellowships, pre doctoral fellowships, dissertation fellowships and traineeships:

1. Predoctoral Fellowships: A graduate fellowship also known as a predoctoral fellowship, is a government-funded scholarship for students. After their research project is approved, applicants are free to select the course of study and college they want to attend. 

The most deserving students are given the opportunity to apply for these fellowships, and there is typically fierce competition. The money awarded through fellowships is given for an extended period of time. 

2. Dissertation Fellowships: Dissertation fellowships are only available to students for a year, during which time they can finish writing their dissertations. 

Education costs may not be covered by the grant, however living expenses are covered for individuals who meet the requirements for the dissertation fellowships. 

3. Traineeships: Another kind of fellowship available to students at the research level is the traineeship, these scholarships provide a competitive salary in addition to fees for funding education. 

In order to build the next generation of disciplinary and/or multidisciplinary experts who will become leaders and innovators in their professional careers, traineeships are essentially offered under training grants secured by institutional professors. 

The selection of candidates for the advanced program by the lead investigator is the only distinction between predoctoral and traineeship fellowships. 

Conclusion: Research scholars receive a fellowship to help them with their research after they have finished their graduation or post-graduate studies, in contrast to students who are provided scholarships to help with their pre-graduation studies.

Also Read: Types of Research Methodology for Students