A graduate fellowship is an award given to students based on merit. It helps pay for advanced study or research by providing a stipend for living costs and often covers tuition. Unlike some other funding, students do not have to work for the university to receive it.
How fellowships differ from other forms of aid
Unlike assistantships, which require students to work for the university, fellowships let students concentrate completely on their studies and research.
Universities and outside organizations both offer fellowships, and students can receive them at various points during their graduate studies.
- Predoctoral fellowships: These are for students entering a doctoral program and typically provide multi-year funding to support their early studies.
- Dissertation fellowships: These are for students nearing the end of their doctorate, providing funds to support them during the final writing phase.
- Institutional fellowships: These awards come directly from a student's university to recruit top candidates.
