Fellowship Scholarships for International Students 2025-2026

What is a fellowship scholarship?

A fellowship is a competitive, merit-based award given to support individuals with advanced study, research, or professional development for a limited time.

Unlike a typical scholarship that primarily covers tuition, a fellowship provides a stipend for living expenses and other costs, enabling recipients to focus fully on their projects.

Fellowships offer prestige, skill development, and valuable networking opportunities, typically for graduate, doctoral, or postdoctoral students and experienced professionals.

Characteristics of scholarship

1. Purpose: To advance academic or professional development for a specific project or area of study.
2. Funding: Most of the time, it includes a stipend or grant for living expenses and research, not just tuition.
3. Eligibility: For advanced students, graduate degree holders, or mid-career professionals.
4. Prestige: A fellowship provides a prestigious status and recognition within a field.
5. Focus: Allows for deep immersion in a specialized area or project without requiring repayment or work in return for the stipend.

How It Differs from a Scholarship

1. Scholarships: A broader category of financial aid, often awarded based on academic achievement, financial need, talent, or athletic ability, and can be for any level of education.
2. Fellowships: More specialized, requiring applicants to have an undergraduate or graduate degree or significant expertise. They are highly competitive and focus on supporting a scholar's dedicated time for a particular advanced endeavor.

Examples of Fellowships

1. Academic Fellowships: For PhD students to conduct research or work on advanced projects, they sometimes take the place of a teaching or research assistantship.
2. Professional Fellowships: Designed for mid-career professionals to enhance skills and knowledge in their field, such as medical fellowships for specialized training after residency.
3. Arts Fellowships: Support artists, writers, and musicians in their creative pursuits, sometimes including residencies or workshops.
4. Use Scholarship Databases: You can use websites like ScholarshipLit and International Scholarships to find and apply for available College scholarship opportunities.