What are the differences between scholarships, grants, and fellowships?
Scholarships are financial awards based on merit (such as academic achievement, leadership, or special skills) whose purpose is to assist students with tuition or general educational expenses. Most scholarships are need-blind – meaning that they do not take into account students’ financial need when awarding funds. Grants are forms of financial aid that don’t need to be repaid and are usually based on financial need or designated for specific projects. Fellowships are prestigious and competitive awards that support graduate or postdoctoral study. They support academic or research advancement in a particular field over a period of time. Students receiving a fellowship often receive a stipend, research funding, and tuition waiver, and may be required to teach or conduct specific research.
Why should I apply for scholarships, grants, and fellowships?
There are numerous reasons why we would recommend applying for these opportunities. First, graduate degrees are expensive! The tuition assistance and stipends associated with these awards can significantly offset the cost of your degree. Second, these opportunities allow you to build important skills as a graduate student that you will need to complete your degree. In many instances, access to a fellowship or scholarship facilitates faster time to degree completion because you can focus on your research rather than take on additional work. Third, these opportunities look fantastic to both academic and nonacademic employers. The fact that you are a competitive applicant, whether you end up receiving the award or not, speaks volumes about your talent and skills as a graduate student and future employee.
What are my chances of being selected for these awards?
Many awards are open-call, which means that any number of students may apply. Some are limited submission calls that only allow a specific number of students per institution to apply. It is true that many of these scholarships, grants, and fellowships are competitive. It may be wise to apply to more than one fellowship in a cycle in order to increase the likelihood of receiving an award.
How do I search for these opportunities?
There are formal and informal channels for you to search for awards. SU subscribes to PIVOT – a searchable database with thousands of awards across all academic disciplines. Simply login to the site with your NetID and password. We have also curated a table of more discipline-specific awards offered annually. Another excellent resource for grad students is the University of Illinois’s Fellowship Finder. And of course, reach out to your faculty adviser and colleagues in your department to learn more about awards for which you would be a strong candiadate. Dan Olson-Bang, Ph.D., Director of Professional and Career Development in the Graduate School, is available to help you tailor your search and develop your applications. You can make an appointment with Dan on Handshake.
When are the typical deadlines or turnaround times for these opportunities?
These opportunities occur year-round, and awards typically have annual calls with deadlines at the same time each year. National awards tend to take 12-18 months for the selection and disbursement process to play out, but smaller awards can take less time. As a rule, you should be searching and applying for awards about one year in advance of your need for funding.
Do I need to be a US citizen to apply for these opportunities?
Some opportunities are restricted to US citizens, while many others are not. Numerous scholarships, fellowships, and grants are available for non-citizens so long as you attend an institution in the United States. There are also many opportunities through international organizations and institutions. Check eligibility requirements for each award via their website. PIVOT searches can be filtered for this criterion.
Who can I reach out to for support during the application process?
Feel free to request an appointment with Dan Olson-Bang for support during the application process! We would love to help you seize these opportunities and take the next step in your professional journey.