Fellowships: What They Are And How To Get One

Fellowships are one of the most popular ways for graduate and postgraduate individuals to continue their learning while receiving monetary support.

Outside of providing stipends for scholars to advance their knowledge, fellowships have tons of benefits for those looking to specialize in a field of study.

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know about fellowships, including what they are, what types of fellowships are out there, and why someone might want to pursue one.

Key Takeaways:

• Though the term is sometimes used in job descriptions to indicate that an entry-level position will include on-the-job training, a true fellowship is similar to an advanced scholarship for continuing academic study.

• There are different types of fellowships, including research fellowships, medical fellowships, and teaching fellowships.

• Fellowships often provide financial support and intensive hands-on experience to help develop professional skills.

What Is a Fellowship?

To put it simply, fellowships are programs that provide funding and other support for continuing education in a wide range of subjects and disciplines.

The exact benefits and other factors of an academic fellowship vary, but in general, they are awards that help subsidize advanced academic study. Fellowships are essentially advanced scholarships, and they are given out based on merit.

However, the term has been co-opted for use in other contexts. For instance, some entry-level positions may market themselves as fellowships with the implication that there will be a lot of on-the-job learning.

However, when most people talk about fellowships, they are talking about monetary awards for people with a college degree who are pursuing a further specialization in their subject. These individuals may be in graduate school working to earn their advanced degrees or hold graduate degrees already. Fellowships for those with graduate degrees are typically in incredibly specialized subjects.

Fellowships are competed for through an application and interview process, similar to a job but focused on academic-related achievements. The idea behind awarding fellowships is to advance human knowledge on a given subject by supporting scholars in that subject.

Fellowships may support scholars in several ways. A fellowship may cover partial or full tuition, or it may even provide a stipend for projects, travel, theses, or even daily living expenses.

How to Get a Fellowship

Fellowships are given to candidates who demonstrate a strong potential to make significant contributions to their field of study.

To land a fellowship, you will need to demonstrate serious dedication and motivation. The organization will want an individual who can handle the rigorous demands of their fellowship program.

Begin your fellowship search as early as possible. Keep in mind that fellowship applications’ deadlines are usually six months to a year before the fellowship’s set start date. Gathering all of the necessary and supporting materials you will need for your application can end up taking a few months, so give yourself ample time.

Different Types of Fellowships

While the term “fellowship” refers to awarded monetary benefits, what a fellowship consists of depends largely on what type of fellowship it is. There are fellowships across different disciplines, including:

• Research fellowships. A research fellow is someone who conducts academic research on behalf of a university or other research institution. They may conduct independent research or work under a supervisor.

  Research fellowships are highly advanced positions, and they are almost always filled by someone with a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) or with relevant work experience in place of a doctoral degree. These positions can be temporary with a set timespan, or they can be permanent.

  People also use the term “research fellowship” to refer to a monetary, academic grant, separate from a university position. Someone may receive a research fellowship as a stipend to conduct their own research.

• Medical fellowships. This is a special type of fellowship for physicians and other highly-trained medical professionals.

  During a medical fellowship, doctors can practice and study a highly-specialized field under experts’ guidance, building on their prior knowledge of this specialty (e.g., a cardiologist may complete a fellowship to become a pediatric cardiologist).

  Medical fellowships are considered the highest level of education and study for a doctor. For this reason, fellowships are taken on after one has completed medical school, obtained a license, and completed residency training.

• Teaching fellowships. Teaching fellows are members of an academic institution for higher education, such as a university. Teaching fellows are typically graduate students who are the primary instructors for undergraduate courses.

  The duties of a teaching fellow vary greatly depending on the institution, but in general, teaching fellows give lectures, teach, and participate in academic research.

  Teaching fellowships are similar to research fellowships, and oftentimes the difference comes down to how these roles are defined by the institution. However, a key difference between these roles at most institutions is that teaching fellows are graduate students, and research fellows are typically post-doctoral.

  In some cases, the term “teaching fellow” may also refer to adults who work in secondary school and lower education and act as teaching assistants for one or more classes.

• Fellowship training programs. Some fellowships act as entry-level training positions and are essentially jobs designed to prepare you for working in your industry. These fellowships focus on building key skills and experience, and they may lead directly into permanent positions, or they may be standalone programs.

  Some fellowships of this nature offer professional development as well as financial grants or tuition forgiveness.

• Fellowships of prestigious membership. Finally, these are fellowships that denote membership to a learned society, academic community, or other professional association.

  Becoming a fellow of a learned society is usually reserved for the highest-ranking members. This title is typically bestowed as an award or title of honor. In certain groups, especially groups with strict requirements for entry, every member is considered a fellow of the organization.

  Awarding fellowships to organization members is usually done on the basis of that member’s achievements or service in regards to the organization’s main goals or field of interest.

How Long Do Fellowships Last?

The length of the time commitment for fellowships varies greatly depending on the terms of the specific fellowship.

A fellowship program may last anywhere from a few weeks up to three years, but a professional fellowship is more in the range of a few months to a year and is considered a full-time job.

Some fellowships, especially research fellow positions, are considered permanent positions. In these programs, you are typically promoted out of the fellow position to a higher-ranking position within the same organization.

There are also summer fellowships that take place only during the summer months.

Why Someone Might Pursue a Fellowship

1. To get hands-on experience. Fellowships are unique and intensive experiences and great ways to gain experience after or during your schooling. Fellowship programs prepare you for responsibilities you may hold in a professional position in your industry.

   Employers often highly regard fellowship experiences as great professional starting places, in place of the more standard entry-level positions. This may help set you apart in the application process and help you land a great job.

2. To develop professional skills. Fellowship programs are incredible sources of professional development. Depending on your field of study, you will be directly building a skill set that you can utilize to come out ahead of the pack in your next professional position.

   These skills can include anything from grant writing, public speaking, interpersonal and organizational skills, and, of course, research.

3. To build a professional network. One of the most enriching things about fellowship programs is their ability to introduce newer scholars of a subject to more established leaders in the field. You will also be introduced to many peers in this field. This is an incredible networking opportunity that can’t be understated.

   After fellowship experiences, many fellows will find themselves in jobs that came out of their fellowships, whether directly or indirectly. Fellows may be offered positions during their fellowship based on their quality of work, or they may be referred to positions from supervisors or other members of their network.

4. For financial support and other benefits. While you will not become a millionaire from your fellowship stipend, the monetary and other cost-related benefits are a serious plus for most applicants. Fellows may receive anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 or more.

   Fellows may also receive additional benefits in their program, including free housing, health insurance, and more.

5. To pursue research. This one may be sort of obvious, but many people apply for fellowships for the simple reason of wanting to continue research and learning pursuits.

   Fellowships are like the golden ticket of research projects, as they provide not only funding but an additional layer of prestige or authority for your research.

6. To learn while traveling. Many fellowships take place in foreign countries, and they can be great ways to experience other cultures while studying within your specialized field.

   Landing a job in a foreign country is an incredibly difficult and tedious process, but landing a fellowship in that country may ease the process.

   With an abroad fellowship, you will receive lots of help in adjusting to your new environment. You will typically receive all of the materials and support you need to relocate, including housing, a visa, and free air travel.

7. For tax benefits. One upside of taking on a fellowship rather than a job is that you do not need to pay taxes for income earned through a fellowship program. However, this is only the case for United States citizens and permanent residents engaging in U.S.-based fellowships.

   If you are an international student or non-permanent resident, your earnings from your fellowship will be taxed at a rate of 14%.

8. To build confidence. No matter what your reasoning for applying to and pursuing a fellowship, being accepted to a prestigious program is sure to boost your confidence in your skills and ability. And participating in the program will help you feel more confident about your role in your field of interest.

   A fellowship program may help you take on more leadership roles or apply to more competitive positions once the fellowship has ended.

How Hard Is It to Get a Fellowship?

Fellowships are highly competitive, and landing one is certainly not an easy task. Fellowships are awarded based on an application process, and to be accepted into a fellowship program, you will need an impressive resume to stand out from the crowd.

Fellowship applications are similar to graduate school applications in their requirements. You will need a thorough resume, official transcript, a personal essay, a few great letters of recommendation, and other smaller materials.

If you are going to be doing independent research, you will also need a well-designed and well-written project proposal, along with a written application and references. Once you make it past the application process, you will be invited for a group or an individual interview with the fellowship board.

Above all else, Fellowship committees look for candidates who have an incredible academic track record and a high level of academic achievement.

However, it is important to have other qualities as well, including dedication to community service, commitments to going above and beyond in school and professional environments, and lots of prior experience conducting research.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.