"Fellowship" submitted by SchoolGrantsfor Editorial Team and last updated on Thursday 14th July 2011
Fellowship is a form of aid given to graduate students to help support their education. Some fellowships include a tuition waiver or a payment to the university in lieu of tuition. Most fellowships include a stipend to cover reasonable living expenses (just above the poverty line). Fellowships are a form of gift aid and do not have to be repaid.
Fellowship is designed to provide learning opportunities and practical experience to recent doctoral degree recipients and to early career research scientists in areas such as educational measurement, assessment design, psychometrics, statistical analyses, large-scale evaluations, and other studies directed toward explaining student progress and achievement.
One of the many challenges of a graduate education is obtaining the funding needed to pay for tuition, fees and living expenses. Fortunately, there are government agencies, institutions of higher education and other organizations that recognize the value of a graduate education, and these parties know it is in their best interest to help students afford to pursue a masters or doctorate degree. Through portable graduate fellowships, these organizations make it possible for many students to fund their graduate studies with a great deal of independence, while institutional fellowships are given by a specific university where the student is expected to conduct his or her research or earn their degree.
Portable graduate fellowships, unlike institutional fellowships, can be applied to the institution of higher education of the student’s choice. While many fellowships require students to study at an approved school, a portable fellowship affords the student much more freedom than an institutional fellowship from a particular university. Portable graduate fellowships allow students to be more discerning when selecting a program, as they are empowered with both the funds and the choices necessary to enroll in the program that aligns best with their research interests and goals.
Graduate fellowships may be university-awarded, federally funded or may be fellowships offered by independent organizations, and many graduate fellowship programs are targeted to a specific student group or field of study. Portable fellowships are often referred to as “external” fellowships, and can award funding based on academic need, academic record or merit. The amount of the stipend granted varies depending upon a number of factors, including length of fellowship and fellowship provider.
More details about: Graduate Fellowships