Fellowships & Research

A scholarship funds you to complete a defined degree program at a university. A fellowship typically funds a period of independent research, professional development, or public-service work — sometimes attached to a degree, often not. Fellowships are also more likely to expect a specific proposal or project plan from you rather than just an admission to a program.

Research-focused fellowships (like most PhD-track or postdoctoral ones) almost always do — a clear, well-scoped proposal is usually the single most heavily weighted part of the application. Leadership, professional, or public-service fellowships (aimed at working professionals or recent graduates) more often ask for a personal statement and evidence of prior impact instead of a research proposal.

No — plenty of fellowships are explicitly built for undergraduates, recent graduates, and early-career professionals outside academia (public policy, journalism, social entrepreneurship, and technology fellowships are common examples). We tag the target level on every listing, so filter by that rather than assuming a fellowship requires an advanced degree by default.

Most fellowships worth applying to do pay a stipend or salary-equivalent — that's part of what distinguishes a genuine fellowship from an unpaid "program" using the name loosely. We list funding details under "Coverage & Financial Benefits" on every listing; treat an unfunded "fellowship" asking for your time with no compensation and no stated benefit as worth extra scrutiny.

It depends entirely on the specific fellowship's terms — some are explicitly part-time or designed to run alongside a job or degree (many leadership and civic fellowships work this way), while research fellowships usually expect your full-time commitment for the funded period. The eligibility and requirements section on each listing will state this directly; when it doesn't, it's worth emailing the program before you assume either way.