A fellowship can set you apart from other candidates, allow you to develop new skills, and give you the opportunity to explore a particular field of work. Fellowships subsidize costs related to graduate school, and can cover charges such as tuition, living expenses, and health insurance. Check out the resources below to learn more.
What is a Fellowship?
While the term "fellowship" is widely used, generally a fellowship is a competitive, short-term funding opportunity, typically sponsored by a specific organization seeking to expand leadership in their field. A fellowship can help fund:
International Experience: Learn a language, or study, intern, or teach abroad.
Research: Pay for your own research project or get research experience.
Service/Leadership Opportunities: Get hands-on experience in public service, state and federal government, foreign service, or international affairs.
Graduate School: Get funding for your Ph.D. or master's degree.
Where to Find Fellowships
1. Search fellowship sites such as:
- ProFellow: Over 1000 academic and professional fellowships
- Cal Poly LSAMP (Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in STEM) Fellowship site
- UC Berkeley Fellowship Listings
- Columbia University School of Arts and Science Undergraduate Fellowship Listings
- Cornell University Graduate School's Fellowship Database
- Scholarship Connection
2. Search job listings - Do a search on "fellowship" while reviewing listings on MustangJOBS, powered by Handshake or other sites such as Idealist.org.
3. Join the Fellowship group on Cal Poly Career Connections to learn about on campus workshops and resources for fellowships.
4. Talk to current fellows or former fellows. Most fellowship websites profile current and former fellows, many of whom are happy to speak with prospective applicants.