Fellowships, scholarships and grants are awards of money to an individual or institution for a specific academic or research purpose.  The Bates College Graduate Fellowships Committee guides Bates student and alum applications for a select list of prestigious awards.

Benefits of the grant application process are many.  Aside from the tangible outcome, one reward is the opportunity to formulate and narrate your life goals for an audience.  Grantsmanship is learned progressively—future applications will be easier once you know more about what to expect; and if you’ve been successful once, you will carry a proven track record forward.  You will use your acquired skills in graduate school and in your future professional life.

If you are not successful the first time around, be sure to investigate the possibility of reapplying for an award at a later date. The Graduate Fellowships Committee is available to help recent Bates alumni with the application process, too. Check individual competition guidelines for age limits and whether or not funding opportunities are available to those already in graduate programs.

The Office of Career Services is another essential resource for information on both undergraduate and postgraduate education and funding. Their staff has print and online resources to aid students in identifying a variety of awards outside the Graduate Fellowships Program.

Questions to ask about specific scholarships:

When studying selection criteria for these fellowships, keep in mind that these are national (and sometimes international) competitions. The candidate pool will be formidable. Anyone interested in these major awards should have demonstrated most if not all of the following traits:

After you’ve done your homework, if you still question your suitability for a specific scholarship or fellowship, want to talk about fellowship possibilities, or are ready to start your application, please consult Sagaree Sengupta, Graduate Fellowships Advisor or Professor Lillian Nayder, Chair of the Graduate Fellowships Committee. They see a number of candidates over a period of years and generally have a good idea whether any given individual will be competitive. 

Further Funding Resources

Cornell University’s Graduate School Fellowship Database - search Cornell Universities fellowship database for additional resources.

University of Maryland’s Scholarship Resources for International Students - Scholarship Resources for International Students. In addition to the specific scholarships and awards listed below, certain countries also
may offer funding opportunities.

Grants for Individuals - Michigan State University Libraries - This compilation focuses primarily on funding opportunities for individuals, such as financial aid or scholarships for students, rather than funding for nonprofit organizations.

Scholarship Database –Paco Tomei - Highly competitive and prestigious scholarship, fellowship and internship awards for college study, graduate school and postgraduate research. Free financial aid, scholarship grants, fellowship awards, student loans, internships, prizes, and stipends.

FedMoney - the most comprehensive FREE full-text online resource on all U.S. government grants and student financial aid programs.

MACH 25 by CollegeNet -  Use this section to quickly find a particular scholarship or group of scholarships whose descriptions contain a specific keyword.

Office of Career Services Graduate School Funding Resources -  

FastWeb - Register to discover multiple funding sources that match your particular qualifications. Listings are placed in a personalized mailbox that is updated with new listings.

FinAid - Search for fellowships, grants, and scholarships that match your criteria.

The Villers Fellowship for Health Care Justice - Villers Fellows work in Families USA's health policy department and assist the organization's efforts to improve access to health coverage for all Americans, especially for low-income and other vulnerable communities.