Both early- and mid-career internships and fellowships can be of enormous worth to your professional development. Even while the phrases “fellowship“ and “internship“ are sometimes used interchangeably, there are some significant differences between the two, including the application procedure, the ideal candidate, the experience itself, and – yes – the compensation. Take a look at this intensive fellowship vs internship analysis.
What is Fellowship?
The terms and advantages of an academic fellowship might differ significantly depending on the profession, according to experts, but the simplest description is a financial grant given to defray the expense of schooling. When individuals use the word “fellowship” in academic contexts, they typically mean a financial reward given to researchers to support their scholarly endeavors. In most cases, a fellowship is a merit-based scholarship for higher education.
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What is Internship?
A professional learning opportunity known as an internship provides students with relevant, hands-on work that is connected to their area of study or career interest. A student can explore and enhance their career while learning new skills through an internship. It gives the business the chance to cultivate talent, bring in fresh perspectives and vigor, and perhaps even create a pipeline for future full-time workers. An excellent internship must have the following:
- Consists of a part- or full-time work schedule with no more than 25% administrative or clerical tasks.
- Gives a detailed account of the work experience’s job or project.
- Introduces the student to the company, its culture, and the suggested job (s).
- Assists students in setting and achieving learning objectives.
- Regularly provides the student intern with feedback.
Fellowship Vs Internship: The Differences
This fellowship vs internship gives a detailed information about the differences of the two terms:
1. Instead of emphasizing practical experience, fellowships typically concentrate on professional growth and/or academic research.
Essentially, an internship is a chance to obtain job experience for a business or organization that often only recruits more experienced workers. Internships can be “trial periods” for students looking for jobs in the company after graduation, or they might be requirements for a degree or training program. While fellowships have a more scholarly or academic undertone, Fellowships often focus on the completion of a project that will help participants excel in their respective industries and include less daily structure.
Do you know if an internship is good for you? Check our article on 20 Warning Signs of a Bad Internship
2. Most fellowships are intended for graduate and post-graduate students.
While not all fellowships have this requirement, the majority of fellowships do, and some even call for a master’s or doctoral degree. The minimum educational requirement for full-time professional fellowships is a bachelor’s degree. There are a lot of academic fellowships available as well for graduate and post-doctoral students. Some are referred to as “pre-doctoral fellowships,” but they are only available to graduate students pursuing a Ph.D., such as the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. Post-doctoral fellowships are fellowships for those who have already earned a doctorate. Contrarily, internships are more frequently available to undergraduate or even high school students. Read on for further fellowship vs internship comparison.
3. In order to be considered for a fellowship, applicants often must outline a specific project they want to execute while receiving the fellowship.
Applications for internships frequently resemble those for entry-level jobs in that you must submit your resume, respond to a few short questions, or submit a cover letter outlining your qualifications for the position and why you want the opportunity. You may also be required to include the names and contact information of professional references. Because of the nature of the experience, many fellowship applications require applicants to write extensively about the specific studies or projects they plan to use the fellowship time and cash to achieve.
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4. While many internships provide hourly earnings, more akin to a typical work, unlike fellowships, which often come with a predetermined stipend.
Fellowships typically come with fixed-amount stipends rather than hourly pay. This is partly because most fellowships have a less rigid daily framework; for example, many fellowships do not require fellows to clock in or out while working on their projects or to keep track of how many hours they have worked. Interns often assist with entry-level operational and administrative responsibilities, whereas fellows are typically more independent and working on advanced projects.
5. The likelihood of an internship being unpaid or offering college credits instead of cash remuneration is higher.
Lastly on the fellowship vs internship comparison, fellowships are much less likely to come with course credit payments or no payments at all, which is a significant difference that is probably due to the fact that many fellowships are only available to post-college students or professionals. This is crucial to keep in mind while selecting internships; while working for free all summer long may very well be worth it, it is not always possible. However, students who want to graduate early could find working for credit to be tempting.
Final Words
Understanding the distinctions between internships and fellowships can not only help you create a more focused, targeted application to either program, but it can also guide you in choosing the experiences that will be most beneficial to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you receive pay while on Fellowship?
The majority of fellowships are compensated, offering grants, stipends, or other forms of financial assistance. Other perks like health insurance, travel or relocation subsidies, money for dependents, flexible funding for language classes, or housing are occasionally included with fellowships.
How long does a Fellowship last?
Typically, a medical fellowship lasts one to three years. Only those who have graduated from medical school and finished their medical residency are eligible to become fellows. Fellowships are optional and not necessary.
Can you acquire a Fellowship easily?
Fellowships are typically not necessary for students to finish their degrees because they are typically very difficult to get into. This is one of the reasons. Due to the limited financing and the strong demand for fellowships, they are extremely competitive.
What exactly do Interns do?
An intern is what? A trainee who has agreed to work for an organization for a limited time is called an intern. The main objectives of an intern are to get job experience, possibly academic credit, and always a general understanding of the field they are working in. A paid, partially paid, or unpaid internship is possible.
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