Is there a Fellowship in your Future?
Fellowships are short-term, funded opportunities that typically range from a few weeks to several years. They focus on professional, academic, or personal development and are sponsored by various organizations, institutions, associations, or governments, each with its own eligibility criteria. These opportunities include competitive grants, scholarships, and other funding programs.
Fellowships are often aimed at supporting activities such as:
- Independent or collaborative research
- Establishing new community-based organizations
- Specialized training in a specific field
- Exploring a particular area of work further
- Graduate study
Participating in a fellowship offers numerous benefits, including cultural immersion, expanding personal and professional networks, experiential learning, and opportunities for professional growth. Even the application process itself can be valuable, helping applicants clarify their goals, values, and future plans, while enhancing skills like presenting, interviewing, and self-reflection.
The Center for Career Education (CCE) supports Vassar students and recent graduates as they apply for fellowships and other funding opportunities to continue their academic pursuits or to explore their special interests through organized fellowship programs or independent but focused study, either in the US or abroad. This work is coordinated by the CCE and is supported by the Vassar faculty Committee on Fellowships—an eight-member committee chaired by the Dean of Studies.
Some fellowships/scholarships are extremely competitive, others are less so. Some require a Vassar nomination, endorsement, or evaluation while others may be applied for independently. For nationally competitive fellowships, there is often be a campus deadline that falls weeks or even months before the national deadline. Be sure to review the Deadlines page for important dates and an at-a-glance list of both nationally competitive and Vassar-specific fellowship opporunities!
Individual appointments are always available. Schedule a "Fellowships Advising" appointment on Handshake!