Introduction to Fellowships for Graduates

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Fellowships and scholarships can fund graduate or professional study, purposeful travel, professional placements, self-designed projects, and so much more. They can help you build your experience and qualifications, help you explore a passion, and clarify a path forward. What would you do with a fellowship?

Fellowships and Scholarships for Graduate Study

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

There are more fellowships and scholarships than you might think there are to help fund graduate or professional study. It’s helpful to be creative and persistent in your search, and in your applications. This research will give you an overview of some of the fellowships out there, and tips for searching for opportunities.

    Fellowships and Scholarships for Study Abroad

    Caitlin Roberts-Donovan
    Caitlin Roberts-Donovan

    About 45% of Wellesley students pursue study abroad during their time as an undergraduate—and fellowships and scholarships can help support that study!  Explore this resource for specific opportunities and advice on how to get started.

    Projects for Peace Alumni Award (graduates)

    Kate Dailinger
    Kate Dailinger

    Projects for Peace is a global program that partners with educational institutions to identify and support young peacebuilders and changemakers. Each year, the Projects for Peace Alumni Award will award up to $50,000 to support the continuing peacebuilding efforts of a past Projects for Peace grantee. The Award is made possible through the Kathryn Wasserman Davis Collaborative in Conflict Transformation at Middlebury.  Campus application deadline typically in January. 

    “In order to make changes in laws and policies, we need to have data on our side. We need to be able to make a case that shows a causal link between misinformation online and the erosion of democracy.”

    McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill (rising seniors & graduates)

    Kate Dailinger
    Kate Dailinger

    The McCall MacBain Scholarships seek to bring together exceptional students from around the world who strive to engage in positive change by taking on meaningful leadership roles. McCall MacBain Scholars connect with mentors and participate in an interdisciplinary leadership program while pursuing a fully funded master’s or professional degree at McGill University! (Campus deadline typically in August.)

    “The Rangel fellowship is a dream come true. I’m able to study what most interests me with a wonderful job waiting for me at the end of it.”

    The Mary Elvira Stevens Traveling Fellowship truly embodies Wellesley’s spirit of life-long education for women in its unique requirement that it should fund independent travel to unfamiliar territory for up to one full year. This stipulation inspires courage, imagination, tolerance, and curiosity from the nascent idea of the proposal throughout the process and during the grant year.

    The Elizabeth Crawford ’21 Haystack Fellowship (graduates)

    Kate Dailinger
    Kate Dailinger

    The Elizabeth Crawford ’21 Haystack Fellowship is open to Wellesley graduates and provides tuition and room and board from a two-week workshop of the Fellow’s choice, plus a travel grant of up to $500. (The only cost to the Fellow would be any materials fee for the workshop selected.)

    “[There are] a lot of different conceptions of the ocean, and a lot of exciting and creative solutions that are happening all over the world.”

    “It was a wonderful new experience to visit community health care centers and NGOs. I was able to speak with community health workers who provide appropriate and equitable care as trusted members of their community.”

    “My favorite feature of the fellowship is the latitude that fellows have in the classroom. The Wellesley-Yenching Graduate Teaching Fellowship is a fantastic opportunity to explore teaching. This continued to be true as we transitioned to remote teaching [due to Covid-19], especially with the support of my co-fellows.”

    Teaching Fellowships

    Caitlin Roberts-Donovan
    Caitlin Roberts-Donovan

    One of the common “purposeful activities” that fellowships can fund is teaching: in the U.S. or abroad; opportunities with or without previous teaching experience; and at all levels of instruction, from elementary school to university level and beyond. This resource is by no means exhaustive, but instead aims to provide seniors and graduates with an introduction to the biggest and most common teaching fellowships

    Abigail Rothberg ’01, Mary Elvira Stevens Fellow (2019-2020)

    At some point in 2018, I realized I had to stop thinking of my professional life and what brought me joy as two distinct parts of my life. I needed what I did professionally to reflect who I am: a person passionate about social justice, and also someone who is silly and loves to laugh, someone imperfect and impatient, someone who loves staring at art, and someone who literally loves getting her hands dirty.

    “I am so thrilled that I will be able to learn directly from women leaders in crucial environmental projects in a diverse array of Latin American countries that I otherwise could not have ever imagined visiting.”

    “The Gates Cambridge is this incredible gift—an opportunity to pitch your scholarly passion project to a committee that's willing to fall as hard for your subject as you have, provided you can illustrate how your passion can translate beyond the classroom and into a better world for all.”