Fellowships

What is a Fellowship?

There are an increasing number of fellowships available to recent college graduates in public policy, the arts, education, and other nonprofit fields. While the term "fellowship" is used by a variety of different programs, generally fellowships:

• are short-term opportunities lasting from a few months to several years
• focus on the professional development of the fellow
• are sponsored by a specific association or organization seeking to expand leadership in their field

Fellowship programs can be designed to support a range of activities including:

• graduate study in a specific field
• research to advance work on a particular issue
• developing a new community-based organization or initiative
• training and reflection to support the fellow's growth
• opportunities to further explore a particular field of work
• support for leadership in a particular region or within a particular group

Working as a Fellow

Fellowships are structured to provide significant work experiences and fellows are often expected to take on a great deal of responsibility quickly. Generally, fellows are provided with unique experiences that are not typically available to someone starting out in an entry-level position.

This experiential learning component varies depending upon the fellowship program. It could be:

• an apprenticeship with a senior level nonprofit professional
• a research project designed and implemented by the fellow
• a part-time or full-time internship in an organization chosen by the fellow
• short-term field placements in various segments of the public affairs arena: nonprofits, labor, the media, the private sector, and government entities
• a team project developed by the group of current fellows
• an independent project proposed by a social entrepreneur and funded by the fellowship program

Related Articles

Read these articles to learn more about how Berkeley students used their fellowship opportunities to get ahead in their careers and to get more specifics on fellowship opportunities.

• Alumni Profile: From Legal Studies To California Courts System Analyst
• From Asian Studies and PEIS to Museum Curator
• From Social Welfare To Nonprofit Grants Administrator
• Post-BA Fellowships for Seniors & Recent Grads
• The Capital Fellows Program: A Report from the Trenches

Training and Professional Development

Fellowship programs are known for their commitment to the professional development of individual fellows and often include intensive training. Key elements of this training might include:

• academic seminars to develop frameworks and apply theory
• in-depth research and analysis of a particular issue area
• attendance at professional conferences and meetings
• a broad curriculum of skills development: leadership, community organizing, public speaking, grant writing, media relation

Mentoring

Fellowships are often designed to provide access to well-established nonprofit professionals who have a real interest in the fellow's professional growth and development. Mentors are often prominent leaders in their field and are typically less accessible to people new to the field.

Compensation

Compensation is often considered the biggest drawback of a fellowship. Although most fellowship programs do provide a living allowance or stipend, it is typically not comparable to the salary of a full-time job. This financial compensation varies greatly - stipends can range from $10,000 to up to $25,000 for a 9-12 month program.

Other incentives are often provided to fellows such as:

• healthcare coverage and other employment benefits
• student loan repayment programs
• graduate school credits
• housing stipends
• paid travel or relocation expenses
• alumni networks for developing and maintaining contacts in the field

The Application Process

Applications can be extensive and often include a resume, transcript and letters of recommendation. Most programs will also require some kind of writing sample, essay or written proposal. There may be additional application materials required if the fellowship includes a university nomination process, such as Junior Fellow Program with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The application process and content vary greatly depending on the program. Some fellowships seek applicants with outstanding academic achievement, others do not. Some seek fellows with experience in the issue the program addresses, others less so. Most programs do look for:

• motivation, self-direction and personal integrity
• highly developed interpersonal and writing skills
• demonstrated leadership and potential for continued leadership

In addition, most programs include an interview. The interview process may be a series of individual interviews or a single panel interview. Some include situational group interviews in which candidates work together to devise responses to a problem or question.

Tips for Finding Fellowships

Here are some strategies beyond looking at our "Links to Fellowship Programs" below:

• Do a keyword search "fellowship" while reviewing online job listings. Look closely at internships for the recent college graduate; there are some internships that are essentially fellowships.
• Sign up for the Law & Public Policy mailing list on CareerMail.
• Network. The nonprofit community is very collaborative and can provide good word-of-mouth information.
• Identify nonprofit organizations of interest to you. Contact them to see if they offer fellowships.
• Talk to current fellows for the inside story. They are expecting to hear from prospective fellows. Most fellowship websites profile current and former fellows. There may be an alum from your campus who has been a recent fellow.

Links to Fellowship Programs

• Career Center's Additional Job Listing Sites:
  • Fellowships for University Students and Graduates
  • Fellowships for Graduate Students
• The Idealist.org
• The Public Policy and International Affairs' resources section
• The Scholarship Connection