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Seton Hall University

Prestigious Fellowship FAQs

If you are interested in applying, please contact:
Professor Matthew Escobar, Ph.D., Prestigious Fellowships Director, at [email protected]

FAQ

What are external fellowships?

 External fellowships are prestigious, highly competitive, merit-based funding opportunities awarded by entities outside your home university (such as private foundations, government agencies, non-profits). They are not loans and do not need to be repaid. These awards recognize outstanding academic achievement, leadership potential and sometimes commitment to a specific field of study or public service.

What do external fellowships provide?

 The benefits of a fellowship vary and depend on the specific program's goals. They are designed to fund a diverse range of activities:

  • Academic Pursuits: Funding for graduate school tuition, coursework and living expenses, either domestically or overseas.
  • Research Support: Stipends and allowances for conducting independent research projects.
  • Specialized Training: Financial support for intensive foreign language study, specialized skills training, or specific internships abroad.
  • Structured Experiences Abroad: Funding for post-graduate opportunities like the Fulbright Program, which often involves teaching assistantships, research, or a combination of both in an international setting.

Why are the On-Campus Deadlines so much earlier than the national deadlines?

Many of the prestigious awards (such as the Marshall, Rhodes and Fulbright) require an official institutional endorsement or nomination from your university. The on-campus nomination process serves as a crucial, competitive internal review:

Committee Review: A campus review committee needs sufficient time (often several weeks) to thoroughly review all application materials, including recommendations, personal statements and research proposals.

Feedback and Refinement: Early deadlines allow the campus committee time to provide substantive feedback and mentorship to the selected nominees, helping them polish their applications to be as competitive as possible before the final national submission date.

Is my first or second year too early to start thinking about these opportunities?

Absolutely not! In fact, starting early is essential for building the strong portfolio necessary to compete for these highly selective awards.