Fellowships.
What is a Fellowship?
A program or grant awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional abilities, skills, or potential in a particular field. They are not just for medical professionals. It is usually designed to support the recipient’s professional or academic development by providing financial assistance, mentorship, and access to resources, networks, and opportunities. Fellowships are highly regarded opportunities that aim to foster talent, promote innovation, and advance knowledge. They are often competitive, requiring candidates to undergo a rigorous selection process based on their qualifications, achievements, and future goals.
Fellowships can be short-term or long-term, lasting anywhere from a few months to several years, depending on the specific program. Each program offers different types of support, such as funding for research projects, travel expenses, living stipends, access to facilities or equipment, or collaboration with experts in the field.
Why do a Fellowship?
Participating in a fellowship program offers numerous benefits for individuals seeking to advance their careers and gain specialized expertise in their chosen fields. Benefits of a fellowship include:
- Specialized training and mentorship, allowing you to develop in-depth knowledge and skills that are not typically available through traditional academic programs.
- Build a professional network by interacting with experts, mentors, and fellow participants. This network can lead to collaborations, job opportunities, and ongoing support throughout their careers.
- Practical experience through projects, internships, or fieldwork, enabling participants to apply their knowledge in real-world settings and enhancing your problem-solving abilities.
- Boost career prospects by strengthening one’s resume, credentials, and competitiveness in the job market.
- Enhanced personal and professional growth through improved self-confidence, adaptability, and resilience ultimately contributing to your overall development as a well-rounded individual and employee.
Types of Fellowships
Fellowships can be found in various domains such as…
- Administrative Fellowships: Administrative fellowships are offered by healthcare organizations such as hospitals, health systems, and medical centers. The duration of a fellowship typically ranges from one to two years. During an administrative fellowship, fellows work closely with experienced administrators and executives in various departments of the healthcare organization. They are exposed to a wide range of administrative functions, including finance, operations, strategic planning, human resources, quality improvement, and project management. These opportunities are mainly for students with healthcare management concentrations or MBAs.
- Doctoral Student Fellowships: One of the most important questions doctoral candidates ask is can I get funded for my research? Most PhD programs provide funding for your work while you are in the program. Other doctoral programs like DrPH may not. And all candidates want to know what they can do after they finish their doctoral program. Fellowships exist for doctoral candidates that can support their learning and research at two main time points – Pre-doctoral fellowships, otherwise know as research dissertation awards which fund students for their dissertation research, and post-doctoral fellowships which provide additional training after graduation. Many opportunities exist, they are all highly competitive, and the selection process usually involves a rigorous application and review process. Read below to learn about each as well as some opportunities. Note this list is a sample and is not exhaustive.
Pre-doctoral fellowships / Research dissertation awards
Post-doctoral fellowships
Global Health Fellowships
CDC Fellowships
Additional Fellowships for Public Health Candidates
Fellowship Application Tips
- Research: Learn about as many different fellowships as possible, and about the application/interview process. It is recommended to reach out to current fellows at organizations you are interested in. Know that they are often involved in the applicant screening process, so make those contacts professional and meaningful (e.g. don’t ask questions you can easily find the answers to on their website).
- Focus: Develop a list of fellowship programs that particularly interest you, either due to the organization’s focus, location, or the structure of the fellowship itself. Some programs limit students to 10 applications; we don’t, but that is not a bad target. You will need to tailor and personalize each cover letter and application, so you need to narrow down to a number that is manageable.
- Manage your time: Fellowship deadlines to apply vary, though many fall between September and April. Check individual websites for these details as well as additional application instructions and begin applications a few months in advance.
- Reach out: Most fellowships require letters of recommendation and it is essential that you identify your recommendation writers and contact them early to seek their participation.
- Provide recommenders with: electronic versions of your resume, your draft personal statement, and a table listing the letters you need, with full address and salutation information, along with submission method, and due dates. Also include a bulleted list of any specific areas of your work with them that you would like the recommender to highlight. This will increase the likelihood of the recommenders being able to provide what you are requesting, when you need it.
- Prepare: The interview process varies by fellowship, and the timeline tends to be fast.
Programs usually start with phone and/or Zoom interviews followed by in-person interviews.
Be prepared to travel with appropriate attire, hard copies of your resume, a portfolio to carry them in, etc.
Seek consultation from a faculty advisor and the Career & Practicum Office.
Communicate schedule changes that may affect your missing class time and group projects to your faculty and classmates.
Career & Practicum Office Resources to Create Quality Applications
- Use our Writing Your Application webpages to ensure you’re presenting yourself well.
- Resume and Cover Letter review: Send your application in Word format to SPHCareerOffice@bu.edu or attend drop-in sessions during the academic year. You can expect a response within 2-3 business days.
- Personal Statement review: Send your personal statement in Word format via SPHCareerOffice@bu.edu. Allow at least 1-2 weeks before the deadline for review and revisions.
- Online Resources for preparing for your behavioral and case interviews, your personal statement, and resume and cover letter.
- In-person and phone mock interviews: Make an appointment via Handshake or email SPHCareerOffice@bu.edu