fellowship

Fellowship is a term with several related senses. Broadly, it denotes a sense of companionship, solidarity, or shared interest among people. In professional and scholarly contexts, it also refers to a formal or funded relationship between an individual and an organization that enables work, study, or research. In religious communities, fellowship expresses mutual association and support among members.

In academia and research, a fellowship usually is a competitive award or appointment that provides time, stipend, and access to resources to pursue a project, study a field, or teach. Fellows may be attached to a university or institute, or host institutions abroad. Common varieties include postdoctoral fellowships, visiting fellowships, and research fellowships; some require a reporting or publication obligation.

The term also designates a status conferred by professional or learned societies, in which a person is admitted as a fellow in recognition of achievement or contribution. This title can accompany continued membership, prestige, and eligibility for certain activities. In everyday language, fellowship can simply mean companionship or mutual aid within a group.

Etymology traces to Middle English and Old English words for companionship; today usage spans social, academic, and religious contexts. The concept is distinct from a grant, scholarship, or residency: a fellowship often combines financial support with an affiliation and a community or commitment to a field. The term thus reflects both opportunity and belonging.