Difference between Scholarship and Freeship

Scholarships and freeships are financial aids given to students to support their education, but both of these differ on the basis on which they're granted. This article presents the differences between a Scholarship and a Freeship for Indian students.

For many international applicants, studying abroad is an expensive affair. Arranging funds to pursue higher education abroad is a reason for worry for many students. This is where scholarships and financial aid come into the picture. While Indian students are familiar with the term 'freeship,' global universities instead refer to this concept as a 'tuition waiver' or 'need-based grant.' Both forms of aid differ fundamentally on the basis of merit versus financial need. In this article, we will inform you about the differences between a scholarship and a tuition waiver.

To put it simply, a scholarship refers to the financial grant awarded to academically meritorious students. At the same time, freeship is financial aid provided to students who need exemption from paying the tuition fees due to financial restrictions. Scholarship and Freeship both allow students to feel motivated to pursue their higher education. Both scholarship and freeship have been invented to promote education and are used collectively to indicate financial aid to students. Read this article to learn about the differences between scholarships and freeships.

What are the Differences Between Freeships and Scholarships?

There is a difference between a freeship and a scholarship for international students studying abroad; thus, the following table sheds more light on the same:

Note:- Students can often combine a state-level freeship with an external merit scholarship, depending on their institution's financial aid stacking policy.

What is Freeship?

Freeship is a financial grant that helps in the remission of the whole or half of the institution’s fees. In other words, it means an exemption from paying tuition fees. Many educational institutions offer freeship to students who are in need. The government also grants freeship to certain categories of students. 

Do you know that apart from freeship and scholarship, there are fellowships as well? Scholarships focus on general tuition based on merit or need, while fellowships support advanced research or specialised training with a living stipend. You may check more differences between Scholarship vs. Fellowship to make a better decision on which one to choose.

What is a Scholarship?

A scholarship is a monetary aid offered to students after recognising their talents and academic achievements. After getting a scholarship, students can go for higher education without giving much thought to the expenses. Some scholarships require students to apply, while others do not require a formal application. Before applying for the scholarship, students are required to meet the eligibility conditions. Oftentimes, scholarships are merit-based. However, at times, need-based scholarships are also offered - which are designed for students belonging to lower-income families. The general expenses covered in most scholarships for studying abroad for students are - tuition fees, college supplies expenses, air travel, living and accommodation costs, etc.

What are the Different Types of Scholarships?

Merit-based scholarships are financial grants that are given to students for their past academic achievements and/or extracurricular activities like sports or service to the community.

Need-based scholarships, on the other hand, are the ones that are provided to those students who are having financial difficulties. These scholarships are provided to those students who are from weak financial backgrounds and are unable to afford the tuition fees and cost of living abroad. To apply for the need-based scholarships, students are required to provide some proof, such as family income proof, tax statements, and employment documents. Below are the types of scholarships to study abroad.

How to apply for a Scholarship?

First of all, visit all the scholarship websites, university websites, or online communities to check the details of the available scholarships to study abroad. Keep the list of scholarships ready before you finally sit down to apply for them. Students can also reach out to the university or agency directly. By doing so, students can get the updated details of the scholarship.

After this, customise your resume for each scholarship that you are aiming to apply for. Get a letter of recommendation from your professors or direct managers, as some study abroad scholarships require you to send personal references. The most important thing while applying for scholarships is to keep track of deadlines. The next step is to apply for the scholarship and submit the application.

Scholarships are offered by:

• Governments
• Educational institutions/university
• Private organisations, companies and NGOs

This was all about the differences between a scholarship and a freeship. If you still have any doubts, feel free to post them in the comments section below, and we'll be happy to assist you! If you wish to study abroad for the 2027-28 intake, you may reach out to Shiksha's Counselling Services or leave your queries in the comments below.