Difference between Scholarship and Freeship

Difference between Scholarship and Freeship

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Priya
Priya Garg
Assistant Manager - Editorial, Shiksha Study Abroad
Updated on Jun 16, 2026 08:42 IST
One of the major challenges study abroad aspirants face is to arrange funds for pursuing their higher education abroad. In this article, we will inform. A scholarship is a monetary aid offered to students after recognizing their talents and academic achievements. After getting a scholarship, students can go for higher education without giving much

For many international applicants studying abroad is an expensive affair. Arranging funds to pursue higher education is a reason for worry for many students. This is where scholarship and freeship come into the picture. Both scholarship and freeship differ on the basis of merit and need. In this article, we will inform you about the difference between a Scholarship and a Freeship.

Difference between Scholarship and Freeship

To put it simply, scholarship refers to the financial grant awarded to academically meritorious students. Whereas, freeship is a 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.

Table of contents
  • Difference Between Freeship and Scholarship
  • What is Freeship?
  • What is a Scholarship?

Difference Between Freeship and Scholarship

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

Scholarship

Freeship

A scholarship is a financial grant aid awarded to students that help them pay for their education

Freeship is a financial aid provided to students that remit the whole or half of the institution fees. It is a common term used in India and some more western countries like the USA and the UK, where, freeships are referred to as tuition waivers, need-based grants, or tuition remission.

Scholarships are given to students who are excellent in academics. The other parameters used in awarding og scholarships are - merit, academic excellence, talent, or demographic profile.

Freeship is granted to needy students or to those belonging to a reserved category. It can be also offered to outstanding sportsmen, provided students meet the requirements of the concerned authorities.

While some university merit-scholarships are automatic, most external, competitive, or need-based scholarships require a rigorous, formal application process.

To apply for Freeship, students are required to follow the eligibility terms and conditions of the concerned authority

Scholarships cover a broader range of student expenses such as their travel, accommodation and other living costs along with the college tuition fee.

The freeship is only limited to college's tuition fee - in full or partial amount. 

The application process to a scholarship (if external) is pretty competitive, you may be required to submit an essay stating your aim, achievements and a clear description of why do you deserve the scholarship. 

The application process of a freeship is pretty simple, you must check your eligibility for a freeship and then apply for one at your university in the desired format along with certain required documents such as the income certificate, mark sheet of the last exam, college fee receipt, and cancelled cheque of the student's bank account. . 

The criteria for granting of a scholarship may range from academic excellence, sports achievement and financial need.

The sole criterion for the grant of a freeship is financial need. 

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 free to students who are in need. The government also grants freeship to certain categories of students. 

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What is a Scholarship?

A scholarship is a monetary aid offered to students after recognizing 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, some others do not need 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. Students can use the scholarship amount for tuition fees, college supplies expenses, air travel, living and accommodation costs, etc.

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Type of Scholarships

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

The 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 employment documents.

Types of Scholarships Offered Abroad Description 
Merit-Based Scholarships These scholarships are offered on the basis of the academic performance of the applicant.
Need-Based Scholarships Applicants are awarded these scholarships based on the financial need of the applicant.
Athletic Scholarships Students with athletic backgrounds and those representing the universities are awarded this scholarship.
Course-specific Scholarships Students enrolled in a particular course of study have certain dedicated scholarships available for them which can be availed.
External / Private Scholarships These are scholarships that are awarded by external agencies that may be for non-profit or may be private to international students.
Country-specific Scholarships Students going to study in a specific country can also apply for certain scholarships that are awarded to international students only.
Government Scholarships These are often fully funded scholarships to study abroad. These are scholarships that are offered by the government to international students going to study abroad. 

Read in detail about 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 the scholarships ready before you finally sit 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

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This was all about the differences between a scholarship and a freeship. If you still have any douvts, feel free to post them in the comments section below and we'll be happy to assist you!

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Commonly asked questions
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The University of Hertfordshire doesn't share any GPA for UG Indian students. However, students are required to submit their high school transcripts, with a score of 60-70% in Standard XII. For Pre-masters, the requirements include completing a Bachelor's degree with 40% or above, whereas for Postgraduate taught programs, the scores of the relevant subject area must be 55-65% or above. Students can refer to the official university website for more course-specific details.

Q:   Who are some of the notable alumni of Northumbria University UK?
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Northumbria University UK have excelled in various areas. Some of the notable alumni are listed below- 

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Q:   What is an MA in the UK? How long does the degree last?
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MA in UK is PG degree of 2 years. Various popular universities in UK offer MA programs. Some popular universities are- University of Oxford, King's College London, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Bath and University College London. Degree is suitable for students from backgrounds such as Arts, Humanities or Social Science, who want to improve their knowledge and pursue career in Policy, Media, Culture and Education roles.

Q:   Can I do an MA in the UK for free?
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No MA in UK is not free for international students. But tuition cost and living cost for students are affordable. The tuition fees for international students range between INR 18L and INR 50L, whereas the cost of living for one year is between INR 13 L and INR 25 L per year, depending on the university. 







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Written by
Priya Garg
Assistant Manager - Editorial, Shiksha Study Abroa...

Priya Garg is an Assistant Manager in the Editorial Team of Shiksha Study Abroad (Shiksha.com, InfoEdge India Ltd), where she has served as the primary content owner on studying in the UK, Ireland, France, Spai

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Comments

(1)

M

Mit

5 years ago

Sir Im st candidate student plz tell how to cancel freeship form. By mistakenly I filled freeship form in place of scholarship

Reply to Mit

P

Prince Diwaker

4 years ago

Shouldn't i fill that free ship form too ?? Which one is better ? Please tell why do you wanna cancel ur form of freeship ?