Scholarship vs. Award — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 15, 2024
Scholarships are typically financial aid for academic achievement, aimed at supporting education costs, while awards are honors given for various accomplishments.
Difference Between Scholarship and Award
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Scholarships are primarily financial aids provided to students to help cover the costs of their education, often based on academic merit, need, or a combination of both. Whereas, awards can be financial or symbolic, given in recognition of someone’s achievement in various fields such as arts, sciences, or sports.
Many scholarships require recipients to maintain certain academic standards or engage in specific activities, like community service or research, as part of the criteria to continue receiving support. On the other hand, awards are usually one-time recognitions that do not generally have attached requirements for ongoing performance or engagement.
The application process for scholarships can be quite rigorous, involving submission of academic records, essays, and sometimes interviews. Whereas awards may not necessarily require an application; they can be conferred based on achievements or competitions.
Scholarships often target specific groups of individuals, such as students from certain regions, backgrounds, or fields of study, aiming to promote educational opportunities. Awards, however, are more diverse in nature and can recognize excellence in a wide range of areas, regardless of the recipient’s background.
The impact of scholarships is typically long-term, assisting recipients throughout a significant portion of their educational journey. In contrast, awards often provide immediate, but short-term recognition of an individual’s accomplishments.
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
To support education and reduce financial burden
To honor and recognize achievement
Criteria
Academic merit, financial need, specific talents
Achievement in various fields
Duration
Often ongoing, may cover multiple terms/years
Typically one-time
Requirements
Maintain grades, meet performance criteria
None ongoing, achievement-based
Application Process
Often extensive: essays, interviews, references
Varies, often less demanding or not required
Compare with Definitions
Scholarship
A financial grant provided to students based on academic or other achievements.
She received a scholarship for her high GPA and community service.
Award
A recognition given for excellence in a field such as arts or sciences.
She won an award for her innovative research.
Scholarship
A scholarship can be need-based, requiring financial information from applicants.
His scholarship covered all tuition, due to his family's low income.
Award
Awards can be trophies, certificates, or monetary gifts.
The award included a gold medal and a cash prize.
Scholarship
Aid offered to promote education among underrepresented groups.
The scholarship targets women in engineering.
Award
Often given as part of competitions or festivals.
His film received the best documentary award at the festival.
Scholarship
Recipients must often fulfill ongoing criteria to retain the scholarship.
She must maintain a 3.5 GPA to keep her scholarship.
Award
Can be awarded by institutions, organizations, or community groups.
The local chamber of commerce awarded him for community service.
Scholarship
Some scholarships are specific to fields of study or universities.
He won a scholarship exclusively for law students.
Award
Awards celebrate personal or team achievements.
Their team received an award for the best marketing campaign.
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further their education at a private elementary or secondary school, or a private or public post-secondary college, university, or other academic institution. Scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria, such as academic merit, diversity and inclusion, athletic skill, financial need, among others.
Award
An award, sometimes called a distinction, is something given to a recipient as a token of recognition of excellence in a certain field. When the token is a medal, ribbon or other item designed for wearing, it is known as a decoration.
Scholarship
The methods, discipline, and attainments of a scholar or scholars.
Award
To grant as merited or due
Awarded prizes to the winners.
Scholarship
Knowledge resulting from study and research in a particular field.
Award
To grant an amount or other benefit legally due
Awarded damages to the plaintiff.
Scholarship
A grant of financial aid awarded to a student, as for the purpose of attending a college.
Award
Something awarded or granted, as for merit.
Scholarship
A grant-in-aid to a student.
Award
An amount or other benefit granted as legally due.
Scholarship
The character or qualities of a scholar.
Award
(legal) A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted.
Scholarship
The activity, methods or attainments of a scholar.
Award
(legal) The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is warded.
Scholarship
(uncountable) The sum of knowledge accrued by scholars; the realm of refined learning.
Award
A trophy or medal; something that denotes an accomplishment, especially in a competition. A prize or honor based on merit.
Scholarship
The first year of high school, often accompanied by exams that needed to be passed before advancement to the higher grades.
Award
A negotiated minimum wage that is set for a particular trade or industry; an industrial award.
Scholarship
(intransitive) To attend an institution on a scholarship.
Award
(intransitive) To determine; to make or grant an award.
Scholarship
(transitive) To grant a scholarship to.
Award
(transitive) To give (an award).
Four or five of these medals are awarded every year.
Scholarship
The character and qualities of a scholar; attainments in science or literature; erudition; learning.
A man of my master's . . . great scholarship.
Award
(transitive) To give (a person) an award.
He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Scholarship
Literary education.
Any other house of scholarship.
Award
To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case.
The arbitrators awarded damages to the complainant
Scholarship
Maintenance for a scholar; a foundation for the support of a student.
Award
To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case; to adjudge; as, the arbitrators awarded damages to the complainant.
To reviewThe wrongful sentence, and award a new.
Scholarship
Financial aid provided to a student on the basis of academic merit
Award
To determine; to make an award.
Scholarship
Profound scholarly knowledge
Award
A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The decision of arbitrators in a case submitted.
An award had been given against.
Award
The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is warded.
Award
A grant made by a law court;
He criticized the awarding of compensation by the court
Award
A tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction;
An award for bravery
Award
Something given for victory or superiority in a contest or competition or for winning a lottery;
The prize was a free trip to Europe
Award
Give, especially as a reward;
Bestow honors and prizes at graduation
Award
Give on the basis of merit;
Funds are granted to qualified researchers
Award
Bestow an honor upon
Common Curiosities
What is a scholarship?
A scholarship is financial support granted to a student to help fund their education, typically based on merit or need.
What is an award?
An award is a recognition given for achievement in various fields, which can be financial or symbolic.
Who can receive a scholarship?
Students with outstanding academic records, specific talents, or financial needs can receive scholarships.
Can anyone apply for an award?
Eligibility for awards depends on the specific criteria set by the awarding body. Some awards are open to all, while others might be limited to certain professions, age groups, or achievements.
What is typically required to apply for a scholarship?
To apply for a scholarship, candidates usually need to submit academic transcripts, personal statements, references, and sometimes proof of financial need or special talents.
How are awards typically presented?
Awards are often presented at special ceremonies, events, or banquets, making them not just a form of recognition but also a public celebration of achievement.
How do awards differ from prizes?
Awards generally recognize excellence and contribution, while prizes are often won through contests or competitions.
Can an award be a scholarship?
While some awards include scholarships, typically awards are for recognition, whereas scholarships specifically help with education costs.
Are there different types of awards?
Yes, awards can vary widely and include honors such as trophies, certificates, titles, and monetary gifts, each recognizing different types of achievements or contributions.
How do scholarships benefit students?
Scholarships help students manage the financial costs of their education, reduce debt, and often allow them to focus more on their studies and extracurricular engagements without the burden of part-time work.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
