Professional fellowships have a bad rap for low pay, although the professional training, networks and experience that you gain from fellowships make up for the short-term compromise in salary. There are a few exceptions. Check out these gems that offer a higher stipend than your typical fellowship.
German Chancellor Fellowship
The German Chancellor Fellowship, a one-year professional fellowship in Germany, provides a monthly stipend of €2,150 to €2,750, as well as family supplements. The average rent for a 1 bedroom apartment in Berlin is €564, leaving you a significant disposable income for living expenses and travel.
FUSE Corps Executive Fellows
FUSE Corps, which places private sector professionals in one-year public sector placements around the country, offers a stipend of $90,000. This can go especially far in cities like New Orleans, Sacramento and Pittsburgh. Salaries may be even higher for placements in San Francisco, where fellows are hired as employees of the City and County.
Sofja Kovalevskaja Award
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s Sofja Kovalevskaja Award supports post-docs with up to five years of funding to carry out a research project of his or her own choice in Germany. The fellow is entitled to the award funds of up to 1.65 million EUR.
Presidential Innovation Fellows
The Presidential Innovation Fellows (PIF) program is a highly competitive 1-year fellowship that seeks to attract top innovators into the federal government. Fellows based in Washington, DC receive a GS-15 level salary, which typically ranges between $120,000 to $150,000.
Australian-American Health Policy Fellowship
This fellowship offers a unique opportunity for outstanding, mid-career U.S. professionals to spend up to 10 months in Australia conducting research and working with Australian health policy experts on issues relevant to both countries. Fellows receive up to $87,000 AUD for the maximum term of ten months, and also offers a family supplement of approximately $50,000 for a spouse and two children.
© Victoria Johnson 2016, all rights reserved.