- Do you know whether to say you “won,” “got,” or “received” a scholarship?
- Are you unsure which prepositions to use when talking about academic funding?
- Have you ever struggled to describe the quality of someone’s academic research using the word “scholarship”?
Mastering collocations—words that naturally hang out together—is the fastest way to move from “textbook English” to sounding like a fluent, native speaker. In the context of “Scholarship,” using the right verb or adjective can make the difference between a successful university application and a confusing one. This guide will teach you the high-frequency combinations used in 2024 academic and professional environments.
Essential Collocations using SCHOLARSHIP as a Noun
In modern English, the word scholarship functions as a noun with two primary meanings. The most common refers to financial aid for students, while the second refers to the quality of academic study or research. We have grouped these by their functional use to help you navigate both university life and academic writing.
Verbs for Financial Scholarships (Getting and Giving)
These are the most common action words used when discussing financial grants for education.
- Apply for a scholarship: To submit an application. (e.g., “I am currently applying for a scholarship to study in London.”)
- Award a scholarship: When an institution gives the money. (e.g., “The committee awarded a scholarship to the top three candidates.”)
- Win a scholarship: To be selected as the recipient. (e.g., “She won a prestigious scholarship for her research in robotics.”)
- Lose a scholarship: To have the funding taken away, usually due to poor grades. (e.g., “If his GPA drops below 3.5, he might lose his scholarship.”)
- Maintain a scholarship: To keep the grades required to continue receiving funds. (e.g., “It takes a lot of hard work to maintain a full scholarship.”)
Adjectives Describing Types of Scholarships
Use these adjectives to specify what kind of financial aid is being discussed.
- Full-ride scholarship: A scholarship that covers all costs, including tuition and living expenses. (e.g., “He was lucky enough to land a full-ride scholarship to Harvard.”)
- Merit-based scholarship: Awarded based on academic or athletic excellence. (e.g., “Most of the university’s funding goes toward merit-based scholarships.”)
- Need-based scholarship: Awarded based on the student’s financial situation. (e.g., “Low-income students are encouraged to apply for need-based scholarships.”)
- Prestigious scholarship: A highly respected and competitive award. (e.g., “The Rhodes is considered one of the world’s most prestigious scholarships.”)
- Athletic scholarship: Funding given to talented sports players. (e.g., “She moved to the US on an athletic scholarship for soccer.”)
Scholarship as “Academic Quality” (Advanced Usage)
In higher academia, “scholarship” refers to the standard of research and learning. These collocations are essential for essays and peer reviews.
- Groundbreaking scholarship: Research that changes the way people think about a subject. (e.g., “The professor is known for her groundbreaking scholarship in medieval history.”)
- Rigorous scholarship: Academic work that is very detailed, accurate, and careful. (e.g., “The journal is famous for publishing only the most rigorous scholarship.”)
- A work of scholarship: A polite way to describe a book or paper. (e.g., “His latest book is a monumental work of scholarship.”)
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Apply for a scholarship | Verb + Noun | To try to get funding |
| Full-ride scholarship | Adjective + Noun | A grant covering all expenses |
| Award a scholarship | Verb + Noun | To give a grant to someone |
| Prestigious scholarship | Adjective + Noun | A famous/highly-valued award |
| Maintain a scholarship | Verb + Noun | To keep the grant by meeting rules |
| Rigorous scholarship | Adjective + Noun | High-quality academic research |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I took a scholarship. | I received/accepted a scholarship. |
| I’m making a scholarship application. | I’m applying for a scholarship. |
| He has a big scholarship. | He has a generous/substantial scholarship. |
| She won a scholarship for Harvard. | She won a scholarship to Harvard. |
Contextual Story
“After months of hard work, Sarah was finally ready to apply for a scholarship at the University of Oxford. She knew the competition was fierce for such a prestigious scholarship, but her groundbreaking scholarship in the field of environmental science gave her an edge. Two months later, she received an email: the board decided to award a scholarship to her. It wasn’t just a partial grant; it was a full-ride scholarship. She knew she would have to maintain a scholarship-level GPA to keep it, but she was ready for the challenge.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Scholarship Collocations
Do you win a scholarship or get a scholarship?
Both are correct, but “win” sounds more competitive and prestigious. “Get” is more casual. In formal writing, it is better to use “receive,” “be awarded,” or “be granted.”
Is it “scholarship to” or “scholarship at” a university?
Both are used, but they have slight nuances. “A scholarship to Yale” focuses on the destination or the goal. “A scholarship at Yale” focuses on the location where the study is happening. “To” is much more common when talking about the award itself.
What is the difference between a scholarship and a grant?
While often used interchangeably, a scholarship is usually merit-based (for grades or skills), whereas a grant is often need-based (for financial hardship) or for specific research projects.
Can “scholarship” be used as a verb?
In standard English, no. You cannot say “The school scholarshiped me.” You must use “The school gave me a scholarship” or “I was scholarshiped” (though the latter is very informal/slang and should be avoided in writing).
What does “academic scholarship” mean?
This can mean two things: 1. A financial award given for good grades. 2. The general world of university research and learning. Context will tell you which one is being used.
This is such a comprehensive guide! Are there similar guides for other tricky words with multiple meanings, like 'critical' or 'subject'? I find those very challenging.
Thank you for your kind words, Priya! We're delighted you found this guide helpful. That's an excellent suggestion for future articles! Words like 'critical' and 'subject' certainly have rich semantic fields and multiple uses that benefit from collocation-focused explanations. We'll add them to our content ideas list! Keep an eye on Translateen.com for new posts.
I'm working on my personal statement for a masters program, and this article came at the perfect time! I'll definitely be using 'pursue scholarship' and 'demonstrate scholarship' now. Thank you!
I've always found 'scholarship' in its academic sense a bit elusive. It's not a common everyday word, so mastering its collocations is key for academic writing. This article really nails the distinction.
This is great! What about the word 'grant'? Is 'grant' always interchangeable with 'scholarship' when talking about financial aid, or are there specific contexts where one is preferred?
That's a fantastic follow-up question, Omar! While 'grant' and 'scholarship' both refer to financial aid that doesn't need to be repaid, they aren't always perfectly interchangeable. 'Scholarship' specifically implies support for academic study, often based on merit or specific criteria. 'Grant' can be broader, funding research, projects, or general educational expenses, and might come from a wider range of organizations (government, foundations, etc.). You *receive a grant* or *are awarded a grant*, much like a scholarship, but the focus can differ.
I always thought 'scholarship' was just about money for school. Mind. Blown. This article has totally broadened my understanding. Thanks, Translateen!
Are there any significant differences in how these collocations are used in American English versus British English? For example, would one prefer 'award a scholarship' over another?
That's an excellent point to consider, Benjamin! While most of the core collocations for 'scholarship' (like 'apply for,' 'receive,' 'award') are broadly understood and used across both American and British English, slight preferences can exist in less formal contexts. For academic and professional use, the ones presented here are universally applicable and widely understood regardless of region.
The point about moving from 'textbook English' to sounding natural is so accurate. I've been studying English for years, but collocations are the secret sauce for fluency. This guide is a lifesaver for sounding more like a native speaker.
Could you give an example of how 'distinguished scholarship' would be used in a sentence? I'm trying to wrap my head around the academic sense of the word.
Certainly, David! For 'distinguished scholarship,' you might say: 'Professor Anya's career is marked by distinguished scholarship in the field of quantum physics, recognized globally for its innovative contributions.' This highlights the high quality and importance of her academic work. Hope that helps clarify it!
In my language, we only have one word for 'scholarship,' and it usually refers to financial aid. So the academic research meaning is quite new to me! It makes sense now why some sentences in academic papers felt a bit off. Very insightful!
As an ESL teacher, I'm always looking for resources that explicitly address collocations. This article is fantastic for my advanced students who are preparing for university applications. It addresses a very real struggle they face. Any chance for a downloadable worksheet?
We're thrilled to hear this is valuable for your students, Lars! Your feedback is much appreciated. We're constantly working on expanding our resources, and a downloadable worksheet for this topic is an excellent suggestion we'll add to our development pipeline. Stay tuned to Translateen.com for updates!