一些到美国留学的研究生，可能对于可以申请的相关奖学金了解的不是很全面，也不知道哪些奖学金适合自己申请。对此针对这个问题做了全面性的说明。
A form of financial aid given to undergraduate students to help pay for their education. Most scholarships are restricted to paying all or part of tuition expenses, though some scholarships also cover room and board. Scholarships are a form of gift aid and do not have to be repaid. Many scholarships are restricted to students in specific courses of study or with academic, athletic or artistic talent.
不同的scholarship有它不同的要求，一般是成绩达到有求还有是工作经验丰富的，或者最长见的就是参加某些竞赛得到名次。奖学金分为两类，一类是服务类，另一类是非服务类。服务类包括助研金(RA—Research Assistant)和助教金(TA—Teaching Assistant)。非服务类包括学院助学金(Fellowship) 奖学金(Scholarship)和全免学杂费(Tuition & Fee Waiver)
Financial Aid( 经济资助)
Money provided to the student and the family to help them pay for the student"s education. Major forms of financial aid include gift aid (grants and scholarships) and self-help aid (loans and work).
其实我们通常所讲的美国大学的奖学金叫做Financial Aid，也就是经济资助。经济资助分为6种形式，助学金 (Fellowship)，奖学金 (Scholarship)，学费减免 (Tuition-Waiver)，助研和助教 (Research Assistantship & Teaching Assistantship)，校内住宿减免和校外住宿节省 (On or Off-Campus Housing Credit or Saving)和校内工作 (On-Campus Job)。 这六种形式都是可以申请的。
Fellowship( 学院助学金)
MA form of aid given to graduate students to help support their education. Some fellowships include a tuition waiver or a payment to the university in lieu of tuition. Most fellowships include a stipend to cover reasonable living expenses (e.g., just above the poverty line). Fellowships are a form of gift aid and do not have to be repaid.
奖学金当中的极品，金额最高，当然申请也最难，一般为有特殊成就的学者发放。属于非服务性奖学金，无需付出代价。申请上除了要求较高的英语成绩外，还要有较好的国内学校成绩单、推荐信和学业计划，而且材料的准备要注意技巧，与众不同。
Research Assistantship
RA(研究助理)
A form of financial aid awarded to graduate students to help support their education. Research assistantships usually provide the graduate student with a waiver of all or part of tuition, plus a small stipend for living expenses. As the name implies, an RA is required to perform research duties. Sometimes these duties are strongly tied to the student"s eventual thesis topic.
和助教金(TA—Teaching Assistant)几乎相同。金额不大，但数量多，申请相对容易，一般颁发给研究生、博士生。
TA(教学助理)
A form of financial aid awarded to graduate students to help support their education. Teaching assistantships usually provide the graduate student with a waiver of all or part of tuition, plus a small stipend for living expenses. As the name implies, a TA is required to perform teaching-related duties.
金额不大，但数量多，申请相对容易，一般颁发给研究生、博士生。服务类奖学金，获得者要配合教授做实验和协助教授的课题研究。绝大多数的海外高校研究生院，都设置这两种资助，然而并非所有学院的此类资助都能覆盖一年中的全部费用，但多数都在全部金额的2/3以上。
Renewable Scholarships(可延续性的奖学金)
A scholarship that is awarded for more than one year. Usually the student must maintain certain academic standards to be eligible for subsequent years of the award. Some renewable scholarships will require the student to reapply for the scholarship each year; others will just require a report on the student"s progress to a degree.
奖学金是颁给在校学习超过一年的学生。通常学生必须保持一定的学术水准才有资格参与以后的奖项。有些更新的奖学金每年都要求学生进行申请，有些则要求一份这个学生的进步程度报告。
Graduate Assistantship (研究生助教奖学金)
There are two types of graduate assistantships: teaching assistantships (TA) and research assistantships (RA). TAs and RAs receive a full or partial tuition waiver and a small living stipend. TAs are required to perform teaching duties. RAs are required to perform research duties, not necessarily related to the student"s thesis research.
在私立学校较为普遍，也是名额最多的一种奖学金。服务类奖学金，获得者负责学校的一些普通招生翻译事务，如在学生公寓信值班员等。申请程序简便，一般在学校的国际部或留学生服务中心填了申请表就可以，然后等待通知。
