Depending upon your scholarly interests, pursuing an advanced degree during fellowship may be of interest to you. Such programs can provide additional training that will enhance your ability to succeed in your chosen scholarly activity and future career. Additionally, research activities conducted for a degree will usually fulfill your fellowship scholarly project requirement. Many fellows pursuing advanced degrees choose a Master’s degree. These are often two-year programs and thus fit well with the fellowship timeline, particularly if a fellow completes most clinical duties during first year of training. However, any degree is possible if you can find a way to weave it into your training program. Here are some examples:
In addition to assessing whether your fellowship program can provide the dedicated time needed to pursue advanced training, it is also important to consider how the degree will be funded. Some institutions offer T32 training grants or other training programs that will support an advanced degree. An individual F32 grant may support some tuition costs as well. You may be eligible for tuition benefits from your institution, although these may be taxable, so not entirely “free.” Attending a public school with in-state tuition benefits is another way to reduce tuition costs. Be sure to ask about these issues during the interview process so you know what to expect.
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