on scholarship

USAGE SUMMARY

"on scholarship" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used to describe someone receiving educational funding to attend a school or college that they otherwise could not afford. For example, "John was accepted at a prestigious university on scholarship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At one point Lagnado was on scholarship at a private high school.

The New York Times - Books

During one seven-year span, he attended six schools, usually on scholarship.

The New Yorker

After 1938 he concentrated on scholarship writing.

The New Yorker

The effect on scholarship has been maddening.

The New York Times

On scholarship and majoring in math, she's that smart.

The New Yorker

Some panned out and we put them on scholarship.

The New York Times - Sports

Like Mr. Obama, they attended private schools on scholarship.

The New York Times

Mr. Larsen stayed on as a graduate student, on scholarship.

The New York Times

On scholarship at Michigan State, Ward played point guard.

The New York Times - Sports

Soon he was headed to Hamburg Technical University on scholarship.

The New York Times

I graduated from high school, went to college on scholarship.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about someone "on scholarship", clearly specify the type of scholarship (academic, athletic, etc.) to provide more context.

Common error

Avoid assuming that being "on scholarship" automatically covers all expenses. Specify what the scholarship covers (tuition, room and board, etc.) to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on scholarship" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the basis or means by which someone attends an institution. It specifies that their attendance is supported by financial aid, as seen in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Academia

20%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

6%

Sports

6%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "on scholarship" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that an individual is receiving financial aid for their education. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is widely used across various contexts, including news, academic writing, and general conversation. While generally neutral in tone, clarity is key—specify the scholarship type and coverage to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "with a scholarship" or "receiving financial aid" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with a scholarship

Changes the preposition while maintaining the core meaning of receiving scholarship aid.

funded by a scholarship

Highlights the funding source for educational expenses.

receiving financial aid

Broadens the scope to any form of financial assistance for education.

with a grant

Replaces 'scholarship' with 'grant', another form of financial award.

supported by a bursary

Uses 'bursary' as a synonym for scholarship, common in some regions.

benefiting from tuition assistance

Focuses specifically on assistance with tuition costs.

sponsored through a scholarship program

Emphasizes the program providing the financial support.

attending on a full ride

Colloquial term indicating a scholarship that covers all major expenses.

scholarship recipient

Identifies the person as the one who receives the scholarship.

under scholarship provisions

Highlights that educational activities fall under the terms of scholarship award.

FAQs

How is "on scholarship" used in a sentence?

The phrase "on scholarship" indicates that someone is receiving financial aid to attend a school or university. Example: "She attended Harvard "on scholarship"."

What's the difference between "on scholarship" and "receiving a grant"?

While both indicate financial support, "on scholarship" typically refers to academic or athletic merit, whereas "receiving a grant" usually implies need-based or research funding. They are related but not perfectly interchangeable, depending on the context.

Which is correct: "She is on scholarship" or "She has a scholarship"?

Both are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "She is "on scholarship"" emphasizes her current status, while "She has a scholarship" focuses on the possession of the award.

What are some similar ways to say someone is "on scholarship"?

Alternatives include "with a scholarship", "funded by a scholarship", or "receiving financial aid", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.