Overview

Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study study at graduate level at any United Kingdom institution in any field of study.

As future leaders, with a lasting understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions. Marshall Scholars are talented, independent and wide-ranging, and their time as Scholars enhances their intellectual and personal growth. Their direct engagement with Britain through its best academic programs contributes to their ultimate personal success.

With just 45 to 50 annual winners selected, the Marshall Scholarship is among the most competitive in the world, receiving over 1,000 applications for 2020-21 enrollment. A maximum of eight awards are distributed to one-year candidates, so it is advantageous to apply for the two-year award.

Program Objectives

The program objectives are:

• To enable intellectually distinguished young Americans, their country’s future leaders, to study in the UK;
• To help Scholars gain an understanding and appreciation of contemporary Britain;
• To contribute to the advancement of knowledge in science, technology, the humanities, the social sciences, and the creative arts at Britain’s centres of academic excellence;
• To motivate Scholars to act as ambassadors from the USA to the UK and vice versa throughout their lives thus strengthening British American understanding;
• To promote the personal and academic fulfilment of each Scholar.

With over 2,000 alumni, Marshall Scholars come from all academic, cultural, socio-economic, and regional backgrounds, creating an inclusive community that you will be part of for a lifetime. Marshall Scholars have gone on to become Supreme Court Justices, Members of Congress, diplomats, educators, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, authors, musicians, filmmakers, scientists, and astronauts.

Eligibility

A candidate for the Marshall Scholarship Program must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Be citizens of the United States of America (at the time they apply for a scholarship);
• (By the time they take up their scholarship, i.e., September 2022) hold their first undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States;
• Have obtained a grade point average of not less than 3.7 on their undergraduate degree at the time of application. Marshall does not accept rounded GPA’s.
• Have graduated from their first undergraduate college or university after April 2019.
• Not have studied for, or hold a degree or degree-equivalent qualification from a British University or GCSE or A Levels taken at school in the UK.

Selection Criteria

In appointing Scholars the selectors will look for candidates who have the potential to excel as scholars, as leaders and as contributors to improved UK-US understanding. Assessment will be based on academic merit, leadership potential and ambassadorial potential.

The selection criteria are divided into three equally weighted categories:

• Academic Merit
• Leadership Potential
• Ambassadorial Potential

The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission promotes an equal opportunities policy. Scholarship awards are based on merit following a fair and transparent selection process. The Marshall Commission seeks and recruits students from all backgrounds.

The ideal candidate also has sufficient undergraduate preparation for the proposed course of study and demonstrated interests in strengthening British-US relationships or in making people-to-people connections across borders.

Endorsement (Nomination) Requirements

All Marshall Scholarship applicants must receive an campus endorsement from UNL in order to submit the final application and proceed to the regional competition. At the discretion of the campus committee, an interview in late August or early September may be required.

UNL may endorse as many as 24 Marshall candidates as we would like. It is unlikely that we will receive so many applications in a single year, so consider yourself only in competition with your own “best self.”

Benefits

The Marshall Scholarship Program provides University fees, cost of living expenses, annual book grant, thesis grant, research and daily travel grants, fares to and from the United States and, where applicable, a contribution towards the support of a dependent spouse.

The Marshall Scholars Community

“Marshall Plus” is an extracurricular programme of events and opportunities which aims to expose every Marshall Scholar to British government, institutions and culture at the level of both policy and practice.  It complements the experience of Britain which Scholars gain from their academic course of study.  The programme includes events to which all Scholars are invited and which focus on understanding British government and public life.

Membership of the Association of Marshall Scholars consists of all individuals who have attended a British University with a Marshall Scholarship. There are approximately 2000 Marshall Scholar alumni located in every region of the United States and throughout the world.

The Association facilitates fellowship among the alumni, encourages and supports Marshall Scholars currently studying in the United Kingdom and promotes the Marshall Scholarship.

Other Funding Opportunities for the United Kingdom

Consider the Fulbright U.S. Student Program Open Study/Research or university partnership awards for the United Kingdom. These two fellowship programs are similarly competitive and both looking to support student leaders with cross-cultural exchange opportunities. Fulbright will support one academic year of graduate study, though in a Fulbright application, your application will focus on only one British university.

Depending on your listing of your top choice graduate programs, you might also consider the Rhodes Scholarship (for Oxford University), Gates Cambridge or Churchill Scholarships (for Cambridge University), and the Mitchell Scholarship (for Irish universities).

Upcoming Events

Marshall Scholarship Virtual Summit, April 6-7

In 9 panels, over 2 days, distinguished Marshall alumni and scholarship administrators will answer questions and share their experience regarding the application process, studying in different subject areas in the UK, and Diversity issues in higher education. Panels will be hosted on Zoom by British Consulates across the country, available to ALL US university students curious about graduate study in the UK. There is no requirement to apply or be eligible this year to take part.

Schedule (all times in CST):

Wednesday 6 April

11am-12pm Marshall First Timers (*Introductory Address for first 15 minutes from British Deputy Ambassador Michael Tatham*) Register.

12:15-1pm Steps to Marshall Register.

1:15-2pm Diversity: Race. Register.

2:15-3pm Arts & Literature. Register.

Thursday 7 April 

11am-11:45am Climate & Environment. Register.

12pm-12:45pm IR & Government. Register.

1-1:45pm STEM. Register.

2-2:45pm Application Questions. Register.

3-3:45pm Diversity: LGBT + Gender. Register.

Information Session: Graduate Studies in the United Kingdom

Representatives from four world-renowned Russell Group universities will jointly offer an information session aimed at US-based students considering graduate studies in the UK. Learn about the benefits of studying in the UK, receive guidance on applying to competitive UK institutions, and get your questions answered!

Hosts: University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London, University of Warwick

Wednesday, May 4, 2022, 11:00 am to 12 noon Central Time

Registration Link: https://bit.ly/3Cbd6lM

The recording will be available for all those who register.  We’re also inviting questions ahead of (and during) the session so that those unable to attend live will be able to raise their areas of interest for learning more.  Questions may be submitted in advance via the registration page.