(All information copied from the Marshall Scholarship website.) Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to forty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK 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 programmes contributes to their ultimate personal success. The objectives of the programme are as follows:
- 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 and 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.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a 2013 Marshall Scholarship, candidates must:
- be citizens of the United States of America (at the time they apply for a scholarship);
- (by the time they take up their scholarship ie September 2013) 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 (or A-) on their undergraduate degree. (Exceptions will be considered only on the specific recommendation of the sponsoring college.)
- have graduated from their first undergraduate college or university after April 2010.
- not have studied for, or hold a degree or degree-equivalent qualification from a British University.
Award
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. Up to 40 Scholarships awarded annually.
Tenure
The traditional Marshall Scholarship is tenable for two academic years (ie 22 months), but may be extended by the Commission, though not beyond the end of a third academic year. Third-year extensions are granted by the Commission on a limited basis, for strong academic reasons, subject to the availability of funds. In addition, thanks to the generous support of the following Universities:
- Up to two third-year extensions may be granted by the University of Edinburgh to those pursuing a doctorate at Edinburgh.
- Up to two third-year extensions may be granted by the London School of Economics and Political Science to those pursuing a doctorate at LSE.
- Up to two third-year extensions may be granted by the University of Nottingham to those pursuing a doctorate at Nottingham
- Up to three third-year extensions may be granted by the University of Oxford to those pursuing a doctorate at Oxford.
- Up to two third-year extensions may be granted by the University of St Andrews to those pursuing a doctorate at St Andrews
In addition a limited number of One Year Marshall Scholarships are available. These Scholarships are tenable for one academic year (ie 12 months) and cannot be extended.
Evaluation Criteria
Marshall Scholarship applications will be evaluated on three criteria:
- Academic Merit (Quality of programme of study, knowledge of proposed courses and supervisors, evidence of academic background that is strong and relevant, quality and breadth of recommendations)
- Leadership Potential (Ability to deliver results, strength of purpose, creativity, self-awareness)
- Ambassadorial Potential (Knowledge of US/UK relations, evidence of transferrable extra-curricular activities, interpersonal skills and ability to engage with others, self-confidence and ability to seize opportunities)
Application Process
Applications are made in one of eight regions in the United States. Candidates may apply in one region only - either that in which they have their permanent home address or ordinary place of residence/employment, or that in which they are studying. How to apply for a Marshall Scholarship (click link for details)
Application deadline
Applications for Marshall Scholarships must be submitted to and endorsed by an accredited US University. The on-campus deadline for applications for Grinnell's edorsement for the Marshall Scholarship is 5:00pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012. The final deadline for our nominees' applications to the Marshall Scholarship is Monday, October 1, 2012. Completed applications should be submitted online to Doug Cutchins, Director of Social Commitment, 1233 Park St. Because the CRSSJ (1233 Park St.), which houses the Office of Social Commitment, is inaccessible to students with mobility disabilities, please contact soccom@grinnell.edu if you would like to make alternative plans to submit your application materials.
Elements of Application
Students interested in applying for Grinnell's nomination for the Marshall Scholarship should submit the following materials before the deadline stated above:
- Scholarship Nomination Permission Form and Waiver
- A completed online application.
- Three letters of recommendation from faculty members that assess the nominee's intellectual curiosity, character and potential for advanced graduate study. These should be submitted via the Marshall Scholarship online application. Please note that Grinnell's nominees for the Marhsall Scholarship will need to submit a fourth letter of recommendation as a part of the national selection process. This fourth letter-writer should be identified on your on-campus application for nomination.
- An unofficial copy of your transcript.
For the on-campus nomination process, please ensure all application documents comply with these submission guidelines.
Ethical Guidelines
All applicants are expected to adhere to these ethical guidelines.
Campus Representative
Doug CutchinsDirector of Social CommitmentCenter for Religion, Spirituality, and Social Justice1233 Park St.Grinnell, Iowa 50112phone: (641) 269-4408; fax: (641) 269-4321cutchins@grinnell.edu
