2009 Rules for Candidates
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Rules for Candidates
Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom in a system of higher education recognised for its excellence.
The objectives of the Marshall Scholarships 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 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.
GENERAL
1. Up to forty Marshall Scholarships will be awarded in 2009. They are tenable at any British university and cover two years of study in any discipline at graduate level, leading to the award of a British university degree.
2. Candidates are invited to indicate two preferred universities, although the Marshall Commission reserves the right to decide on final placement. Expressions of interest in studying at universities other than Oxford and Cambridge are particularly welcomed. NB: The selection of Scholars is based on a range of factors, including a candidate's choice of course, choice of university, and academic and personal aptitude. Selected candidates will be expected to attend their first choice university unless there is a compelling academic reason for a change (eg the supervisor has moved or the university no longer offers the course). The Commission rarely approves requests to change institution after selection.
3. Candidates do not need to have applied for or be accepted at a British University before they apply for a Marshall Scholarship.
Once a Scholar has been selected the Commission endeavours to secure placement at the first choice University and course but in the end the decision to accept a Scholar is with the University and not with the Commission. The Marshall Aid Commemoration cannot, therefore, guarantee that a Marshall Scholar will be admitted to the University of their choice.
4. Final selection of candidates is made by eight regional selection panels in the US.
AWARDS
5. The total value of a Marshall Scholarship varies a little according to the circumstances (place of residence, selected university, etc.) of each Scholar but the figure tends on average to be about £23,000 a year. This comprises:
- a personal allowance to cover residence and cost of living expenses at the rate of £737 per month (£915 for Scholars at Central London institutions);
- payment of tuition fees;
- fares to and from the United States;
- Claimable allowances totalling approximately £3,300:
- an arrival allowance;
- a grant for books;
- a grant for approved travel in connection with studies;
- payment of necessary daily expenses for travel between place of residence and place of study, provided the distance between the two is reasonable;
- A grant for the cost of preparation of any thesis submitted for examination, if required;
- Shipping of property to and from the United States
6. Marshall Scholarships are not subject to UK Income Tax but may be considered taxable income by the US Internal Revenue Service.
ELIGIBILITY
7. To qualify for 2009 awards, candidates should:
- 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 2009) 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 2006.
- not have studied for, or hold a degree or degree-equivalent qualification from a British University.
COURSE SELECTION
8. The Marshall Commission does NOT fund the following courses:
- Second BA/BSc Degrees
- MBA
- MFE
- Degrees leading to professional qualifications in medicine, dentistry, veterinary science and law (these degrees typically take 5 years to complete)
- Degrees that require extended periods away from the University or the UK, including joint degrees with Universities not in the UK
- Supervised research not leading to a degree qualification
- MSc Global Health Science (University of Oxford)
In addition if a candidate puts Oxford, Cambridge or LSE as their first choice institution these universities cannot be listed as second choice institutions.
JOINTLY FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS
9. The Marshall Commission has partnership Scholarships with:
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bristol
- Cardiff University
- Courtauld Institute of Art
- University of Durham
- University of East Anglia
- University of Edinburgh
- Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- Imperial College London
- University of Leeds
- University of Liverpool
- University of Newcastle
- University of Nottingham
- Queen Mary University of London
- Queen's University Belfast
- University of Reading
- Royal Academy of Music
- Royal Holloway
- University of Sheffield
- University of Southampton
- University of Surrey
- University of Warwick
http://www.marshallscholarship.org/studyuk/partners.html
NB: Candidates for these Scholarships will compete in the main Marshall Scholarship competition and if no-one of sufficient quality is found these Scholarships will not be offered.
10. NIH Marshall Scholarships. These Scholarships are jointly funded by the Marshall Commission and the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. These Scholarships will support research students specifically in the subject areas of bioscience, medicine and related disciplines with a predominant application in bioscience. Applicants may study at any appropriate UK Institution. Anyone who is selected for a Marshall Scholarship in Biosciences and wishes to complete a PhD will be eligible for this Scholarship. For more information please see
http://www.marshallscholarship.org/applications/nih
11. EPA Marshall Scholarships. These Scholarships are jointly funded by the Marshall Commission and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Scholarships will support research students specifically in the area of the Environment. Applicants may study at any appropriate UK Institution. Anyone who is selected for a Marshall Scholarship who wishes to complete research in an environmental area will be eligible for this Scholarship. For more information please see http://www.marshallscholarship.org/applications/epa
APPLICATIONS
12. 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. Any candidate applying in more than one region will automatically be disqualified.
13. Each candidate must submit his/her application on the online form provided. Applications must be endorsed by the President, Provost, or Academic Dean of the applicant's educational institution. The online application must be submitted and authorised by a designated member of staff at the applicant's undergraduate educational institution. In exceptional circumstances candidates may be nominated by their Graduate School or their employer, however, special permission must be sought from the Marshall Commission. The internal deadline for candidates to submit to their institution will be displayed on the online application form.
All items including the four letters of recommendation must be submitted online and received at the regional centre no later than October 2, 2008.
NB: Academic transcripts cannot be submitted online and therefore must be sent by mail or courier, and should be marked with the id code given and be received no later than 2 October 2008.
The Commission recommends that applications be submitted well in advance of the deadline to avoid any last minute problems.
14. Candidates invited for interview must bring with them evidence of date of birth and US citizenship (eg, passport) and (in the case of married candidates) of marriage.
SELECTION
15. As future leaders, with a lasting understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars will strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions. Marshall Scholars are talented, independent and wide-ranging in their interests, and their time as Scholars will enhance their intellectual and personal growth. Their direct engagement with Britain through its best academic programmes will contribute to their ultimate personal success.
16. In appointing Scholars the selectors will look for distinction of intellect and character as evidenced both by their scholastic attainments and by their other activities and achievements. Preference will be given to candidates who display a potential to make a significant contribution to their own society. Selectors will also look for strong motivation and seriousness of purpose, including the presentation of a specific and realistic academic programme.
17. Applications will be received and reviewed at eight regional centres in the United States (see para. 22 below). Shortlisted candidates will be called for interview in the week of 10-17 November.
The final selection will be announced shortly after interview, and those nominated for a scholarship will be offered a scholarship in writing, and will be asked to accept or decline this offer, also in writing within a 10-12 day period. In keeping with other UK government-funded programs, the Marshall Commission asks Scholars to give a definitive and final response in this way, so that the Commission can at the earliest opportunity arrange the best and most appropriate graduate program and living accommodation for each Scholar's needs. All awards are ultimately subject to the ability of the Marshall Commission in London to obtain satisfactory placements at British universities.
18. Expenses. Candidates will be called for interview in the region in which they have applied and may be reimbursed their travel expenses. Such expenses may not exceed the cost of a round-trip airfare (at the most economical rate available) and unavoidable overnight accommodation.
19. Overseas applicants. Applications will be accepted from qualified persons residing outside the United States only if they enclose with their application a separate signed undertaking that they will return to the US at their own expense if invited for interview.
TENURE
20. A Marshall Scholarship is tenable for two academic years (ie, 22 months). It is a condition of the award that Marshall Scholars must proceed to a degree that can be completed within the two-year tenure.
If the degree proposed is a one-year programme it will be necessary for the applicant to consider what course of study might be undertaken in the second year. This could be another one-year degree either at the same Institution or at a different UK university or perhaps a research degree.
Please note the following information:
- University of London: it is not possible to complete a research MPhil degree in less than two years.
- University of Cambridge: it is not possible to undertake two taught MPhil degrees at Cambridge.
Marshall Scholarships 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:
- 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 five 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.
21. Scholars are required to enrol at a British university for the full two years of their award as full-time students proceeding to a higher degree. If Scholars study for two 1 year degrees they may be registered at two different UK Universities during their tenure.
As a Marshall Scholarship is intended to give the holder an opportunity to see as much as possible of the United Kingdom, meet its people and observe its institutions, Scholars should be prepared to spend a reasonable proportion of their vacation time in the country. Academic study proposals involving lengthy periods away from the university or outside the United Kingdom will not be accepted. Return visits to the United States are subject to approval by the Marshall Commission and to a loss of living allowance for any time spent there in excess of 30 days in an academic year.
22. Scholars' supervisors or directors of study at their UK universities will be asked to report annually to the Commission on their academic progress and general conduct. Should a Scholar be dismissed from his/her university for any reason, the Scholarship will be immediately terminated.
MARRIAGE
23. Married persons are eligible for Marshall Scholarships. Applicants are required to notify any change in their marital status to the regional centre to which they have applied or, if already selected for an award, to the Executive Secretary of the Commission in London.
OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS AND EARNED INCOME
25. Candidates are asked to state on their application form whether they have applied, or intend to apply, for any similar scholarships. The Commission reserves the right to abate its Scholarships in instances where Scholars are beneficiaries of other significant awards, prizes or earned income. Marshall Scholars are not barred from taking part-time paid employment while in the UK but this is subject to Home Office Regulations, university/college regulations, and individual Scholars' overall commitment to their studies in the UK and conditions of award. Scholars should remember that their academic studies are of paramount importance and should be given due priority
REGIONAL CENTERS
26. The eight regions mentioned in paragraph 12 above are as follows:
ATLANTA REGION: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.
Regional centre: British Consulate-General, Georgia Pacific Center, Suite 3400, 133 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30303. (404) 954 7708. E-mail: Atlanta@marshallscholarship.org
BOSTON REGION: Connecticut (except Fairfield County), Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
Regional centre: British Consulate-General, One Memorial Drive, Suite 1500, Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 245 4513. E-mail: Boston@marshallscholarship.org
CHICAGO REGION: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin.
Regional centre: British Consulate-General, 400 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60611- 4102. (312) 970 3811. E-mail: Chicago@marshallscholarship.org
HOUSTON REGION: Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas.
Regional centre: British Consulate-General, Wells Fargo Plaza, Suite 1900, 1000 Louisiana, Houston, TX 77002. (713) 659 6275 Ext 2118. E-mail: Houston@marshallscholarship.org
LOS ANGELES REGION: Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada (Clark County only), Southern California (including the following counties: San Luis Obisbo, Kern, San Bernardino, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Imperial), Utah.
Regional centre: British Consulate-General, 11766 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90025-6538. (310) 996 3028. E-mail: Losangeles@marshallscholarship.org
NEW YORK REGION: Connecticut (Fairfield County only), New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania.
Regional centre: British Consulate-General, 845 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022. (212) 745 0252. Email: Newyork@marshallscholarship.org
SAN FRANCISCO REGION: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada (except Clark County), Northern California (including the following counties: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Inyo, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumme, Yolo, Yuba), Oregon, Washington State, Wyoming.
Regional centre: British Consulate-General, Suite 850, 1 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104. (415) 617 1340. E-mail: Sanfrancisco@marshallscholarship.org
WASHINGTON DC REGION: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia.
Regional centre: The British Council, British Embassy, 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008-3600. (202) 588-7854 E-mail: WashingtonDC@marshallscholarship.org
The offices of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission in London are located at the following address: Association of Commonwealth Universities, Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HF. 44 (0)207 380 6700; Fax: 44 (0)207 387 2655;
E-mail: MACC@acu.ac.uk
URL: http://www.marshallscholarship.org
FURTHER INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
ADMINISTRATION
27. Full details of administrative arrangements will be given to Scholars with notification of their awards but in considering whether to apply for an award candidates may like to be aware of the points covered in paragraphs 28-33 below.
28. Passages. Fares for Marshall Scholars will be paid from their place of residence in the United States to their university in the United Kingdom. The fares will cover economy class air travel in the United States, economy class transatlantic air fares and standard class train fares in the United Kingdom. No other expenses of travel can be met but the Commission has discretion to pay the fares of the families of married Scholars and to meet the cost of shipping a reasonable amount of unaccompanied baggage across the Atlantic. Subject to satisfactory completion of studies in the United Kingdom, fares will be paid for return journeys on the same basis. Scholars are not debarred from travelling by other means or at other rates to take up their award, but no reimbursement can exceed the actual amount expended nor the equivalent of the cost of the passages described above.
All Marshall Scholars must apply for Entry Clearance before they arrive in the UK. The Marshall Commission has special arrangements for Scholars' applications and information will be sent once a placement has been secured
29. The Scholars are expected to travel to the United Kingdom from Washington D.C. as a group and arrangements for the transatlantic flight, will be made by the British Embassy in Washington. Information about the travel in the United States will also be available from the British Embassy in Washington. Scholars who for special reasons obtain the Executive Secretary's permission to make independent travel arrangements must arrange to arrive in time for the beginning of their academic studies and will, on arrival in the UK, be paid in sterling the cost of their passage up to the permissible maximum indicated in paragraph 28 above.
30. Insurance. The Commission has no responsibility for insurance against sickness, accident, or death either for candidates in the United States or for selected Scholars travelling to or from or residing in the United Kingdom. Although eligible for medical treatment in the United Kingdom (see paragraph 31 below) Scholars are advised to maintain ongoing health insurance in the United States during their period of tenure. Scholars are also advised to make adequate arrangements for insurance of personal possessions when travelling to or from or residing in the United Kingdom.
31. Medical Treatment in the United Kingdom. Overseas students enrolled on a course of study, the prescribed duration of which is not less than six months, are accepted as ordinarily resident and are therefore entitled to free medical attention under the British National Health Service while in the United Kingdom. Many British universities have their own panel of doctors available for students. It is recommended that before Scholars arrive in the UK they should be immunised against the meningococcal C infection, with the MenC vaccine, as this is often required by the Universities as condition for registration.
32. Payment of Stipends. The Executive Secretary will pay Scholarship emoluments to Scholars in not less than four instalments spread over the academic year in accordance with the directions of the Commission.
33. Married Scholars. Married Scholars or those contemplating marriage are advised that they will require some additional funds. UK government regulations permit spouses accompanying Scholars to undertake paid employment for the duration of the award, and so the Commission recommends that employment opportunities are explored before arriving in the UK.
Accommodation is not easy to find in the United Kingdom and collegiate universities, such as Oxford and Cambridge, are not always able to provide housing for married persons within their colleges. A university will, however, usually help in the finding of accommodation and a married Scholar would be wise to write to seek assistance immediately following completion of placement procedures. (It should be noted that, because of the general pressure on accommodation at Oxford and Cambridge, unmarried students may also have to live out of college for part of their course.)
THE BRITISH UNIVERSITIES
34. Higher education in the United Kingdom is provided in a wide variety of universities. A full list of institutions at which Marshall Scholarships are tenable is given below. However, in certain instances, awards may be held at other institutions which offer degree courses in partnership with and validated by a university.
35. Candidates are advised to find out all they can about British universities and the availability of their desired programme of study or research since facilities vary from one institution to another. Some programmes which are commonly available in the universities and colleges of the United States are not found in British universities and, where they are available, different kinds of preparation are required.
36. The majority of British students usually enter university directly following their secondary school (High School) education, of which the last two years at least will have been largely devoted to specialised preparation for their proposed university programme, admission to which is by competitive selection. In general they study (or "read") for three or four years for a degree in one particular subject, and do not cover the wide field of studies usually required in American institutions. Marshall Scholars choosing graduate programmes in the UK will therefore find that a considerable measure of specialised attainment is expected in their chosen subject.
37. American students wishing to proceed to a doctoral degree in a British university should know that such a degree is obtained by undertaking a programme of supervised research. A research student usually has to be accepted on a personal basis by his/her department head and to carry out an approved research project in consultation with a supervisor appointed for the purpose. In general, British universities do not have separate graduate schools, and a research student is expected to attend few if any regular classes, the instruction being mostly individual and supervisory. Candidates wishing to undertake research should have specialised knowledge of a particular discipline and some experience of original work in it. For the humanities and social sciences many universities in the UK will expect doctoral candidates to have already completed a Masters degree.
38. As a Ph.D. (or D.Phil.) degree takes a minimum of three years of research, Marshall Scholars are recommended to consider a Master's degree. As almost all Scholars coming to the UK have only a Bachelor's degree from their American university, some may find it preferable to study for taught Masters course, where this can be completed in one or two years rather than a research based course.
39. The minimum period of study for a dental, medical or veterinary science degree in the UK is five years; it is therefore not possible to undertake clinical training in these subjects on a Scholarship.
REFERENCE LITERATURE
40. It is suggested that candidates consult the following:
The UK Institutions section on the Marshall Scholarship website www.marshallscholarship.org/studyuk
Commonwealth Universities Yearbook. Published by the Association of Commonwealth Universities and distributed in the United States by Palgrave Macmillan. An annual reference work in two volumes, sold only as a set, containing detailed listings of faculty at all Commonwealth Universities, including those in the United Kingdom. Available in many university and college libraries in the United States (www.acu.ac.uk) (www.palgrave-usa.com).
General information on studying in the UK, undergraduate and postgraduate, is available on the EducationUK website (www.educationuk.org) and the British Council, British Embassy, 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC20008-3600, Fax:(202)588-7918 (www.britishcouncil.org/usa)
'Taking A First Degree At A University In The United Kingdom' and 'Graduate Study At Universities In The United Kingdom' are also available on the ACU's website www.acu.ac.uk - (see 'Library', then 'Information Summaries').
41. For full and detailed information about particular universities, candidates should contact the Admissions Office of the institution concerned.
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University of Aberdeen University of Abertay Dundee Anglia Polytechnic University University of the Arts London:-
Bath Spa University College University of Bath University of Birmingham University of Bolton Bournemouth University University of Bradford University of Brighton University of Bristol Brunel University University of Buckingham Cardiff University Buckingham Chilterns University College University of Cambridge Canterbury Christ Church University College University of Central England, Birmingham University of Central Lancashire University College Chester University College Chichester University College for the Creative Arts City University Coventry University Cranfield University De Montfort University, Leicester University of Derby University of Dundee University of Durham University of East Anglia University of East London University of Edinburgh University of Essex University of Exeter University of Glamorgan University of Glasgow Glasgow Caledonian University University of Greenwich Harper Adams University College Heriot-Watt University University of Hertfordshire University of Huddersfield University of Hull Imperial College London University of Keele University of Kent at Canterbury Kingston University Lancaster University University of Leeds Leeds Metropolitan University University of Leicester University of Lincoln University of Liverpool Liverpool John Moores University University of London:-
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London Metropolitan University Loughborough University University of Luton University of Manchester Manchester Metropolitan University Middlesex University Napier University University of Newcastle upon Tyne University of Northumbria at Newcastle University of Nottingham Nottingham Trent University The Open University University of Oxford Oxford Brookes University University of Paisley University of Plymouth University of Portsmouth Queen Margaret University College Queen's University of Belfast University of Reading Robert Gordon University Royal Agricultural College University of St. Andrews University of Salford University of Sheffield Sheffield Hallam University University of Southampton South Bank University, London Staffordshire University University of Stirling University of Strathclyde University of Sunderland University of Surrey University of Sussex University of Teesside Thames Valley University University of Ulster University of Wales:-
University of the West of England, Bristol University of Westminster University College Winchester University of Wolverhampton University College Worcester University of York York St John University College Other institutions at which Marshall Scholarships are tenable: Architectural Association Central School of Speech and Drama Edinburgh College of Art The Glasgow School of Art Guildhall School of Music and Drama Christie's Education Laban London Contemporary Dance School London Film School Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts Royal College of Art Royal College of Music Royal Northern College of Music Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama Sotheby's Institute of Art Trinity College of Music Wimbledon School of Art UHI Millennium Institute |
