The British Marshall Scholarship

Purpose: Established by an act of Parliament to express the gratitude of the British people to Americans for the Marshall Plan. It brings to Britain "intellectually distinguished" American students "who will one day become leaders, opinion formers and decision makers," in order to "expose them to British social and academic values" and to "establish long-lasting bridges and ties" between the U.S. and Britain "at a personal level."

Amount and Tenure of Award: All tuition and fees at a British university (any in England, Scotland, or Wales), a book allowance, a living stipend (varying with the place of residence), and travel costs to and from Britain. The award is normally for two years, but may be extended in some cases to a third.

Eligibility:

Citizenship: U.S.

Marital Status: No requirement. In fact, in certain cases, you may receive an additional stipend for the support of a dependent spouse. However, "between candidates of equal merit, preference will be given to single candidates."

GPA/Class Standing: Not less than 3.7, after the freshman year, unless the campus representative (whose recommendation you must have) can justify why persons holding less than a 3.7 should be considered.

Age and/or Class: Must apply within two years of graduating from an undergraduate college or university.

Career plans and/or Degrees Sought: There are no restrictions as to the field of your career, although you must evince an aspiration to rise to the top of whatever field you choose; the selection committees look for potential leaders. The area of the degree you are seeking is limited only by the menus offered by British universities.

The best way to think of the Marshall Scholarship (according to the Trust's own literature) is as a Rhodes Scholarship for students interested in studying at any British university and not just Oxford. Like the Rhodes, the Marshall, too, may be used in pursuit of either a British B.A. or a graduate degree, so you should consult "The Rhodes Scholarship" entry at this site for relevant information about the peculiarities of British higher education and degree levels.

Experience: In addition to distinguished academic achievement, students applying for the Marshall must demonstrate strength of character and "a capacity to make a significant contribution to their own society."

Important Features of the Written Application: The application is simple in form, but requires a great deal of work. The most important parts are a 1000 word personal statement, describing your "academic and other interests and pursuits," and a 500 word statement of your reasons for wishing to undertake the course of study proposed and for choosing the particular universities at which you would like to study (you must indicate a first and second preference). This requires a substantial amount of research. (Assuming you apply for the Rhodes, you will have to do additional research into universities other than Oxford to apply for the Marshall, but, after investing the time to become familiar with British higher education in general, checking out some other programs in order to apply for the Marshall is worth the effort.)

In addition to a letter of support from the campus representative, two letters of recommendation from other persons familiar with your record are required.

Application Process: Up to 40 scholarships are awarded annually, with winners being drawn from each of five regions. Arkansas is grouped with Louisiana, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. Candidates may apply either from the state in which they have legal residence or the state in which they are going to school. Applications are now submitted on-line. Go to the website listed below to start the application process. Applications are submitted to a regional panel, which selects applicants to appear before it for an interview. Final winners are chosen by a national Advisory Council.

Deadlines: Interested students should contact the campus representative, at the latest, during the spring prior to the year in which they will apply. (Since application is usually made during the senior year, students should contact the campus representative during the spring of their junior year at the latest.) A first draft of the application is due early in the summer, and applicants continue to polish the application, in consultation with the faculty representative, over the remainder of the summer. It is essential that applicants begin the process early, since the final applications must be mailed by the middle of October and the month of September must be reserved for final polishing and participation in mock interviews. Also, from July to October, it is often difficult to contact persons at British universities to make inquiries regarding degree programs.

CAMPUS DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS: SEPTEMBER 5, 2005.

For Further Information: Contact Professor Elisabeth Sherwin, UALR Department of Psychology, ebsherwin@ualr.edu, Phone: 501.569.3171

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