About the Program

The Scholarships were founded in 1953 to commemorate the humane ideals of the European Recovery Program (Marshall Plan). The objectives:

  • To bring to the United Kingdom for study intellectually distinguished young Americans who will one day become leaders and decision makers in their own country
  • To expose them to British social and academic values so as to enable them to gain an understanding and appreciation of the British way of life
  • To encourage them to be ambassadors to the United Kingdom for their own way of life, and to establish long-lasting bridges and ties between the people of the United States and the United Kingdom, at a personal level
  • To raise the profile of the United Kingdom in the United States, particularly among its young people.

Forty Marshall Scholars are funded each year to study for a degree in the United Kingdom.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for a Marshall scholarship, students must be U.S. citizens, have at least a 3.9 grade point average (excluding freshman year grades) and apply within two years of receiving their first undergraduate four-year degree (the previous 26 year age-limit has been eliminated).

Selection Criteria

A Marshall Scholar, as the possessor of a keen intellect and a broad outlook, will be thought of as a person who would contribute to the aims which the late General Marshall had in mind when, on June 5, 1947, at Cambridge, Massachusetts, he spoke of economic assistance for Europe and said that an essential part of any successful action on the part of the United States is an understanding on the part of the people of America of the character of the problem and the remedies to be applied. Political passion and prejudice would have no part. With foresight, and willingness on the part of our people to fact up to the vast responsibilities which history has clearly placed upon our country, the difficulties...can and will be overcome.

In appointing Scholars, the selectors look for distinction of intellect and character, in scholastic attainment, activities, and achievements. Preference is given to students who combine high academic ability with the capacity to play an active part in the life of the United Kingdom university they attend, and to those who show the 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 program.

Application Procedure

Students who seek campus nomination must download an application from the Marshall website, complete an Initial Interest Form in February of their junior year (or senior year if you choose to compete as a "recent graduate" the following year), and meet the noon on the first Tuesday of May spring campus deadline for a complete application.

Over the summer, applicants will collect all reference letters, revise and edit their applications, reviewing them with the Graduate and Undergraduate Fellowships Office and the University of Puget Sound Faculty Mentor for the Marshall Scholarship.

Application Deadline

The fall campus deadline for completed applications to be submitted to the Fellowships Office is noon on the first Tuesday in September. This allows time for the Graduate Fellowship Advisory Committee to review and select qualified nominees.

Unlike several other prestigious scholarships, University of Puget Sound is not limited in the number of students we may nominate, however due to the highly competitive nature of the scholarship competition, the Fellowships Office conducts an internal competition to select nominees to compete for the national award. Applicants must have the university's endorsement before the applications can be forwarded for the national competition. Students cannot obtain that endorsement unless they work closely with the Fellowships Office.

The Graduate Fellowships Advisory (GFAC) will review applications for university nominations and hold a series of mock interviews for applicants who become finalists in the Marshall Scholarship competition. Applicants are expected to work diligently on their applications over the course of the summer. Several drafts of the applications and proposed programs of study will be required.

Following nomination and endorsement by the Graduate Fellowship Advisory Committee, the completed applications are mailed to the British Consulate in October.

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