Marshall Scholarship

The Marshall Scholarship was founded by an Act of Parliament in 1953 in honor of U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall to provide future leaders of America with insight into British ideals and ways of life and to strengthen U.S.-U.K. relations.

Each year, up to 40 scholarships are awarded to students in the United States for 1-2 years of graduate study at participating universities across the United Kingdom.

Criteria

Prospective Marshall Scholars are selected by three standards:

  1. academic merit
  2. leadership potential
  3. ambassador potential

Eligibility

Prospective scholars must meet these requirements to apply:

  • Have obtained bachelor’s degree after April 2021 but before October of entering year (October 1, 2025)
  • Have not studied or hold a degree from a British university
  • Minimum GPA of 3.7
  • Be a U.S. citizen

Application Process

The application cycle for Marshall Scholars beginning their program of study in October 2025 opens in Spring 2024 to ensure that students have sufficient support from the Scholarships & Fellowships Office and adequate time to put together a thorough application.

In Spring, the Scholarship & Fellowships Office hosts information sessions to share details about this fellowship opportunity.

Prospective applicants should use the end of spring semester through the summer to gather and complete their application materials. The application portal officially opens at the end of May or in early June, but students can get a head start by coming up with a plan of action, such as by researching potential programs of study and asking for letters of recommendation.

It is highly recommended that applicants revisit and revise them frequently, ensuring that their final application is a reflection of their best efforts.

After the internal campus deadline has passed, the Scholarship & Fellowships Office forwards completed applications to a faculty selection committee for review and consideration. Select candidates are then invited to an interview with the committee, after which the committee recommends particular students to receive a formal University nomination.

Students who are chosen for University endorsement will continue to work with the Scholarship and Fellowships Office to gather and finalize the application materials due for the national deadline.

Endorsed candidates shall remain in communication with the Scholarship & Fellowships Office and provide application status updates. The Scholarships & Fellowships Office is committed to providing assistance and support throughout each student’s fellowship journey.

Click here for a detailed application timeline.

Application Requirements

Applications for the Marshall Scholarship will require University endorsement. This means that students will not be allowed to submit their application directly to the agency that handles the Marshall Scholarship, but rather via the University with a formal nomination on their behalf. It is imperative that candidates work closely with the Fellowship Advisor to ensure that all application deadlines and requirements are met. Contact information may be found here.

For tips on putting together the various components of the application, please visit the Application Resources page.

The internal campus application consists of:

  • Campus Application Cover Sheet
  • Marshall Scholarship Application
    • Résumé/CV/List of Activities
      List institutions attended, activities, work experience, and awards/recognition. Extracurricular activities should reflect a commitment to serve others, leadership and initiative, and how well-rounded a candidate is overall.
    • Personal Statement
      Essay of no more than 1,000 words focusing on the candidate, his/her intellectual developments, and his/her interests and aspirations.
    • Short Essays
      Other shorter essay prompts (300-500 words maximum each) related to the proposed program of study, post-scholarship plan, leadership, ambassador potential, etc are to help the committee assess the motivation and potential of the candidate.
      *It is highly recommended for candidates to get in touch with degree programs or faculty within the proposed program of study in the UK to demonstrate commitment to the Marshall Scholarship. Including contacts made and steps taken to understand the UK educational system and the intended degree of study will help to strengthen the application.
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation
    Letters should be addressed to the Marshall Scholarship Selection Committee and represent a range of academic and professional references. At least two of the letters should be from within academics and one should be about leadership abilities/potential. At least two of the letters need to come from U.S.-based recommenders.
  • Transcripts
    Students may submit a STAR report for all coursework taken within the UH system; official transcripts must be submitted for outside institutions.
  • Campus Interview
    Select candidates will be invited for an interview with the faculty review committee; candidates will be informed if advancing to the interview via email.

The UH Mānoa campus deadline to apply is 4:00pm HST on August 19, 2024.

If selected for University endorsement, the following will need to be submitted:

  • Revised Marshall Scholarship Application
    • Revised Résumé/CV/List of Activities
    • Revised Personal Statement
    • Revised Short Essays
  • 3 Letters of Recommendation (same as the ones already submitted)
  • Official Transcripts
    An official transcript must be submitted for all UH coursework.
  • University Endorsement

Nominated candidates must submit their final application to the UH Mānoa Scholarships & Fellowships Office by 4:00pm HST on September 23, 2024. The deadline for endorsed applications to the Marshall Commission is on October 1, 2024.

Documents/Resources

Find information about academic programs at universities across the U.K. on the Marshall Scholarship. Additional sources on academic programs in the U.K. are also available at:

The Application Resources page houses general application documents applicable to all fellowships.

Application Timeline

Spring 2024Campus Announcement for Open Applications
Mar 25, 2024Marshall/Luce/Rhodes Info Session, 9:30am via Zoom (fill out this GoogleForm to be emailed the meeting link during the week of this session)
Mar 28, 2024Marshall/Luce/Rhodes Info Session, 9:30am via Zoom (fill out this GoogleForm to be emailed the meeting link during the week of this session)
May/Jun 2024Marshall Scholarship Application Available Online
mid Aug 2024Deadline for Internal Campus Application
late Aug 2024Campus Interviews for Select Candidates
early Sep 2024All Applicants Notified of Status
late Sep 2024Deadline for Final Application for Endorsed Candidates
Oct 1, 2024Deadline to Submit Applications to Marshall Commission
Oct/Nov 2024Mock Interview for Finalists
Nov 2024Marshall Finalist Interviews and Selection
Fall 2025Marshall Scholars Begin Study