Harvard College
British Marshall Scholarship
2023-2024 Application for Institutional Endorsement
SCHOLARSHIP DESCRIPTION:
Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. 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.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, hold a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.7, and be graduating seniors or have
graduated within the past two years.
Benefits:
Marshall Scholarships provide for two* years of study at any university(s) in the UK. Up to 50 awards may be
given each year. Scholarships cover tuition, books, travel, and a living stipend.
A two-year plan of study may consist of one two-year program or two one-year programs undertaken back-to-back at
the same or different universities. (Candidates will be asked to present a first-choice and second-choice plan of study
and are strongly encouraged to look at programs outside of Oxford, Cambridge, and the London School of Economics.
If any part of the first-choice plan takes place at Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, UCL, KCL, or ICL, no part of the second-
choice plan may take place at any of those universities.)
*In rare cases, a candidate may present a one-year terminal plan of study. Also, in some cases, a third year of funding
may be petitioned after two successful years as a Marshall Scholar.
Selection Criteria:
In appointing Scholars the selectors will look for candidates who have the potential to excel as scholars, as leaders
and as contributors to improved UK-US understanding. Assessment will be based on academic merit, leadership
potential and ambassadorial potential. 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 program.
Marshall Scholars are talented, independent and wide-ranging in their interests. As future leaders, with a lasting
understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars are interested in strengthening the enduring relationship between
the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions.
Candidates are encouraged to read the full “Rules for Candidates” document, as well as all other informational
materials, on the Marshall Scholarship website.
CONTINUE TO THE NEXT PAGE FOR APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS.
Harvard College
British Marshall Scholarship
2023-2024 Application for Institutional Endorsement
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND ORGANIZE THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS FOR YOUR APPLICATION:
■ APPLICATION FORM
Complete the online CARAT form, which will be compiled and displayed as your application cover sheet.
■ CURRENT TWO-PAGE RESUME
Indicate activities, interests, achievements, and work that demonstrate your values and trajectory. Two pages max.
■ CURRENT UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
Download your unofficial transcript from my.harvard.edu.
■ ESSAYS
In one continuous document, in clearly designated sections, address the following essay topics in order:
1.
Personal statement (750 words): Describe your intellectual development and other interests and pursuits.
2.
Proposed academic program (500 words): Describe your proposed academic program, giving reasons for the choice
of course and preferred university(s). Those hoping to do a research degree should give an outline of the research they
wish to undertake and with whom they would like to work. Candidates should also include a brief outline of why they
have chosen their second choice courses and institutions.
3.
Leadership (500 words): Describe a situation in which you were working with a group of people and recognized
and responded to a need for leadership. Please consider the following criteria:
https://www.marshallscholarship.org/apply/criteria-and-who-is-eligible/criteria-leadership-potential
4.
Ambassadorial potential (500 words): Explain why you want to study in the UK and in what particular ways do you
think you will benefit personally and professionally from the experience? Discuss how work in your field (including
your research) can enhance the USA-UK relationship. You should further explain what you might do to contribute to
improved relations in this area now and following the scholarship
■ TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Given the timing of this application, we strongly suggest you give at least three weeks’ notice when requesting letters of
recommendation. You will need to submit two letters of recommendation for the Harvard Endorsement round. In the national
competition, you will need to submit 3 letters of recommendation: 1 preferred letter, 1 academic letter, and 1 leadership letter.
(Please note: the preferred letter should also be academic, and must be from a Harvard faculty member.) If you are awarded
Harvard endorsement, all letters (including these initial two) will then need to be pasted into the Marshall national site. Letters
must not exceed 1000 words, and should comment on the suitability of your candidacy for the Scholarship, especially in light
of the criteria elaborated on the Marshall website. They should be addressed to the “Marshall Scholarship Endorsement
Committee” and submitted online.
PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION AS FOLLOWS:
1.
LOG IN TO CARAT USING YOUR HARVARD KEY and confirm that your profile information is correct.
2.
BROWSE FOR THE APPOPRIATE OPPORTUNITY AND CLICK “APPLY”
Fill out all required fields.
3.
REQUEST RECOMMENDATIONS (via “References” tab)
Once you have provided name (Last, First) and contact information for your recommenders, YOU MUST CLICK “Send
Reference Request” under each recommender’s entry in order for CARAT to send the notification to your recommender’s
email. “Save and Next” will NOT submit your recommendation requests.
4.
UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENTS
All documents must be submitted concurrently, in PDF format. No supplementary materials will be accepted.
5.
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION (via “Submission” tab)
Enter your HUID and click “Submit”. The date and time of your submission will be noted, and late applications will not be
accepted.
If you or your recommenders have questions about this application or the online submission process, please contact the
Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships at (617) 495-5095 or [email protected].
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DEADLINE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 2023, at 11:59pm (ET)
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