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Marshall Scholarships

EligibilityEndorsementPreliminary ApplicationLetters of RecommendationFinal Application SubmissionApplication Schedule and DeadlinesAdditional InformationMarshall Scholarship Website

Description

The Marshall Scholarship Program was established in 1953 to honor U.S. Secretary of State George C. Marshall and express Britain’s gratitude for economic assistance received through the Marshall Plan after World War II.

Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Each year, 40 scholars are selected to spend two years in graduate school at a British University, with all expenses paid by the British government. Third-year extensions are granted by the Commission on a limited basis, for strong academic reasons, subject to the availability of funds.

As future leaders, with a lasting understanding of British society, Marshall Scholars strengthen the enduring relationship between the British and American peoples, their governments and their institutions. Marshall Scholars are talented, independent and wide-ranging, and their time as Scholars enhances their intellectual and personal growth. Their direct engagement with Britain through its best academic programs contributes to their ultimate personal success.

Former Marshall Scholars include Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and New York Times Foreign Affairs columnist Thomas Friedman.

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Eligibility

To qualify, candidates must:

  • be citizens of the United States of America
  • apply within two years of graduating from their undergraduate college or university
  • have obtained a grade point average of not less than 3.7 (or A-) on their undergraduate degree
  • (by the time they take up their scholarship) hold their first undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States
  • not have studied for, or hold a degree or degree-equivalent qualification from a British University

Persons already studying for or holding a British degree or degree-equivalent qualification are not eligible to apply for a Marshall Scholarship.

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Endorsement

Marshall applicants must receive the endorsement of the Dartmouth College Committee on Graduate Fellowships. The Committee will review all application materials and interview each applicant to decide on endorsements. You will be informed of your status via email.

For scholarships requiring endorsement, all materials must be sent to Scholarship Advising, 6201 Wentworth Hall, Rm. 211, Hanover, NH 03755 or HB 6201.

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Preliminary Application

Please register your intention to apply for a Marshall Scholarship with Scholarship Advising by June 1, 2009.

Applicants will submit the following to the Scholarship Advising office by the preliminary application deadline of June 30, 2009:

  • Online application, including Personal Statement and Proposed Academic Program (Please print a hard copy of the application for submission to Scholarship Advising)
  • Four Letters of Recommendation
  • Academic Transcript

These applications will be read by the Committee who will make comments and offer suggestions. The preliminary application (with comments) will be returned to you over the summer. Please see RWiT or any writing advisor for help with your essays. You may also submit a draft of your essay and resume in advance to Scholarship Advising.

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Letters of Recommendation

Four letters of recommendation are required for the official application. The first of these should be designated the Preferred Recommender and this recommender should have supervised your college training. At least two recommenders must be provided by academics. At least three of these recommenders should be in the United States.

Please provide your recommenders with the Guidelines for Writers of Letters of Recommendation when requesting a recommendation.

You should also provide them with any information about you that can help them formulate a strong recommendation, such as, information on the scholarship and what your study and research plans are, a copy of your CV, a paper you wrote for their class, transcript, research topics, future academic or career goals, etc.

Letters of recommendation should be sent to Scholarship Advising, 6201 Wentworth Hall, Hanover, NH 03755 or HB6201.

For more information on recommendation letters, click here.

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Final Application Submission

Applications are submitted online and received by Scholarship Advising. On the application, you are required to list the 4 recommenders with email addresses. Upon submission of your application, your recommenders will automatically receive an email requesting online submission of their recommendation letter – with instructions included.

Scholarship Advising will electronically submit the Dartmouth Letter of Endorsement along with your completed application by the Commission’s deadline. Scholarship Advising will mail the Official Academic Transcript by the deadline as well.

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Marshall Application Schedule

April 30, 2009

Marshall Information Session

May 1, 2009

Register with Scholarship Advising

June 30, 2009

Preliminary Application Deadline

August 2009

Feedback on Preliminary Applications Available in Scholarship Advising

September 4, 2009

Final Application Campus Deadline

Mid-September 2009

Interviews with the Committee on Graduate Fellowships

October 1, 2009

Official Deadline for Final 2009 Online Application

November 2009

Mock Interviews for Finalists

November 2009

Marshall Finalist Interviews

November 2009

Marshall Scholarship Awards Announced

 

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Additional Information

Email Scholarship Advising

Marshall Scholarship website

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last Updated: 8/5/09