Marshall Scholarships - Marshall Scholarships

What the Marshall Scholarship gives you

You will receive full tuition fees plus about 1,690 EUR per month for a postgraduate course at any British university. The monthly living allowance is 1,452 GBP outside London and 1,781 GBP in London (rates in accordance with 2025/26, which are adjusted annually). You will also receive return economy-class flights between the US and the UK, visa fees, the NHS health surcharge and additional allowances for ambassadorial duties. The money is tax-free in the UK. Depending on the degree programme, the funding lasts for up to 3 years: a one-year Master’s programme, two one-year Master’s programmes, a single two-year Master’s programme or a PhD. Up to 50 scholarships are awarded each year. The programme is funded by the UK government and was launched in 1953 as a lasting token of gratitude for the post-war Marshall Plan.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a US citizen at the time of applying.
• Degree: You hold a first bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year US university, or are due to obtain one by September 2027.
• Timing: You obtained your first qualification after April 2024, so no more than about three years before you started your degree in the UK.
• Grades: Your average mark is at least 3.7 on a scale of 4.0. Rounded average marks will not be accepted.
• No prior UK study: You do not yet hold a UK higher education qualification or an equivalent qualification, and you have not taken any GCSE or A-Level exams in the UK.
• Field of study: Virtually any subject area is eligible. The following are not eligible: second bachelor’s degree programmes, postgraduate diplomas, distance-learning or part-time degree programmes, an MBA from any university, an MSc/MFE in finance from any university, and degree programmes in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or law that lead to a professional qualification.

How to apply

You apply via your US bachelor’s degree-awarding institution, which must recommend you (each institution may nominate up to 24 candidates). The deadline for your application and the submission of references is 29 September 2026. Your university must submit its recommendation by 1 October 2026. Both deadlines are at 5:00 pm in the time zone of the recommending institution, although your university’s internal deadline is often earlier. If you are shortlisted, an interview will take place in early to mid-November at one of the eight regional centres.

How realistic are your chances?

This is one of the most competitive scholarships in the US: up to 50 places, a strict minimum grade point average (GPA) requirement of 3.7, and equal emphasis placed on academic achievement, leadership qualities and potential as an ambassador. Good grades alone are not enough. Your university must also decide to support your application, which filters the number of applicants even before the selection committee reviews the applications. If you clearly meet the requirements and can demonstrate genuine leadership qualities and a genuine interest in UK–US relations, you are a promising candidate – but be prepared for a rigorous selection process.