The Thouron Award - The Thouron Award

The Thouron Award

The scholarship fully covers your tuition fees, enrolment fees and health insurance. In addition, you will receive an annual living allowance to cover accommodation, travel costs and leisure activities. The funding lasts for up to two years for a Master’s degree and up to three years for a PhD. The scholarship works both ways: British graduates study at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) in the United States, and students from Penn study at any university in the United Kingdom. You will also become part of a network of over 800 former scholarship holders. Sir John and Lady Esther Thouron established the scholarship in 1960 to foster closer ties between the UK and the US.

Who can apply

• If you apply from the UK: You are a British citizen, normally live in the United Kingdom (including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and attended secondary school there. You must have obtained a degree from a British university by the summer following your application.
• If you apply from Penn: You are a US citizen, normally live in the US and attended high school there. You are a member of the graduating class, have just graduated, or are currently enrolled on a Master’s programme at the University of Pennsylvania.
• Degree level: This funding applies exclusively to postgraduate study, i.e. to a Master’s or PhD programme.
• Where you go: British applicants study at Penn. Applicants to Penn can choose any full-time degree programme at a British university.
• Field of study: Virtually any subject area is eligible, although only standard full-time degree programmes lasting up to three years.
• Grades: Applicants to the University of Pennsylvania must have a grade point average of at least 3.5. British applicants are not required to have a ‘First Class’ degree, but very good grades are expected.
• Ambassador qualities: You are actively involved in your local community and can represent your home country, whilst at the same time being open to other cultures.

How to apply

You apply online via the Thouron Award portal and, in addition, submit a separate application for the Master’s programme you wish to undertake. The application deadline is 1 November for UK applicants and 15 October for applicants from the University of Pennsylvania. Around 14 to 20 finalists will be invited in December to attend an interview in January. The interview day will consist of a formal panel interview, group discussions and a one-to-one interview with a member of the Thouron family.

How realistic are your chances?

Up to ten scholarships are awarded each year, and the pool of applicants is small. You must hold the correct nationality, have attended school in this country, and explicitly choose between the UK and Penn. If you meet these criteria and can demonstrate good grades and a proven track record of community involvement, you stand a real chance. Bear in mind that the interview carries just as much weight as your grades; therefore, all three parts of the selection day are crucial.