University of Birmingham - Birmingham Marshall Scholarship

Birmingham Marshall Scholarship

You will receive a full tuition-fee waiver plus a living-cost stipend (a regular payment to cover your living costs) to undertake a Master’s degree at the University of Birmingham in the UK in any subject area. The University of Birmingham will cover your tuition fees. The living costs grant is provided by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission and is funded by the UK Government. The funding lasts for 1 or 2 years for a Master’s degree and up to 3 years for a PhD. The third year of your PhD depends on your academic progress. You may use the scholarship for a one-year Master’s programme, a two-year Master’s programme, two consecutive one-year Master’s programmes, a full PhD programme, or a Master’s programme followed by a PhD.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a US citizen at the time of your application.
• Degree: At the time the scholarship commences, you must hold a first bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year US college or university. At the time of application, you may still be in the final stages of your degree.
• Grades: Your grade point average must be at least 3.7 on a scale of 4.0. Rounded-up grade point averages will not be accepted.
• Recent graduate: You recently completed your first bachelor’s degree. For the 2027 cycle, this means: after April 2024.
• No UK study: You have never studied at a British university or obtained a degree there, and you have not sat either the GCSE or A-Level exams at a British school.
• Field of study: Any subject area at Master’s or PhD level.

How to apply

You must submit your application via Marshall’s online system (ASAMS), including three letters of recommendation. The US university where you completed your bachelor’s degree must confirm your application. For the 2027/28 intake, the application period begins in June 2026; the application deadline is on 29 September 2026 at 17:00 in the time zone of your certifying university. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to regional interviews in the USA in November.

How realistic are your chances?

This is an extremely prestigious national award. Each year, up to around fifty Marshall Scholars are selected from all UK partner universities, and the standards are high. A 3.7 grade point average is merely the starting point. In the selection process, leadership and the potential to strengthen UK-US relations are given just as much weight as academic achievement. Your application will stand out if you clearly meet the requirements, demonstrate strong leadership qualities and present a concrete plan for your studies in Birmingham.