Fellowships@Brown

Churchill Scholarship

Deadline 09/29/2023
Eligibility Seniors
Contact [email protected]
Website https://www.churchillscholarship.org/the-scholarship

Description

The Churchill Scholarship is the premier post-baccalaureate STEM scholarship for US students to pursue graduate work in engineering, mathematics, or the sciences at the University of Cambridge as residents of Churchill College, Cambridge. Offered by the Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States, the award leads to either the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or the Master of Advanced Study (MASt), depending on the field. (The MPhil in most instances is a research degree, while the MASt involves courses and research.)

Students who are interested in science policy might also consider applying for the Kanders Churchill Scholarship. Established in 2017 to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy, the Kanders Churchill Scholarship represents a transformative opportunity for leadership in international science policy through pursuit of a Masters in Public Policy at Cambridge. Unlike its counterpart, the Kanders Churchill Scholarship does not have a nomination requirement. Instead, applicants can indicate their interest in their application to Cambridge.

Eligibility

Brown is one of a select cohort of American colleges or universities invited each year to nominate two candidates to compete for sixteen Churchill Scholarships. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens currently enrolled at Brown or recently graduated and hold a bachelors degree by the time they begin their scholarship year.  

The selection criteria includes exceptional academic talent and achievement and a capacity to contribute to an advancement of knowledge in the sciences, engineering, or mathematics by pursuing original, creative work at an advanced level.  Applicants should have research experience in a laboratory or with independent work or other projects.  The foundation also looks for applicants with what they call interesting “jagged edges,” by which they mean some level of engagement with other types of pursuits in addition to their science, math, or engineering involvements.

Churchill applicants need to determine exactly what course of study or kind of research they intend to pursue at Cambridge. Churchill scholars are not confined to Churchill College for supervision, but can study under any faculty member at Cambridge. See the Churchill Fellowship Guide to Programs of Study at Cambridge.

Benefits

The award provides payment of all university and college tuition and fees at Cambridge, a maintenance allowance, and a travel allowance plus reimbursement of application fees for the UK visa. Additional financial support is available for married students whose spouses accompany them. In all, the Churchill Scholarship is worth between $40,000 and $60,000 depending on the program of study and prevailing rates of exchange.

Applying

All applicants must submit a complete application through the Churchill Scholarship online application system by the campus deadline of September 29, 2023.  The Churchill online system automatically directs submitted applications to the campus representative at Brown for the internal review process. 

Applying: 

1. Complete the Churchill application form which can be found on  Churchill's online application portal. Note: You must select Churchill College as your first choice. 

2. Provide a 1-page Proposed Program of Study (MPhil applicants should have made contact with a relevant laboratory and Cambridge faculty members and they should reference these in their essay)

3. Provide a 2-page Personal Statement

4. Request four (4) letters of reference (from the candidate's field of study) through the online portal, recommenders will receive an email linked to instructions and an upload portal. Recommenders must submit their letters of recommendation through the Churchill online portal by the campus deadline of September 29, 2023.

5. A letter of interest or commitment from a director of a laboratory at Cambridge, if available and if relevant

6. One (1) official transcript from each institution you have attended

Please note that applicants for the Churchill Scholarship or the Kanders Churchill Scholarship must apply separately for admission to a Master's degree program at the University of Cambridge.