Churchill Scholarship
Process
Eligibility:
One year of graduate study leading to a degree (generally a Master's) in engineering, mathematics, and/or the sciences at Cambridge University, England. Seniors and graduate students are eligible to apply. Must complete GRE general test by November. Must be under the age of 26 and a U.S. citizen.
Who they are looking for:
The Churchill Scholarship Program enables outstanding American students to do graduate work in engineering, mathematics and the physical and natural sciences at Churchill College, Cambridge University. The Scholarships also provide the opportunity to experience life in Britain, to forge friendships with British students and those from many other lands who are enrolled at Cambridge, to see something of Britain and lands beyond, to see the United States from a new perspective, and to gain personal insights about oneself that come from living abroad and adjusting to new challenges. Students who are introverted, shy, lacking in confidence, or rigid, however bright, may not prosper in the Cambridge environment. The Churchill Foundation is looking for intellectual leaders as demonstrated by the academic record, evidence of independent research, the all-important letters of recommendation, and intellectual passion. The Foundation also seeks individuals who admirably will represent our country at Cambridge by their intellectual endeavors and by their participation in the life of the University of Cambridge.
The official criteria for the selection of Churchill Scholars include the following: (1) Achievement in academic work as indicated by course grades and scores on the GRE; (2) Capacity for original, creative work as shown by special recognition and letters of reference; (3) Ability to contribute to the advancement of knowledge; and (4) Outstanding personal qualities as demonstrated by leadership, activities, and social engagement.
Early Review:
Students are encouraged to submit drafts of their Cambridge and Churchill Scholarship applications to the Office of Scholarships for International Study well in advance of the campus deadline in order to receive feedback from the office. The Office of Scholarships for International Study is willing to work with students through numerous revisions. Submit the application via email to scholarships@uiuc.edu.
REQUIRED Final Cambridge Submittal Deadline Received October 15, 2008:
Churchill scholarship applications are submitted in two parts. First, the applicant is responsible for mailing his/her Cambridge application for admission to Cambridge University (including all original transcripts in sealed envelopes, a passport-size photo, and two recommendations in appropriately marked, signed, sealed envelopes, along with any other required materials such as writing samples). In all cases, the materials need to be received at Cambridge by October 15. Please note that you must check Churchill College as your first choice on the Cambridge application. Also, in section B(3), you should indicate that you are applying for a Churchill Scholarship through the Winston Churchill Foundation, indicate one year for tenure, indicate March for the date, and indicate 22,000-25,000 pounds as the value of the scholarship. The scholarships office requires a copy of your Cambridge application prior to submission. Letters should be written to the attention of the "Board of Graduate Studies". If your letter writer wishes to include the address, it is:
The Secretary
Board of Graduate Studies
4 Mill Lane
Cambridge CB2 1RZ
United Kingdom
REQUIRED Campus Deadline October 15, 2008:
A complete Churchill Scholarship application must be submitted to the Scholarships for International Study Office in order to be considered for University of Illinois endorsement (a requirement to move forward in the competition). Based on your submittal (and in special circumstances an interview), a Churchill Scholarship Campus Review Committee will determine your endorsement. The University will endorse those candidates the Committee feels have the potential to be Churchill Scholars; up to two applicants may receive this endorsement. The Office of Scholarships for International Study also may offer some feedback on the Churchill portion of your application, based on comments from Committee members.
Required information:
- Transcripts from all colleges attended.
- At least 4 academic Letters of Recommendation (two of which presumably will be from the same letter writers who wrote your Cambridge recommendation for your Cambridge University application). However, each of the four letters must be written specifically for the Churchill Scholarship and accompanied by a cover sheet that the applicant has signed (the letter writers may not just use a copy of the letter they provided for admission to Cambridge).
- A complete Churchill Scholarship Application (including printed application form and personal statement, a one-page listing of scholarships and awards, and a one-page listing of research experiences, internships, and publications. Do not electronically submit your application until after the endorsement decision. Further, no photos are required at this time.
- A copy of your GRE report for the general test (Churchill Foundation code #3922). MCAT scores may be substituted for the GRE.
The Churchill Scholarship Program
U.S. Student Programs
Institute of International Education
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017-3580
Endorsed Applicant Deadline Noon, November 10, 2008:
Those students who have been endorsed need to submit their final Churchill application packet to the Scholarships Office by 12:00 noon on Monday, November 10. At this time, you will need to include an original Churchill Foundation application form, both submitted online and in hard copy (the one-page listings do not need to be submitted online), all original transcripts, an original Churchill reference cover sheet and letter from each of your four referees (if updated letters were requested), and one passport-size photo attached to your application. You also need to ensure that your GRE scores are submitted directly to the Winston Churchill Foundation (code #3922). MCAT scores may be substituted for the GRE
The Final Stages:
The Office of Scholarships for International Study submits an official University Endorsement Letter along with your complete application materials (including reference letters) to the Churchill Foundation. The national Churchill Foundation Scholarship Screening Committee, comprised of former Churchill Scholars, evaluates the applications and very selectively endorses those considered most qualified for a scholarship. Those students who make the short list will be invited for a phone interview in January with the Director of the Foundation. Then, the Cambridge Board of Graduate Studies and the appropriate department at Cambridge review the applications of nationally endorsed candidates, consider the availability of appropriate supervision and laboratory space, and decide who are eligible for admission to the University. Based on this information, the Winston Churchill Foundation makes final decisions on Churchill Scholarship winners and announces them by April 15 (though in recent years, this was completed by March 1).
General Application Tips:
The Churchill Committee will not review your Cambridge application. Thus, treat the Churchill application as a stand-alone document (thus the need for separate letters of recommendation and transcripts).
Personal Statement: This is the most important part of the application and is meant to be extremely academic in nature. Demonstrate what you are all about and why Cambridge will be good for you. Prove that study at Cambridge is better than enrolling at an institution in the U.S. at this point in your career. Illustrate the amount of energy you have put into research and that you have a serious focus and intensity in one area of study. Delineate the progression of your research.
Recommendation Letters:
Advice for Writing Letters of Recommendation
Churchill Website and Application:
For official information on the Churchill Scholarship (which supercedes any information provided here), please go to: http://www.winstonchurchillfoundation.org/Index.html
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David Schug and Laura Hastings, Directors Scholarships for International Study 321 International Studies Building, MC-480 910 South Fifth Street Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: (217) 244-0254 Fax: (217) 333-6270 scholarships@uiuc.edu |
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