Marshall Scholarship 2026: US citizens studying a Masters in the UK

Up to 50 Americans are picked each year for a Marshall Scholarship, which pays for a graduate degree at a UK university. You can study in any field, with a few exceptions listed on the official site. The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission runs the programme. It is aimed at young Americans with strong academic records who are expected to go on to lead in their fields.

• Host: any UK university
• Level: Masters degree
• Study destination: United Kingdom
• Awards: up to 50 each year
• Deadline: 16 September 2025 for applicants
• Course starts: Autumn 2026
• Covered: university fees, living costs, grants and travel

This award suits a US citizen who has just finished, or is about to finish, a first undergraduate degree at a four-year US college and wants to take a Masters in the UK. You need a GPA of at least 3.7 on that degree, and you must have graduated after April 2023.

It also fits someone who has not studied at a British university and has not taken GCSE or A Levels at a school in the UK.

Any UK university.

Masters degree in any subject, apart from the exceptions listed at this link.

Up to 50 scholarships are given out each year.

US citizens.

The award pays university fees, living costs, an annual book grant, a thesis grant, research and daily travel grants, and fares to and from the United States. Where it applies, it also makes a contribution towards supporting a dependent spouse.

The Two Year Marshall Scholarship runs for 2 academic years (ie 22 months). The Commission may extend it, but not past the end of a third academic year. Third-year extensions are given on a limited basis, for strong academic reasons, and depend on funds being available.

The One Year Marshall Scholarship runs for 1 academic year (ie 12 months) and cannot be extended.

To be eligible for a 2026 Marshall Scholarship, candidates must:

• Be citizens of the United States of America (at the time they apply for a scholarship);
• (By the time they take up their scholarship i.e. September 2026) hold their first undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States;
• Have obtained a grade point average of not less than 3.7 on their undergraduate degree at the time of application. Rounded GPA’s are not accepted.
• Have graduated from their first undergraduate college or university after April 2023.
• Not have studied for, or hold a degree or degree-equivalent qualification from a British University or GCSE or A Levels taken at school in the UK.

You apply through one of eight regions in the United States. Pick one region only: either the one where your permanent home address or usual place of residence or employment is, or the one where you are studying. Each regional centre sets its own closing date.

For the 2025 Marshall Competition the deadlines are 16 September 2025 for applicants and recommenders, at 5:00pm in the time zone where your university is located, and 18 September 2025 for endorsement and submission by your US institution, at 5:00pm in the time zone where your university is located.

Read the how to apply page and the official website (link below) for full details on applying.

• Who can apply for the Marshall Scholarship? US citizens who hold, or will hold by September 2026, a first undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year US college or university, with a GPA of at least 3.7 and graduation after April 2023.
• What does the scholarship cover? University fees, living costs, an annual book grant, a thesis grant, research and daily travel grants, fares to and from the United States, and where applicable a contribution towards a dependent spouse.
• How many scholarships are awarded? Up to 50 each year.
• When is the deadline? 16 September 2025 for applicants and recommenders, and 18 September 2025 for endorsement and submission by your US institution, both at 5:00pm in the time zone where your university is located.
• How do I apply? Apply through one of eight US regions, choosing the region of your permanent home, your place of residence or employment, or where you are studying.

• Read the official how to apply page before you start so you know every document the region asks for.
• Ask your recommenders early and give them the deadline in their own time zone.
• Check the subject exceptions before you settle on a course.
• Confirm which region applies to you, since you may apply in one region only.
• Leave time for your US institution to endorse and submit your application.