Marshall and Rhodes Scholarship Opportunities
Posted in General Page
Each year, the Center for Research & Fellowships advises Georgetown students and recent graduates who are interested in applying for the Marshall Scholarship for post-graduate study in the United Kingdom and the Rhodes Scholarship for post-graduate study at the University of Oxford.
While each opportunity is different, these well-known, merit-based scholarships collectively recognize strong academic achievement and leadership potential.
Note: As of March 13, 2024, the US-Ireland Alliance has paused the George J. Mitchell Scholarship Program. More information on the pause can be found on the US-Ireland Alliance website.
- In cases where institutional endorsement from Georgetown University is required for application (for example, current student and alumni applicants to Rhodes USA and Marshall), applicants must participate in the internal nomination process outlined below and apply for institutional endorsement from Georgetown University. In other words, they cannot directly apply to the fellowships.
- In cases where institutional endorsement from Georgetown University is not required for application (for example, certain Rhodes constituencies), applicants do not need to participate in the internal nomination process outlined below and do not apply for institutional endorsement.
- To determine if institutional endorsement is required for a Rhodes constituency, applicants can check the rules for the various constituencies; look for the respective constituency’s unique “Information for Candidates” document.
Applicants who are required to apply for institutional endorsement should closely review the information below. Email fellowships@georgetown.edu to be added to the listserv.
Applicants who are not required to apply for institutional endorsement are still greatly encouraged to review the general resources below and set up an appointment with an advisor at the CRF. Email questions to fellowships@georgetown.edu.
Eligibility Requirements
- To apply for institutional endorsement for a combination of the Marshall and Rhodes programs, individuals must have at least a 3.7 cumulative, unrounded grade point average for consideration.
- Applicants should visit the scholarships’ websites to confirm their eligibility for the Marshall Scholarship and the Rhodes Scholarship.
- It is solely the applicants’ responsibility to ensure they are eligible for the scholarship or scholarships to which they are applying for institutional endorsement. If questions arise, candidates should consult an advisor at the Center for Research & Fellowships.
Preparing to Apply
Interested applicants should:
- Email fellowships@georgetown.edu to join the center’s listserv; the listserv is how critical information will be shared with potential applicants for the Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships, including about information sessions, due dates, and timelines.
- Spend time reflecting on their academic, co-/extra-curricular, personal, and professional experiences thus far and thinking about how those experiences might inform the issue or issues they hope to study in a funded graduate program.
- Request an advising appointment using this Google Form. Current advising is for applicants who would, if selected for a fellowship, begin their studies in fall 2025.
- Attend workshops and information sessions
- Closely review the Marshall Scholarship and Rhodes Scholarship program websites.
- Closely review the following:
- Rhodes Scholarship “Legacy, Equity & Inclusion,” Rhodes conditions of tenure, and the Rhodes constituency-specific “Information for Candidates” document available on the respective constituency’s webpages. (See, for example, Rhodes USA, Rhodes Canada, Rhodes China, and Rhodes Kenya.)
- Marshall Scholarship course search and Marshall one-year (less common) and two-year study options.
Applying for Institutional Endorsement
Individuals seeking institutional endorsement take part in an internal nomination process that includes submitting an application cover sheet, a 6-minute recorded presentation, a resume, and a Parchment transcript. All applications should be submitted via Google Form.
All application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 12 PM (noon) ET. Applications will open in April 2024.
– Letters of recommendation submitted by your recommender using this Google Form
- Up to 1,000 words on letterhead and signed
- A minimum of four letters is required for individuals applying to Marshall. A minimum of eight letters is required for individuals applying to Rhodes (and Marshall). *If your Rhodes constituency allows fewer than eight letters, we ask that you submit at least the maximum number of letters allowed by your constituency.
- From professors, professional mentors/supervisors, and other individuals with whom the applicant has worked closely. The recommenders that applicants select should be able to provide substantive insight for the internal review committee about their work with them, their academic and/or leadership abilities, and their potential for graduate-level study in their discipline.
- Applicants cannot invite friends and family members to submit letters of recommendation.
- It is the applicants’ responsibility to meet with recommenders to provide details about the fellowship program, their motivations for graduate study, and the requirements for these substantive letters.
- Recommenders should submit, by the due date, their recommendations using this Google Form.
Individuals should submit all other application materials as a combined .pdf attachment, by the due date. The documents should be in this order: completed application cover sheet, resume, and transcript. The 6-minute presentation should also be included in the cover sheet and sent as a Google drive link. Late applications will not be accepted.
Nominee Process
Applicants will be notified if they have been accepted for institutional endorsement in June 2024. Individuals who then accept institutional endorsement commit to a three-month-long intensive preparation process including:
- Spending about 10-12 weeks regularly meeting with advisors and peer nominees on application materials, including a multi-part process of essay revision.
- Regularly attending writing workshops.
- Working with recommenders who have the opportunity to update their letters that they submitted for the internal nomination process.
- Taking part in thorough interview preparation exercises and readings.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Under no circumstance should applicants seek feedback from center staff or anyone on personal statement creation, development, and editing for the Rhodes Scholarship. This is prohibited by Rhodes: “Your personal statement should be wholly accurate, and written in your own words from your own perspective. Material misrepresentation will result in disqualification of an application or, where appropriate, the rescinding of a scholarship. It should be entirely your own work, with no assistance received. Through the online application form you will be asked to confirm that the entered / uploaded personal statement is accurate, is your own work and that no external help was given in its creation or editing.” (Source: Rhodes Scholarship)
Application Deadlines
Deadlines for applications to the above programs vary: Marshall (generally late September) and Rhodes (USA generally in early October, but the due date varies by constituency).
Applicants should familiarize themselves with the due dates and times. Applicants receiving institutional endorsement will be provided more information about timelines as a part of the preparation process.
Upcoming Workshops
To receive updates and information, register for the following workshops and information sessions using this Google Form.
All applicants for institutional nomination must attend the following workshops:
- Thursday, April 4, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Recommendation Letters & Resume Writing for Competitive Fellowships
- Friday, April 5, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Defining Your Issue Area
- Tuesday, April 9, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Identifying UK Graduate Programs
- Monday, April 22, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: Creating Your Internal Nomination Video
- At least one “Designing Your Pitch” workshop. See below for dates and times.
In addition, experience has shown that successful candidates attend the following workshops:
- Tuesday, March 19, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM: Beyond the Standard Path: Graduate Outcomes with Impact
- Wednesday, March 20, 6:00PM – 7:30PM: Information Session #1 & Past Nominee Panel
- Thursday, March 21, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Information Session #2
- Friday, March 22, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Telling Your Story: The Importance of Narrative to Post-Graduate Success
- Monday, March 25, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Post-Graduate Study and Research Abroad
- Thursday, April 11, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Designing Your Pitch
- Wednesday, April 17, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Demystifying the Personal Statement
- Thursday, April 18, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Designing Your Pitch
- Friday, April 26, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Designing Your Pitch
Webinar Resource Library
- Candidacy Video Workshop | | April 19, 2023
- Recommendation Letter Workshop | | April 18, 2023
- Resumes for Competitive Fellowships | | April 14, 2023
- Developing an Issue Area | | April 4, 2023
- Information Session | | March 23, 2023
- Fellowships Resume Workshop | | May 2022
- Problem vs. Issues | | April 2022
- Navigating Graduate Programs | | April 2022
- Fellowships Nomination Information Session | | March 2022
(updated March 15, 2024)