What stages will I go through in the Marshall Scholarship selection process?
The Marshall Scholarship selection process has five stages: institutional endorsement, regional review, interview shortlisting, regional interview and final selection. Committees weigh academic merit, leadership potential and ambassadorial potential equally, and the award also depends on admission to a UK university.
Your Marshall Scholarship application moves through five stages, from endorsement by your U.S. university to final selection. Academic merit, leadership and ambassadorial potential carry equal weight.
The five stages
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Institutional endorsement | Your U.S. undergraduate university decides whether to endorse you; an institution can endorse up to 24 applications |
| 2. Regional review | The regional committee reviews applications and picks candidates for interview |
| 3. Interview shortlisting | Shortlisted candidates are emailed in early to mid-November 2026 |
| 4. Regional interview | Questions can cover academic plans, personal statements, leadership and interest in UK-US relations |
| 5. Final selection | Selected candidates get a written offer and have five days to accept or decline |
What the committee looks at
| Criteria | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Academic merit | Academic record, subject knowledge and reasons for your UK course and university |
| Leadership potential | Initiative, achievements, drive and potential to lead in your field |
| Ambassadorial potential | Communication skills, community involvement and ability to strengthen UK-US understanding |
My Advice
Prepare for the interview as early as you prepare the application, since all three criteria count equally. Remember the final award also depends on getting admission to a UK university.
Which scholarships can you actually get?
Matched to your CGPA, course and budget. Find out in 30 seconds.
More Scholarships & funding questions
- Is it possible to get a fully funded scholarship if he scores seven or above (seventy percent) in the third year in Germany?
- Do I need to score well in GRE, GMAT, or IELTS to get good scholarships in top business schools for a MBA?
- When does the Korean Government Scholarship open applications for undergraduate students from India?
- What kind of questions might be asked during scholarship evaluations?
- Are you helping with educational loans or bank loans for studying abroad in UK/Ireland for a Master's?
- Is the scholarship available for the next intake in USA for a Master's?
- Which entrance exam should an average scoring 12th grade student prepare for to study abroad without family funding?
- What percentage of scholarship can I possibly get for my profile in USA?