What is the Churchill Scholarship?

Internal Deadline:

October 13, 2023 at 12:00 PM 

Contact the Office of Fellowships for support at least one month before this deadline.

To be considered for endorsement, your application to Cambridge must  also be submitted by:

October 2023 - exact date TBD

The Winston Churchill Foundation funds 18 scholarships per year, comprised of 16 Churchill Scholarships in science, mathematics, and engineering, and two Kanders Churchill Scholarships in science policy. It is for one year of master’s study at the University of Cambridge

The Churchill Scholarship is tenable from 9-12 months, in accordance with the chosen academic program at Cambridge. There are two different degree courses available to applicants for the Churchill Scholarship: the MPhil (Master of Philosophy) and MASt (Master of Advanced Study). The standard MPhil is a research degree, a program that entails full-time research in a lab, and culminates in a thesis and a viva (an oral examination). The MASt is a taught degree course comprising lectures and written examinations. Some MPhil courses involve a mixture of taught courses and a research paper, and most MASt courses provide the opportunity to write a research paper. Check the department’s website for a full description of each course.

See this list of Programs of Study eligible for the Scholarship

The many benefits of the Churchill Scholarship (beyond the funding!) are listed below. 

  • Students are able to conduct independent research (with no other academic obligations at all) at one of the best-resourced universities in the world.
  • Cambridge labs tend to treat master’s students as equals, rather than as junior members of a group.
  • Most students call their Cambridge year the best of their lives, for the intellectual growth, opportunity to explore new things inside and outside the lab, and for finding a work-life balance that they did not have before.
  • Typically, students will publish at least one first author paper from their year of research. Churchill also has a fund for conference travel; most scholars will present their work to an international audience.
  • Many students continue to collaborate with their Cambridge lab after their return to the US.
  • Churchill College is the only Cambridge College that focuses on STEM subjects, and therefore has one of the highest concentrations of great scientists from around the world that students will have as housemates, dining companions, and friends.
  • Churchill Scholars also enjoy science policy seminars and engagement training.
  • Churchill Scholars are invited to engage with the legacy of Sir Winston Churchill through guided visits to Chartwell (his country home) in Kent and the Churchill War Rooms in London.

Award Details

A woman sitting at a computer with mathematical symbols on the walls

How do I apply?

Carefully read our Churchill Scholarship Application page for detailed guidance on the application itself and the steps you should take to prepare a competitive application. This application requires institutional endorsement. 

Information for Recommenders

Content and format:  Please address the candidate's academic achievements; proven talent in research, and outstanding personal qualities as outlined here. (The candidate should provide you their proposed program essay, academice & research history essay, and resume.) Your readers will be academic scientists in a variety of fields. If you feel you cannot provide much detail about the candidate's qualifications, kindly decline to write the letter. Letters for this highly prestigious and competitive scholarship are typically 1-1/2 - 2 pages long. They should be presented on department/research facility letterhead and addressed to the Churchill Scholarship Selection Committee. 

Submission: In response to an email from the Churchill Foundation, please upload a pdf of your letter to their online portal by AC's internal deadline of October 13, 2023. Letters are requested early because they play an important role in college endorsement decisions. No further action by you will be needed after the internal endorsement decision is made.


Have questions? Please contact us.

Christine Overstreet, Director of Fellowships
212 Converse Hall
413-542-2536
coverstreet@amherst.edu

Eric Myers, Associate Director of Fellowships
213 Converse Hall
413-542-5079
ermyers@amherst.edu

Physical address: 100 Boltwood Avenue, Amherst, MA 01002

Mailing Address: AC #2214, PO Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002