Overview

The Marshall Sherfield Fellowships program began in 1997 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Marshall Plan. The fellowships are named after Sir Roger Makins FRS (1904-1996), later Lord Sherfield, British Ambassador in the United States from 1953 to 1956 and the architect of the British Marshall Scholarships program, established 44 years earlier as the principal British commemoration of Marshall Aid. Lord Sherfield went on to be the Chairman of the Marshall Commission, and of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, and from 1970 to 1992 was Chancellor of the University of Reading. The aim of the Marshall Sherfield Fellowships is to introduce American scientists and engineers to the cutting edge of UK science and engineering. It is intended that this in turn will build longer-term links between the United Kingdom and the United States in key scientific areas. The wider objectives are identical to those of the British Marshall Scholarships program:

• to express the gratitude of the British people to the American people for the Marshall Plan;
• to bring for study in the United Kingdom intellectually distinguished Americans who may one day become leaders, opinion formers, and decision makers in their own country;
• to enable them to gain an understanding and appreciation of the British way of life and British social and academic values;
• to encourage them to be ambassadors to the United Kingdom for their own way of life, and to establish long-lasting bridges and ties between the peoples of the United States and the United Kingdom at a personal level;
• to raise the profile of the United Kingdom in the United States.

  Eligibility

  To qualify, candidates must:

  • be citizens of the United States normally resident in the United States;
  • hold a doctorate in a science or engineering subject by the start of the award year.

  Criteria

  In appointing Fellows, the selectors look for distinction of intellect and character as evidenced both by candidates' scholastic attainments and by their other activities and achievements. Candidates, who are expected to pursue high level research during their Fellowship, should demonstrate an outward-looking disposition, good communication skills, and the potential to promote British-American understanding. Preference is given to candidates who combine high academic ability with the capacity to play an active part in the life of the United Kingdom university or research institute to which they go, and who display the potential to make a significant contribution to their own society.

Application Process

Persons interested in applying for the Marshall Sherfield Fellowship can submit an optional pre-application form, available on this web site, if they want feedback on their essay. The pre-application is due in the Boston University Office of the Provost by early June. The in-house application, also available on this web site, is due in early September. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applications will be considered by the Boston University Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell Committee. The Committee will invite finalists for interview and recommend candidates to the President for endorsement by the University. Official applications will be available in September. Applications are submitted to the British Embassy in Washington, DC. Shortlisted candidates will be called for interview in Washington in November. Shortlisted candidates will be reimbursed their travel expenses. Such expenses may not exceed the cost of a round-trip air fare (at the most economical rate available) and unavoidable overnight accommodation. The final selection will be announced from Washington in December.

Candidates are advised to begin preparing their applications well in advance of the September deadline. Gathering some of the documents requested may take some time. Most particularly, applicants should give careful thought to the preparation of their proposed research plan.

Award Value and Conditions

The total value of a Marshall Sherfield Fellowship varies a little according to the circumstances (subject area, place of residence, marital status, etc) of each Fellow. For the 1998 program, the award comprised:

• a laboratory fee or research support grant fixed according to subject;
• airfare to and from the United Kingdom;
• a personal maintenance allowance to cover residence and cost of living expenses at the rate of £739 per month (£887 per month for Fellows at central London institutions);
• an arrival allowance of £227 (£269 for Fellows at central London institutions);
• a grant for books and equipment of £346;
• a grant of up to £217 towards the cost of preparation of reports or other written work;
• a grant of up to £200 for approved travel in connection with the Fellow's research program;
• payment of necessary daily expenses in excess of £10 per month for travel between place of residence and place of research, provided the distance between the two is reasonable;
• a marriage allowance (where applicable) of £259 a month;
• a child allowance (where applicable) of £35 a month.

Marshall Sherfield Fellowships are tenable for up to twelve months. It is hoped that those selected for a Fellowship will spend not less than nine months in the United Kingdom. Research programs involving lengthy periods away from the British university/research institute or outside the United Kingdom are not usually accepted.

Candidates are invited to indicate their preferences for the universities/research institutes at which they would like to carry out their proposed research program, though the Marshall Commission reserves the right to decide on final placement.

Fellows are asked to submit to the Marshall Commission a report on their work at the end of their Fellowship.

Fellows are normally expected to return to the United States on completing tenure of their award.

Marshall Sherfield Fellowships may not normally be held concurrently with any other award. Fellows may not normally undertake paid employment in the United Kingdom during the tenure of their Fellowship.

Marshall Sherfield Fellowships are not available for study for a higher degree.

If a Fellow cannot take up an award during the year for which it is offered, the Fellowship lapses.

British Universities and Research Institutes

Candidates are advised to find out all they can about British universities and research institutes and the feasibility of undertaking their desired program of  research their. 

Candidates should consult the following for more information about British Universities and research institutes:

Information on individual British universities and research institutes are available via the United Kingdom Sensitive Map Home Page.

Commonwealth Universities Yearbook. Published by the Association of Commonwealth Universities and distributed in the United States by Stockton Press, New York. An annual reference work in four volumes, sold only as a set, containing detailed information on degrees and requirements at all British Commonwealth universities, including those in the United Kingdom. Available in Mugar Library.

International Handbook of Universities. New York: Stockton Press, 1996. Available in Mugar Library behind the Reference Desk.

Information is also available from the Educational Information Service of the British Council, British Embassy, 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 (FAX (202) 898-4612, e-mail BRICO@MCIMAIL.COM).