Churchill Scholarships Grant

Churchill Scholarships Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Winston Churchill Foundation
Amount: US $4,000
Last Updated: November 06, 2025

Summary

The Churchill Scholarships, established by Sir Winston Churchill, support students for one year of graduate study at the University of Cambridge, focusing on STEM subjects. Awarded to U.S. citizens, these scholarships cover tuition, travel, and living expenses, totaling around $65,000. Scholars gain unique research opportunities in a collaborative environment, fostering global connections and academic growth. This prestigious program emphasizes academic excellence and innovative research, making it a transformative experience for future leaders in science and technology.

Overview

Note: If you are interested in applying, you should first contact the scholarship office at your undergraduate institution.  Each Participating Institution can nominate up to two applicants. Each institution will have an internal application deadline some weeks in advance of the Foundation nomination deadline. Work with your scholarship office to ensure that there is enough time for them to upload your Institutional Letter of Support before the deadline. The deadline stated above is that by which the application must be sent by the Campus Representative in an email transmission to the office of the Churchill Foundation. Please contact the Foundation if you are interested in an area of study not specifically mentioned. Churchill Scholarships The Churchill Scholarship was established at the request of Sir Winston Churchill as part of the founding of Churchill College, Cambridge. It fulfills his vision of deepening the US–UK partnership in order to advance science and technology on both sides of the Atlantic, ensuring our future prosperity and security. Many Churchill Scholars describe their year in Cambridge as the best year of their lives. What makes this program so unique? You have the opportunity to focus on your own research without other obligations. Cambridge labs are non-hierarchical, and you are treated as a valued team member. The academic culture emphasizes work-life balance. You form friendships with future colleagues from all over the world. Churchill College is the only college at Cambridge that focuses on STEM subjects. Most Scholars who go on to a PhD or MD take a different path than they expected before this experience. The Award We fund 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 (courses run between 9 and 12 months). The award covers tuition, roundtrip airfare to the UK, visa fees and health surcharge, and a stipend that is set 5% higher than the UK Research Council standard. Recipients are eligible to apply for a $4,000 special research grant. The total value is around $65,000. Programs of Study The Churchill Scholarship is for one year of study at the University of Cambridge for an MPhil (Master of Philosophy) or MASt (Master of Advanced Study). The MASt is only available in mathematics (also called Part III) and is comprised of an intensive course load with the option to do a research paper (essay) in lieu of one exam. The standard MPhil is a research degree that entails full-time research in a lab (no courses) and culminates in a thesis and a viva (an oral examination). A year of independent research at the master’s level is virtually unheard of in the US and represents a unique opportunity for Churchill Scholars. Applicants to the MPhil, in all cases, are required to show correspondence with a supervisor to ensure that the placement is appropriate. Applicants to the MASt are not required to contact a potential supervisor but should carefully read our Guide to Part III (see link below) and make sure that the degree program is a good fit. Math applicants also have the option to find a research group for an MPhil in mathematics, in which case correspondence with a supervisor is necessary. In a few cases, students can apply for an MPhil course that is hybrid part-taught and part-research. For these, it is still necessary to include correspondence with supervisor on the Churchill Scholarship application. Applicants to these courses should be aware that they will encounter a teaching culture in Cambridge that contrasts with their American undergraduate experience. Many courses cover a great breadth of topics, and you will be on your own to explore them in the depth necessary. There is little contact with professors, and office hours are the exception. For these reasons, students wishing to explore a new area in their Churchill year may be better off with a lab placement, assuming they are accepted by a supervisor. The only part-taught courses that are currently eligible are Advanced Computer Science, Cognitive Neuroscience (which is really just a research degree with equipment training at the beginning), and various options in Engineering (Energy Technologies, Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence, Nuclear Energy). Applicants interested in other courses, not listed here, should contact the Foundation. The criteria for the selection of Churchill Scholars include: Outstanding academic achievement. There is no minimum GPA, though most applicants have a very high average. The Committee looks at achievement in STEM courses, especially in the major, as indicated by course grades and recommendation letters.Proven talent in research. Applicants in the sciences and engineering will demonstrate extensive laboratory experience, internships, or other related work, while applicants in mathematics will show substantial independent work or other projects. The Committee looks for originality and creativity.Outstanding personal qualities. Understanding the time commitment required by research, the Churchill Foundation does not seek so-called “well-rounded applicants”; instead, it seeks applicants with what we call interesting “jagged edges.” The Committee takes into account interests and achievements outside of research, but it does not favor any particular kind of activity.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. An applicant for the Churchill Scholarship must be a citizen of the United States, either native-born or naturalized, and must be enrolled in one of the Participating Institutions and due to graduate during the same academic year as the deadline or be a student who has graduated from one of those institutions within the past 12 months before the deadline. Upon taking up the Churchill Scholarship, a Churchill Scholar must hold a bachelor's degree.The Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States accepts nominations for the Churchill Scholarship from a limited number of Participating Institutions.Additional Eligible College/University:CUNY Macaulay Honors College Saint Joseph's UniversityEligible Courses:MPhil in Archaeological Research (Only eligible for a scientific research project.) MPhil in Biological Anthropological ScienceMPhil in AstronomyThe following Departments offer the MPhil in Biological Science:Babraham Institute (NOTE: Babraham is independent of the University, so to take this option, you must check with a research supervisor that you can pursue research there as a Cambridge student and you must apply to a Cambridge department and find a supervisor willing to support your plan.) Biochemistry Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit Genetics Mitochondrial Biology Unit Molecular Biology Pathology Pharmacology Physiology, Development and Neuroscience Plant Sciences Psychology Wellcome Trust / Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute Wellcome Sanger Institute ZoologyMPhil in Computational Biology*MPhil in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology MPhil in Advanced Chemical Engineering* MPhil in Biotechnology (Mainly for non-bio majors.)MPhil in ChemistryMPhil in Advanced Computer ScienceMPhil in Earth SciencesMPhil in Engineering MPhil in Energy Technologies* MPhil in Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence* MPhil in Nuclear Energy* MPhil in Structural EngineeringMPhil in Geography MPhil in Polar Studies (Polar Physical Sciences only.)MPhil in Materials Science and Metallurgy MPhil in Micro & Nanotechnology Enterprise (Only eligible if the research project undertaken is scientific, rather than business-related.)MASt in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics MASt in Pure Mathematics* MASt in Mathematical Statistics*MPhil in BiostatisticsThe following Departments offer the MPhil in Medical Science:Cambridge Institute for Medical Research Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute Clinical Biochemistry Clinical Neurosciences Hematology Medical Genetics Medicine MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit Obstetrics and Gynecology Oncology Pediatrics Psychiatry Radiology SurgeryMPhil in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics (Language Technology Laboratory.Note: Only scientific research proposals will be considered.MPhil in Music Studies (Only the Music and Science option is eligible.)MPhil in Physics MPhil in Scientific Computing*MPhil in Veterinary ScienceThe Winston Churchill Foundation of the United States is committed to a policy against discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender, marital or parental status, race, color, religion, national origin, or disability or any other characteristic protected by law.

Ineligibility

An offer cannot be made before completion of an informal telephone interview.