Student Fellowships & Research

Description.
Churchill Scholarships offer American students of exceptional ability, enrolled at one of the institutions participating in the program, the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in engineering, mathematics and the sciences at Cambridge, one of the world’s great universities. The Scholarships also provide the opportunity to experience life in Britain, to forge friendships with British students and those from many other lands who are enrolled at Cambridge, to see something of Europe and lands beyond, to see the United States from a new perspective and to gain personal insights about oneself that come from living abroad and adjusting to new challenges.

Benefits.
At least fourteen Churchill Scholarships are offered annually.  The Scholarship is tenable for nine to twelve months, in accordance with the academic program.  The Churchill Scholarship is worth between $45,000 and $50,000, depending on the exchange rate.  It covers all University and College tuition and fees (currently approximately $25,000). In addition, Churchill Scholars receive a living allowance of £11,000 if enrolled in a nine-month academic program, £12,000 if enrolled in a ten- or eleven-month academic program, and £13,000 if enrolled in a full-year academic program. They receive an allowance of up to $1,000 for travel to and from the United Kingdom, as well as reimbursement of application fees for a UK visa.

In addition, the Foundation now offers a Travel Award of $500 to enable Churchill Scholars to take better advantage of opportunities to travel in the United Kingdom, on the Continent, and wherever else good airfares lead them. 

The Foundation also offers the possibility of a Special Research Grant of up to $2,000; this grant may cover travel for presentations at international conferences, short stays at another university or institute for special research, and other activities.

Married students should consult with the Foundation about the possibility of additional support in accordance with the guidelins of the University of Cambridge.

Eligibility.

• You must apply to the University of Cambridge separately by mid-October. Look at the University’s website and Scholarship Application Instructions for details.
• One must be a citizen of the United States, either native born or naturalized.
• One must be a senior who is enrolled in one of the institutions participating in the Scholarship Program or a student who has recently graduated from one of those institutions.
• Upon taking up a Churchill Scholarship, one must be between the ages of 19 and 26, must hold a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent, and may not have attained a doctorate.
• Exceptional academic talent and outstanding achievement, especially in the major, as indicated by course grades (recent Churchill Scholars have had a GPA of at least 3.7 and usually have 3.9 or above).
• A capacity to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the sciences, engineering, or mathematics by pursuing original, creative work at an advanced level as demonstrated by awards, prizes, research, and letters of recommendation. 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.
• Outstanding personal qualities. Understanding the time commitments 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."  Nonetheless, it should be noted that successful applicants display a bewildering array of talents and activities outside of academic pursuits, especially in music, athletics, social service, among other activities.

Bowdoin’s Internal Selection Process. Bowdoin is allowed to nominate only two  students annually for the Churchill; therefore, the Committee will review the materials listed below to select Bowdoin’s nominees. By the “Initial Bowdoin Deadline,” please submit the following materials to the Office of Student Fellowships and Research:

• A printout of a completed online Churchill Scholarship Application
• Unofficial transcript (printed off of Bearings)
• Signed and witnessed "Permission Form and Waiver"

• Four academic recommendation from teachers, laboratory directors, and others with whom the student has pursued his/her research and studies and who know the student's work well. A faculty member may either electronically submit his/her letter to Emily Briley (ebriley@bowdoin.edu) or give it to the student in a sealed envelope, in which case the student is responsible for delivering the letter to the Office of Student Fellowships and Research by the "Initial Bowdoin Deadline".

Materials for the Final Application. If you receive Bowdoin’s nomination, it is your responsibility to continue revising and collecting your materials. By the “Final Bowdoin Deadline,” Bowdoin’s nominees must submit the following materials to the Office of Student Fellowships and Research, which will send all materials directly to the program for further consideration.

• Completed and signed Churchill Foundation Application Form with one passport-sized photograph attached. (You can prepare the applications in stages and save your work. You should fill out the form, print it, sign it, and submit it to the Office of Student Fellowships and Research.)
• Four letters of reference – two more than the Cambridge Application. The Foundation requests four academic recommendations from teachers, laboratory directors, and others with whom you have pursued your research and studies. Please do not request recommendations from teachers in fields not related to your research in science, engineering, or mathematics (e.g., history, literature, or philosophy), and please do not submit personal recommendations (e.g., from clergy, directors of charitable organizations, etc.). The cover sheet for the Scholarship Recommendation Reports is available in pdf and Word formats on the Foundation’s Web site. Those whom you have selected for your recommendation should write their letters on departmental letterhead, and they should send their letters directly to Bowdoin’s Director of Student Fellowships and Research, Cindy Stocks.
• An official transcript from each institution you have attended. The transcript(s) should also be sent directly to Bowdoin’s Director of Student Fellowships and Research.
• A letter of interest or commitment from a directory of a laboratory at Cambridge, if available and relevant.
• Graduate Record Examination Scores on the General Test. Select a test date so that the Churchill Foundation receives the scores no later than the end of December. The Institution Code List number for the Winston Churchill Foundation is 3922. Scores on the GRE taken in the past two years are acceptable. The Foundation accepts MCAT scores in place of the GRE; please include a photocopy with the paper copy of the application or mail it to the Foundation under a separate cover.

The Office of Student Fellowships and Research is responsible for obtaining the letter of institutional endorsement and will include this document in the final packet sent to the Foundation.