The award: For one or two years of graduate study at any British university; $20,000 for each of one or two years. 2-3 awards are offered each year.

Eligibility: The candidate must have a bachelor's degree by the starting date of the grant; be a U.S. citizen and a Bay Area resident or have a current affiliation with a Bay Area university; high academic standing, excellent recommendations and some community involvement.

Campus Deadline: There is no campus deadline for this scholarship, applications are sent directly to San Francisco. The ORC does offer critique if essays. Students who wish to use this service should email their essays to pearsonj@stanford.edu.

Requirements:

Completed application form; one-page statement of academic and professional interest;two-page personal biography written in narrative style; undergraduate and graduate transcripts; at least 3 letters of recommendation from professors who are familiar with the applicant's work.

Additional Information:

*The applicant must make independent application to a British university, allowing adequate time for notifcation of acceptance.

*The scholarship winner must make his/her own travel and living arrangements. The funds only partially cover expenses, so the student must be prepared to supplement these funds.

*Interviews takes place in San Francisco in March or April.

Applicants should submit materials directly to the ESU at the following address:

English-Speaking Union
391 Sutter Street, Ste. 612
San Francisco, CA 94108
T (415) 362-6985
F (415) 362-6991

Staff at the ORC are available to assist you in the preparation of your application.

General Comments:

The English Speaking Union is an award that should be seriously considered by students who have a strong academic reason for studying in the U.K. While it is a regional award, it is competitive; however, Stanford students have a good record of success. Applicants need to focus on why they need to attend a particular U.K. university as well as providing a well written statement that can provide the committee with a good understanding of the applicant's academic and personal development.

There is an interview process as well so applicants must be able to articulate their goals and experiences.