Churchill Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Winston Churchill Foundation Of The United States

The Award

The Churchill Scholarship funds a limited cohort of graduate scholars each year to pursue advanced science, mathematics, and engineering study at the University of Cambridge. Awards support one-year Master’s programs and are intended to enable focused, high-impact academic progress. The program includes financial coverage beyond tuition to facilitate study and research in the UK. Recipients may access additional research funding and program-specific benefits.

Description: Up to 18 scholarships are awarded annually: 16 Churchill Scholarships in science, mathematics, and engineering, and two Kanders Churchill Scholarships in science policy. The scholarships support one-year Master’s courses that typically run 9–12 months.

Award Value: The award covers tuition, roundtrip airfare to the UK, visa fees and health surcharge, and a stipend set higher than the UK Research Council standard. Recipients are eligible to apply for a $4,000 special research grant; the total value of support is over $80,000.

• Supports focused, one-year Master’s study at Cambridge.
• Up to 18 awards annually across STEM and science policy.
• Comprehensive financial package plus a supplemental research grant.

Our Philosophy

The selection process emphasizes demonstrated academic and research achievement rather than leadership or ambassadorial traits. The Foundation aims to equip accomplished early-career scientists, mathematicians, and engineers with skills that amplify future impact. Training in science communication and policy supplements the academic year to broaden career capabilities. Scholars are also offered opportunities to engage with Sir Winston Churchill’s legacy through curated visits.

Description: Candidates are chosen primarily for research excellence; the program then provides targeted professional development to enhance scientific influence and public engagement.

Program Extras: Scholars participate in a science communication workshop and a science policy seminar, and are invited to guided visits to Chartwell and the Churchill War Rooms.

• Selection prioritizes academic and research achievement.
• Professional development focuses on communication and policy skills.
• Cultural and historical engagement is included as part of the scholar experience.

Programs of Study

The Scholarship supports study at Cambridge leading to either an MPhil or an MASt (Master of Advanced Study), with program type varying by discipline. The MASt (Part III) is a course-heavy option available primarily in pure and applied mathematics, while the MPhil is typically a research-focused degree culminating in a thesis and viva. Applicants must normally demonstrate correspondence with a prospective supervisor or course director to confirm placement suitability. A limited set of part-taught or hybrid courses are eligible, and specific exceptions apply for Advanced Computer Science and certain Clinical Medicine options.

Description: MPhil degrees are research-led and conducted full-time in a lab or research group; MASt is an intensive taught program in mathematics with an optional research essay. Hybrid courses combine taught and research elements but still generally require supervisor correspondence.

Eligibility: Applicants must show correspondence with a supervisor or course director to confirm an appropriate placement, except for the MASt in mathematics and the MPhil in Advanced Computer Science. Prospective applicants should consult program-specific guidance (for example, the Guide to Part III for math applicants) and contact the Foundation for questions about courses not explicitly listed as eligible.

• Supports MPhil (research) and MASt (taught, mainly mathematics) pathways.
• Supervisor correspondence is required in most cases to confirm placement.
• Some part-taught and Clinical Medicine courses are eligible but require Foundation confirmation.

History of the Award

The Churchill Scholarship was created at the request of Sir Winston Churchill during the founding of Churchill College, Cambridge. It was designed to strengthen the US–UK partnership in science and technology and to promote shared prosperity and security. The award reflects Churchill’s vision of fostering deep transatlantic collaboration in STEM fields. Its origin remains central to the scholarship’s mission and program design.

History: Established as part of Churchill College’s founding, the scholarship embodies Sir Winston Churchill’s intent to deepen scientific and technological ties between the United States and the United Kingdom.

• Founded at Sir Winston Churchill’s request alongside Churchill College.
• Purpose-built to advance US–UK collaboration in science and technology.
• Continues to reflect the founding vision in its mission and activities.