The first Churchill Scholarships, three in number, were awarded in 1963 and funded one year of study.  Shortly thereafter the Scholarships were available either for one-year programs or for the three-year doctorate at Cambridge.  In the early 1980’s the Foundation decided to support only one-year programs in order to increase the number of Churchill Scholars.

In its early years the Foundation also made small travel grants to Churchill Fellows, distinguished senior faculty who would spend one year at the College.  Eight of the Churchill Fellows won the Nobel Prize.

The have now been some four hundred thirty Churchill Scholars.  This site has a database that lists all Churchill Scholars, their undergraduate institutions, and their departments at the University of Cambridge.

The Winston Churchill Foundation awards at least fourteen Scholarships.  The one-year awards lead to the Master of Philosophy (MPhil), the Certificate of Post-Graduate Study (CPGS in a only a few fields of study), the Master of Advanced Study in Mathematics (MASM, formerly known as CASM, the Certificate of Advanced Study in Mathematics).

An applicant for the Churchill Scholarship must be a citizen of the United States, either native born or naturalized, and 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 the Churchill Scholarship, a Churchill Scholar 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.

Applicants must hold 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 and prizes and by letters of reference. Applicants in the sciences and engineering will show extensive laboratory experience, internships, or other related work, while applicants in mathematics will show substantial independent work or other projects.

The Award

At least fourteen Churchill Scholarships are offered annually. The Scholarship is tenable for nine, ten or twelve months, depending on the academic program.

The Churchill Scholarship is worth between $42,000 and $48,000, depending on the exchange rate. It covers all University and College tuition and fees (currently about $25,000). In addition, Churchill Scholars receive a living allowance of £10,000 if enrolled in a nine-month academic program, £11,000 if enrolled in a ten-month academic program, and £12,000 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 applications fees for a UK visa.

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 additional support.