Marshall, Mitchell, and Rhodes Scholarship Opportunities

A large building at the University of Oxford with grass in the foreground and blue sky in the background

Posted in General Page

Each year, the Center for Research & Fellowships advises Georgetown students and recent graduates who are interested in applying for the Marshall Scholarship for post-graduate study in the United Kingdom, the Mitchell Scholarship for post-graduate study in Ireland and Northern Ireland, and the Rhodes Scholarship for post-graduate study at the University of Oxford.

Atharv Gupta (SFS’23), a Georgetown senior, Pelosi Scholar and international development researcher working to drive change in emerging markets through technology, has won the 2023 Rhodes Scholarship. Visit a story about Atharv.

While each opportunity is different, these well-known, merit-based scholarships collectively recognize strong academic achievement and leadership potential.

  • In cases where institutional endorsement from Georgetown University is required for application (for example, current student and alumni applicants to Rhodes USA and Marshall, and current student applicants to Mitchell), applicants must participate in the internal nomination process outlined below and apply for institutional endorsement from Georgetown University. In other words, they cannot directly apply to the fellowships.
  • In cases where institutional endorsement from Georgetown University is not required for application (for example, certain Rhodes constituencies and alumni applicants to Mitchell), applicants do not need to participate in the internal nomination process outlined below and do not apply for institutional endorsement.
  • To determine if institutional endorsement is required for a Rhodes constituency, applicants can check the rules for the various constituencies; look for the respective constituency’s unique “Information for Candidates” document.

Applicants who are required to apply for institutional endorsement should closely review the information below and sign up for the listserv.

Applicants who are not required to apply for institutional endorsement are still greatly encouraged to review the general resources below and set up an appointment with an advisor at the CRF. Email questions to fellowships@georgetown.edu.  

Join Our Listserv

Eligibility Requirements

  • To apply for institutional endorsement for a combination of the Marshall, Mitchell and Rhodes programs, individuals must have at least a 3.7 cumulative, unrounded grade point average for consideration. Note: If current students are applying for institutional endorsement for the Mitchell Scholarship alone (i.e., not with Marshall and/or Rhodes), it is preferred, not required, that their GPA be 3.7 or above. Typically, competitive candidates have a cumulative GPA approaching 3.9 or higher depending on the fellowship program.
  • Applicants should visit the scholarships’ websites to confirm their eligibility for the Marshall Scholarship, the Mitchell Scholarship, and the Rhodes Scholarship.
  • It is solely the applicants’ responsibility to ensure they are eligible for the scholarship or scholarships to which they are applying for institutional endorsement. If questions arise, candidates should consult an advisor at the Center for Research & Fellowships.

Preparing to Apply

Interested applicants should:

  • Fill out the interest form to join the center’s listserv; the listserv is how critical information will be shared with potential applicants for the Marshall, Mitchell, and Rhodes Scholarships, including about information sessions, due dates, and timelines.
  • Spend time reflecting on their academic, co-/extra-curricular, personal, and professional experiences thus far and thinking about how those experiences might inform the issue or issues they hope to study in a funded graduate program.
  • Set up an advising appointment by emailing fellowships@georgetown.edu. Current advising is for applicants who would, if selected for a fellowship, begin their studies in fall 2024.
  • Attend webinars and hackathons – dates and time to be scheduled and shared over listserv.
  • Closely review program websites: Marshall Scholarship, Mitchell Scholarship, and Rhodes Scholarship.
  • Closely review: Rhodes Scholarship “Legacy, Equity & Inclusion,” Rhodes conditions of tenure, and the Rhodes constituency-specific “Information for Candidates” document available on the respective constituency’s webpages. (See, for example, Rhodes USA, Rhodes Canada, Rhodes China, and Rhodes Kenya.) Marshall Scholarship course search and Marshall one-year (less common) and two-year study options. Mitchell Scholarship sample 2024-2025 application and FAQs, noting that acceptance of a finalist interview for the Mitchell Scholarship requires withdrawal from other scholarship selection processes, including the Marshall and Rhodes scholarships.
Isabella Turilli (SFS’22), a researcher at the Council on Foreign Relations who is working to transform global health diplomacy, has won the 2023 Rhodes Scholarship. Visit a story about Isabella.

Applying for Institutional Endorsement

Individuals seeking institutional endorsement take part in an internal nomination process that includes submitting an application cover sheet, a 6-minute recorded presentation, a two-page resume, and a Parchment transcript. They must also complete the Fellowship and FERPA waiver by the due date.

All application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be sent to fellowships@georgetown.edu by Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at 12 PM (noon) ET.

– Application cover sheet

– Directions for presentation

– Center for Research & Fellowships’ Waiver and Agreement Form

– Letters of recommendation

  • Up to 1,000 words on letterhead and signed
  • A minimum of four letters is required for individuals applying to Marshall and/or Mitchell. A minimum of eight letters is required for individuals applying to Rhodes (and Marshall or Mitchell). *If your Rhodes constituency allows fewer than eight letters, we ask that you submit at least the maximum number of letters allowed by your constituency.
  • From professors, professional mentors/supervisors, and other individuals with whom the applicant has worked closely. The recommenders that applicants select should be able to provide substantive insight for the internal review committee about their work with them, their academic and/or leadership abilities, and their potential for graduate-level study in their discipline.
  • Applicants cannot invite friends and family members to submit letters of recommendation.
  • It is the applicants’ responsibility to meet with recommenders to provide details about the fellowship program, their motivations for graduate study, and the requirements for these substantive letters.

Individuals should send all other application materials as a combined .pdf attachment, by the due date, to fellowships@georgetown.edu. The documents should be in this order: 1) completed application cover sheet, resume, and transcript. The 6-minute presentation should also be attached to this email or sent as a Google drive link. Late applications will not be accepted.

A collage of four student portrait-style photographs in various settings.
Clockwise from top left: Yumna Naqvi (SFS’21), Anna Landre (SFS’21), Amber Stanford (C’21), and Isaiah Fleming-Klink (SFS’19) received Marshall Scholarships in recent years.

Nominee Process

Applicants will be notified if they have been accepted for institutional endorsement by late June 2023. Individuals who then accept institutional endorsement commit to a three-month-long intensive preparation process including:

  • Spending about 10-12 weeks regularly meeting with advisors and peer nominees on application materials, including a multi-part process of essay revision.
  • Regularly attending writing workshops.
  • Working with recommenders who have the opportunity to update their letters that they submitted for the internal nomination process.
  • Taking part in thorough interview preparation exercises and readings.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Under no circumstance should applicants seek feedback from center staff or anyone on personal statement creation, development, and editing for the Rhodes Scholarship. This is prohibited by Rhodes: “Your personal statement should be wholly accurate, and written in your own words from your own perspective. Material misrepresentation will result in disqualification of an application or, where appropriate, the rescinding of a scholarship. It should be entirely your own work, with no assistance received. Through the online application form you will be asked to confirm that the entered / uploaded personal statement is accurate, is your own work and that no external help was given in its creation or editing.” (Source: Rhodes Scholarship)

Application Deadlines

Deadlines for applications to the above programs vary: Marshall (generally late September), Mitchell (Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 5 PM ET), and Rhodes (USA generally in early October, but the due date varies by constituency).

Applicants should familiarize themselves with the due dates and times. Applicants receiving institutional endorsement will be provided more information about timelines as a part of the preparation process.

Coming Webinars

Register for the following candidacy webinars using this Google form.

“Developing Your Application Video” (April 19 at 11 AM ET)

Webinar Resource Library

  • Fellowships Nomination Information Session | | March 2022

(updated May 26, 2023 with 2024 Marshall application guidance)