The British Parliament instituted the Marshall Scholarships on 31 July 1953 as a practical and enduring gesture of thanks on behalf of the British people for assistance received from the United States in the aftermath of the Second World War. The Scholarships are named after General George C Marshall, President Truman's 'Architect of Peace', whose personal support made the European Recovery Program (Marshall Plan) possible and whose name has been associated with it ever since.

To date over a thousand Marshall Scholarships have been awarded to students at more than 250 US universities and colleges. The Honorary Patron of the Association of Marshall Scholars is HRH The Prince of Wales. A Marshall Scholarship may be held at any one of more than a hundred universities and university-type institutions in Britain. Marshall Scholars are expected to stay in residence at their British university for two years and to take a degree.

To qualify for an award candidates must:

•Be American citizens at time of application

•Apply within two years of graduating from their undergraduate college or university

•Have (after freshman year) a grade point average of at least 3.7 (or A-minus)

•Take up their award within three years of graduating from college in the United States

•Not be studying for, or hold a British University degree

More at http://www.marshallscholarship.org/applications/eligible

Biographical details of Marshall Scholars from 2000 to 2007 can be found on the Marshall Scholarship website at http://www.marshallscholarship.org/scholars/

The British Council USA is helping to develop a database of Marshall Scholarship alumni and are hoping to enhance the information available on former scholars and utilize it to revitalize alumni activity in the US. Please go to http://www.marshallscholars.org/ for further details

The UK-based World Trade Center Disaster Fund has announced details of scholarships for children of victims of Sept 11th terrorist attacks. Up to 70 scholarship awards, totaling in excess of $3 million, will be available to students of any nationality whose parent or guardian was either killed or permanently disabled in the disaster. The awards are for full-time study, leading to a first degree level qualification in the UK.

It is intended that the awards will cover travel, tuition fees, accommodation and living expenses for a maximum of three years leading towards a first degree. The first scholarships were awarded for the academic year 2003/04.

Expressions of interest are invited from or on behalf of any young person who might wish to attend a higher education institution in the UK, starting either in the 2007-08 academic year or at any point in the future up to and including 2020-21. The 70 awards will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Further information and application forms can be found at the following website: http://www.britishcouncil.org/911scholarships.htm