Writing a Letter of Recommendation: Marshall Scholarships

Thank you for taking the time to write a letter of recommendation for a nationally competitive scholarship application. Yours is a valuable contribution to this formative process and we appreciate your advocacy on behalf of the applicant.

Please be aware, it is a matter of NCS policy that applicants must waive their right to see your letter of recommendation. We also cannot accept letters authored by applicants; the endorsement must be from the letter-signer.

At any time in the process, from brainstorming the first draft to finalizing your letter, we are delighted to help. Please contact ncs-ousf@duke.edu if you would like to discuss further or for questions or concerns.

Guidelines
Criteria	Academic Merit Appropriate academic program choice, Evidence of high academic achievement Compelling reason to study in the UK Leadership Potential Strength of Purpose Creativity Self-Awareness Ambassadorial Potential Knowledge of US/UK Relations Interpersonal Skills and Ability to Engage with Others Ability to appreciate the needs, motives and concerns of others
Endorsement Required?	Yes. This is a multi-stage process.
Length	1000-word maximum
Number of Recommendation Letters	3 total: Two academic letters, one identified as “Preferred” and one leadership letter (this may also be an academic, but must speak directly to leadership)

Application Timeline
Stage	Description	Deadline
Endorsement Application Deadline	NCS will convene a faculty committee to decide which applicants will go forward to compete at the national level.	August 8
Endorsement Decisions Announced		Early September
National Deadline	Once endorsed, your applicant will enter your information into the application platform and you will receive a link to upload your letter to the national foundation website.	September 20

FAQs

How long should my letter be?

The Marshall Scholarship allows for no more than 1000 words. This text will be manually entered into a text box on the Marshall application site without the possibility of using rich formatting or images, including letterhead. As such, please plan to include your full title and contact information.

Where do I submit my letter?

For the Endorsement Round: Submit your letter by email to ncs-ousf@duke.edu

For the National Round: You will receive a link by email from the national foundation (check your spam folder) and must submit the letter online by the national deadline. No exceptions are made for late materials. It should be a signed PDF on letterhead.

To whom do I address the letter?

Please address your letter to the chair and committee members of the region to which your applicant is applying OR to the “Marshall Selection Committee Members”

What might the letter contain?

How does the applicant meet the Marshall criteria? What is outstanding about their scholarship, leadership, and/or character?
Why is the United Kingdom the best place for them to study?
How does their study plan fit into their future ambitions?
What examples can you share that illustrate your strong endorsement for the candidate?
How does this applicant compare to other people you have taught/supervised?

How will I know whether my applicant has been endorsed?

Applicants are instructed to let you know as soon as they learn the decision of the campus endorsement committee. Endorsements are usually made by NCS during the end of the second week of class in the fall semester.

Further Resources

Advice from the Marshall Scholarship Commission to recommendation writers.