GovWire

Foreign Office Minister Alok Sharma has today announced a 25% increase in the number of US post-graduate students joining the UKs prestigious Marshall Scholarships programme.

Marshall Scholarships help build strong ties with the USA by giving young Americans of high ability and leadership potential the opportunity to study at universities in the United Kingdom. In 2017 40 students will join the programme, an increase from the 32 places originally planned for the year.

Alok Sharma said:

This increase in scholarships shows how resolute Britain is in its commitment to the special relationship. And, of course, our Marshall scholars retain a lifelong warmth for the UK.

Previous Marshall scholars have gone on to achieve extraordinary success, making Oscar nominated films, setting up LinkedIn, and becoming NASAs youngest astronaut.

Giving these talented people the opportunity to study at our best universities means we can build strong relationships with the next generation of influential American leaders in business, politics, and many other professions.

The 2017 Marshall Scholars are drawn from across the United States and will study at universities across the UK including Birmingham, Belfast, Edinburgh and Leeds.

The Marshall Scholarship programme was created in 1953 by the British Government to thank the American people for the assistance given to the UK after the Second World War through the European Recovery Programme - commonly known as the Marshall Plan.

Scholars are selected to study at post-graduate level at any British university, in any field of study. There are currently around 1900 alumni of the programme, many of whom hold leading positions in political life, academia and business in the USA.

Further information

• Follow Foreign Office Minister Alok Sharma on Twitter @AlokSharma_RDG

• Follow the Foreign Office on Twitter @foreignoffice and Facebook

• Follow the Foreign Office on Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn

• Follow Marshall Scholars on Twitter @MarshallScholar

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