Applications are invited for the following Sekforde House Trust scholarships for the academic year September 2023 to June 2024.
The purpose of the scholarships is to invest in the education and future of exceptional students in the hope and expectation that there will be a return to society.
There are a total of six £20,000 scholarships available.
- The opening date for applications is 1 May 2023
- The closing date for applications is 30 June 2023. Late applications may be allowed if an acceptable reason is provided.
Scholars will be ambitious men and women who want to live extraordinary lives and make a difference to the (unfair and unsustainable) world in which we live. Scholars are not charitable objects. The trustees are proud of all the students in whom we are investing the Trust's money.
Application criteria
The scholarships are open to students with a confirmed place to study at either City, University of London or University College London. They are also available for existing students at all levels at those universities.
Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Outstanding academic or other ability
- Financial need
- A desire and ability to make the world fairer and more sustainable.
It is not essential to meet all the criteria, but most scholars will do so.
Overseas students are welcome to apply but will ordinarily be required to attend interview in London if selected. The Trust will consider paying the cost of attending for interview and can provide overnight accommodation.
How to apply
The application should be sent by ordinary post, or hand delivered, to the Trust at 34 Sekforde Street, London EC1R 0HA. It should be sent in a single envelope and contain the following documents:
- A personal statement of no more than 700 words. The statement should demonstrate how the applicant meets one or more of the criteria and provide a real insight into the person making the application. The contents of these statements will be kept strictly confidential.
- A curriculum vitae on one A4 page. This should have attached a passport sized photograph so that the applicant can be remembered and more easily identified.
- A closed personal reference. This should not be seen by the applicant and should be sealed within a separate envelope. It should be provided by a person who knows the applicant well and should focus on character potential and commitment. It should not be more than 500 words and should avoid exaggerated praise.
- A closed academic reference. This should not be seen by the applicant and should be sealed within a separate envelope. The referee should critically assess the applicant both in terms of academic achievement and potential. The reference should be objective and fair, and no more than 500 words. Academic referees of candidates who may be selected for interview should be prepared to be contacted by telephone or email for further information.
- Although not required, applicants may send an example of their work or provide details of anything published on the internet which may be relevant to the application.
Although it helps the trustees if the applications are sent by post in one envelope, applications can also be accepted by email and should be sent to David Lonsdale, Chairman of the Trust, at dl@33br.co.uk. Personal and academic references can also be sent to this email address, even where the application itself is sent by post.
Selection procedure
The Trust cannot ordinarily engage in correspondence or discussion about the scholarships with applicants. It does not have any employees and all the trustees and external assessors are volunteers. Applicants are asked not to contact the trustees unless they really feel they must do so.
The Chairman of the trustees may exceptionally be contacted at dl@33br.co.uk or by telephone on 07979 454141.
After the deadline, all applications will be reviewed carefully by the trustees. Approximately 12 to 15 candidates will be selected for interview and contacted by telephone.
Interviews
The interviews will take place on Sunday 3 September 2023. The interview panel consists of the trustees and three external assessors. At least one of the external assessors is a former scholar. One is a member of staff at the Sekforde.
There is no dress code for the interviews. Casual dress is entirely acceptable. The interviews are friendly but vigorous and will last about 30 minutes. If an applicant is unable to attend an interview in person on the date required, then ordinarily it will not be possible to consider the application further.
Any member of the panel may veto an applicant. This is to ensure that the decision to award is ultimately unanimous, and every member's views are taken into consideration.
Successful candidates are informed of the decision within 24 hours of the final interview. Scholarships are paid by cheque and in full on Monday 4 September 2023.
Feedback
All unsuccessful applicants will not be informed of the decision. The trustees do not provide feedback.
This is because all the trustees are volunteers, and we have limited time and resources. Also, decisions are often difficult and involve disagreements. We want to be able to speak freely about relative merits without worrying about how we express ourselves.
Requirement of scholars
The Trust is a registered charity and must demonstrate its expenditure is for the purpose of advancing education. The Trust cannot and does not monitor how the scholars spend their money. It relies upon them and trusts them to use the scholarships sensibly to further their education.
It does require the scholars to report back on their progress at least twice in the academic year.
It is hoped that the scholars will remain in touch with the Trust as they pursue their goals in life, but this is only a hope and not an expectation or requirement.
About the Sekforde House Trust
The Sekforde House Trust was founded in memory of Professor Dame Kathleen Lonsdale FRS who received a scholarship at the age of 16 to study at university in London, without which she would have been unable to pursue her career as a scientist and her life as a campaigner for peace and – following her own prison sentence served at Holloway – prison reform.
The purpose of the Trust is to promote education. It's funded, in the main, by the profits made by the Sekforde public house on Sekforde Street. The Trust has been offering scholarships since 2017 and Sekforde scholars have already made a significant impact on society.