Laidlaw Scholarship – your first step to being the leader of the future
Today, we present to you a Laidlaw Scholarship for all ambitious students who want to become leaders of the future, who want to make socially relevant changes guided by data and research. If you are looking for a scholarship to help you grow during your studies this article is for you.
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Who is the Laidlaw Scholarship for?
The programme is aimed at students in the first year of a three-year undergraduate degree or the second year of a four-year undergraduate degree who wish to complete an additional project during their academic study. You don’t have to be British, you just need to be studying at one of the universities we specify below.
- University of Durham
- University of Leeds
- London School of Economics
- University of St Andrews
- Cambridge University
- University of York
- University College London
Unfortunately, participation in the programme is only possible if your university is a partner. If you would like your university to participate in the programme (even if it is a foreign university) your President or Vice Chancellor should contact the foundation and apply for partnership.
What is The Laidlaw Scholarship?
The The Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme funds not only research experience but also leadership development. Participation in the program consists of 4 stages, which you can see below:
- A research project
For 6 weeks during the holidays, under the guidance of a mentor from your university, you conduct research and analysis on a topic of your choice.
2. Leadership training
During the academic year you will have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills by participating in events such as training days and residential weekends, guided reflective exercises, one-to-one coaching.
3. Leadership-in-Action experience
During the 6 weeks of the second summer you’re putting your research into action. It could be a Leadership Expedition, an activity in partnership with an NGO, or introducing your research findings into a community of need.
4. Networking
As a scholar, you join the program’s global network that allows you to exchange experiences and opportunities. This is where you publish what you are working on, you can receive feedback or ask a question.
How to apply for the Laidlaw Scholarship? What is the admissions process like?
Each university has its own criteria for belonging to the programme. Usually the whole process divides into two stages:
- Application form
- Interview
The first thing a student has to do is choose a topic for his/her project. Decide what you would prefer your Leadership in Action period to be, in this way it will be easier for you to choose a project theme. You can do this from a list suggested by the university or propose your own topic. In the second case, it can be a little more difficult because you have to find a member of academic staff to look after the project and prove that you can adequately schedule the work within a six-week period. There are also pre-defined projects in collaboration with the Laidlaw Foundation. This is another option that is open to all partner universities, so the competition is higher.
Importantly, not at every university the research topic must be related to your field of study, but it depends on each university separately.
Examples of project topics in various fields available on the universities’ websites:
- How does voice training affect speech perception?
- Augmented Reality User Interface
- Sport, exercise and physical activity: improving menstrual health experiences
- Automatic Processing of Emotional Body Language
More examples you can see here: https://laidlawscholars.network/channels/2092
What does the jury pay attention to?
- leadership potential
- motivation
- academic background/ achievements
You must prove these elements in your application. It’s not worth demotivating yourself if you don’t have great achievements. Passion, motivation and commitment are also important. Also remember that the scholarship is aimed at people starting their education at the academic level and the evaluators know this.
After the first selection, chosen students are invited for interviews at their universities.
When should I apply for the Laidlaw Scholarship?
It depends on the specific university, but it is usually between November and February each year. The student receives information about qualifying for the program by April. Example periods for applying from previous years:
UCL: November 2023 (applications for 2024)
University of Leeds application time: December – March
University of Cambridge application time: November – January
London School of Economics: deadline mid-December
University of York application time: November – January
All details can be found on the subpage of the given university dedicated to the program.
How much is the Laidlaw Scholarship stipend?
You will receive a stipend of £500 per week (£3,000 per summer/ £6,000 for the entire programme). Some universities also mention an additional amount to cover any travel and project expenses. At London School of Economics it’s an allowance of £1,500, at University of York it’s up to £1,000.
Who is the founder of the scholarship?
The Laidlaw Foundation founded by Lord Laidlaw who is a committed philanthropist and serial entrepreneur invests in educational opportunities to fight inequality and poverty and educate the leaders of the future who will fight global problems helping the largest community possible.
The Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme aims to develop a new generation of leaders who are skilled researchers, embrace data-based decision making, and believe it is a moral imperative to lead with integrity. It invests in talented and motivated undergraduate students, giving them the knowledge, skills and experience to become active global citizens and future leaders. To date, more than one thousand passionate change-makers have completed the programme all over the world.
Check out other funding opportunities and grants for students on our blog:
Want to find out about other scholarship options at UK universities? Go to gowork.uk, find your university and ask your question 100% anonymously.
