The Sekforde House Trust Scholarship at City University 2026

Applications are invited for the following Sekforde House Trust scholarships for the academic year September 2026 to June 2027.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineMay 30, 2026
• Value£25,000 - £31,000
• Study LevelMasters , Undergraduate
• SponsorCity University London
• City to studyLondon
• School to studyCity University London
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• Five £25,000 Sekforde scholarships.
• One £31,000 Sekforde scholarship to the Sekforde scholar primus inter pares.

Requirements

The scholarships are aimed at students who have a place at either City St George's, University of London, University College London or Queen Mary University.

UCL was Kathleen Lonsdale’s university, and she was the first woman to obtain a professorship in 1949.

Students applying will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. Outstanding academic or other ability
2. Financial need
3. A desire and ability to make the world fairer and more sustainable.

Foreign students are most welcome to apply but will be required to attend interview in London in person if selected for interview.

The Trust will pay the reasonable cost of attending for interview and can provide overnight accommodation.

It is not essential to meet all the criteria. But most scholars will do so.

The scholarships are available for existing students at all levels as well as students who have places to study. Where a student has a conditional place, he or she may apply but the scholarship, if awarded, will only be paid after the conditions are satisfied.

Selection Process

• 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 [email protected] and his telephone number is 07979454141.

Check also:
Free Ongoing Fully Funded Scholarships Guide 2026 (Download Now)

Application Deadline

How To Apply

The application should be sent to David Lonsdale, Chairman of the Trust, at [email protected] with the following attachments sent in word.

1. 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. These statements often contain very personal information, and the contents will be kept strictly confidential. Statements generated by or with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence are easily detected and will result in the entire application being rejected. The personal statement should provide information as to what resources may be available to the Applicant including student loans, family income or assets, personal income and assets. Some applicants have stated in past years that their religious beliefs prohibit them from having access to student loans on which interest is charged. The Trust does not consider that any such prohibition should assist the applicant in meeting the financial need criterion. All applicants who have not accessed loans for which they are eligible will be assessed on the basis that they do have alternative sources of funds open to them.
2. A curriculum vitae (CV) on one A4 page. The cv must have attached a passport sized photograph so that the Applicant can be remembered and more easily identified. The curriculum vitae should include full contact details.
3. A closed personal reference. This means that the reference should not be seen by the Applicant. It should be sent by the referee separately to [email protected] and should clearly identify the applicant by name and university. 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. It should avoid exaggerated praise or “gush”. Ideally the reference should arrive on the same day as the other required documents.
4. A closed academic reference. This means the reference should not be seen by the Applicant. It should be sent by the referee separately to [email protected]. The referee should critically assess the Applicant both in terms of academic achievement and potential. The reference should be rigorous objective and fair. The reference should be 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. Ideally the reference should arrive on the same day as the other required documents.
5. 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.
6. Applicants should write to the trustees as equals and are asked not to use ingratiating language such as “most respected sir” or your “distinguished trust”.

For more details, visit City St John University Scholarship webpage