An applicant should normally be:

• aged 35 or under
  
• nationals of and resident in any country other than Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States and intending to return and take up permanent residence there after completion of the proposed programme of study
  
• intending to study a subject that will be of significant value in aiding the sustainable development of their home country
  
• of sufficiently outstanding academic ability eg in the UK to have obtained a degree equivalent to a first class honours degree at a British University, in the Netherlands to be able easily to obtain a place on the MSc programme
  
• fluent in spoken and written English
  
• neither a current nor former employee of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies

It is the intention that the scholarships be widely geographically distributed. In each year a large number of countries will be represented. Scholarships will be awarded to those academically qualified applicants thought best able to contribute to the development of their home country by becoming leaders, decision-makers or opinion-formers. Preference will be given to those who have not yet had the opportunity to study in the UK.

Each scholarship will cover tuition, accommodation, maintenance cost and a return airfare for the scholarship holder only.

A list of eligible courses at each university and how to apply can be obtained by visiting the relevant university pages.

Please note that all applications to compete for a scholarship must be directed to the individual universities and not to The Shell Centenary Scholarship Fund