Ellison Scholars Undergraduate Application Guide
Ellison Scholars Undergraduate Application Guide
Table of Contents
  1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................3
  2. What you need to complete your application .........................................................................3
  3. Home page .......................................................................................................................4
  4. Create an account ..............................................................................................................4
  5. Eligibility ..........................................................................................................................6
     5.1. Policies ............................................................................................................................................................ 6
     5.2. Parental/guardian consent ............................................................................................................................. 6
     5.3. English language proficiency requirements ................................................................................................... 6
     5.4. Entry requirements ......................................................................................................................................... 7
     5.5. How did you hear about us?........................................................................................................................... 8
  6. Personal details .................................................................................................................9
     6.1. Name, gender, and date of birth .................................................................................................................... 9
     6.2. Contact details ................................................................................................................................................ 9
     6.4. Nationality information and IDs ................................................................................................................... 11
     6.5. Identifying documentation ........................................................................................................................... 11
  7. Education ....................................................................................................................... 14
     7.1. Current/Most Recent School ........................................................................................................................ 14
     7.2. Past school(s) ................................................................................................................................................ 15
     7.3. Qualifications ................................................................................................................................................ 16
     7.4. Further Education ......................................................................................................................................... 17
  8. References ...................................................................................................................... 19
     8.1. Request academic and character references ............................................................................................... 19
     8.2 Changing a reference ..................................................................................................................................... 20
  9. Humane Endeavours ........................................................................................................ 21
     9.1. Select an area of humane endeavour .......................................................................................................... 21
     9.2. Written answer: Motivation for applying ..................................................................................................... 21
     9.3. Video submission .......................................................................................................................................... 22
  10. Alignment to Vision ........................................................................................................ 24
     10.1. Adding an entry .......................................................................................................................................... 24
  11. Traits ............................................................................................................................ 26
     11.1. Tenacious and Resolute .............................................................................................................................. 26
     11.2. Strongest trait and ranking traits ................................................................................................................ 27
  12. Oxford Course................................................................................................................ 28
     12.1. Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................................... 28
     12.2. Selecting your course ................................................................................................................................. 28
     12.3. Explaining your course choice .................................................................................................................... 28
    1.    check that you meet the eligibility criteria for the programme.
    2.    check that you meet the selection criteria for the programme.
    3.    choose a course you would like to study at the University of Oxford.
    4.    check that you have met or are on track to meet the minimum entry qualification and grade
          requirements for your chosen course at the University of Oxford. You can find the relevant information
          under ‘Admissions requirements’ section on individual course pages.
    5.    check that you have met or are on track to meet the English language requirements for your course
    6.    reflect on which of EIT’s humane endeavours and projects best align with your passion, expertise and
          motivation.
    7.    read the Ellison Scholars Application Rules and Privacy Policy.
    8.    be ready to provide evidence of this alignment, such as competition awards, honours and recognitions
          of your outstanding academic abilities and technology skills.
You must submit your application, including references, by Thursday 1st August 2024, 4pm (UK time) to receive
an early decision by the end of September.
When completing your application, you may make use of generative AI such as ChatGPT. Note that nonetheless,
all work must be your own and plagiarism will lead to your disqualification from the Ellison Scholars selection
process.
If you have any questions or problems completing your application which are not resolved after consulting this
guide, contact us at scholars.applications@eit.org. See the Resources page of application form for more useful
resources.
4. Create an account
To set up your account, click the ‘Start Application’ button on the landing page.
Fill in your details under ‘Create a New Account’ and click on the ‘Register’ button. The first and last names
provided here should match any identifying documentation you provide us with. Your preferred name may
match your official first name, but will allow us to consistently refer to you in all communications by the name
you are most comfortable with. You can save and return to your application any time, using your email address
and password.
We recommend that you answer these questions honestly, to save yourself and our team time when processing
your application later.
5.1. Policies
Read the Ellison Scholars Privacy Policy and Application Rules which are linked in the explanatory text under the
heading ‘Policies’. Click on the checkboxes to fill them and confirm that you agree to their terms.
If English is not your native language, indicate whether you meet any of the University of Oxford’s exemptions
to the English language proficiency requirements as listed in the form:
If none of these exemptions apply to you, in the next question, please indicate:
    •   Whether you already hold one of the Oxford-recognised English language qualifications
    •   Whether you are on track to receive one of these qualifications
    •   If neither of the above is true, please choose No. You cannot progress with your application at this stage.
To upload proof, click the ‘Choose file’ button. In the window that appears, click on the space marked ‘Select
Files to Upload’ and select proof of your result from your files. This file must be either a PDF, a JPEG or a PNG.
Once you have selected your file, it should automatically upload.
If you select the option Other, you will be asked to specify in the text field that appears:
Select your gender and pronouns from the dropdowns, select ‘Prefer not say’ if you do not wish to provide this
information, or ‘Prefer to self-describe’ to use a free text box.
In the field marked ‘Please enter your date of birth’, input your date of birth as it appears on your documents of
identification. You can either type the date into the text field or select it from the calendar that appears. Note
that the date will appear in the format DD/MM/YYYY.
For phone number fields, select your country from the dropdown on the left and write your number in the text
field using the national format.
If you do not have a phone number, you may need to nominate someone to take calls for you, so that any
messages for you will reach you promptly. This could be, for example, a relative, a teacher or a school office
number. The same may also be true of the email address you provide.
Enter your permanent address in the fields below, selecting your country from the country dropdown:
You may also provide a correspondence address, which we will use if we need to post anything to you.
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If you have a passport, please answer Yes to the question ‘Do you have a passport?’ and upload a scan by clicking
on the ‘Choose file’ button:
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If you do not have a passport, answer No and upload your photo ID as above. You may also provide an English
translation of your ID, if available:
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There is also space to provide information about any higher education experience you have, if applicable.
If you are currently attending this school, provide a start date and projected end date.
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Specify whether your education was full-time, part-time or took a different structure (e.g. night school), by
selecting the appropriate option from the ‘Type of study’ dropdown:
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Fill in the fields that appear accordingly. If you are required to list individual subjects, click ‘Add subject’, fill in
the fields that appear, and click the ‘Add’ button at the bottom to finalise the entry. You can do this for as many
subjects as you need.
If you have not completed your qualification, select No in the ‘Completed?’ field.
If you have completed your qualification, select Yes in the ‘Completed?’ field and provide the date you achieved
your qualification in the field that appears. If exact dates are not available, you may give an estimate.
In this case, you must also provide proof of your qualification. To do this, click the ‘Choose file’ button. In the
window that appears, click on the space marked ‘Select Files to Upload’ and select the proof of your qualification
from your files. Once you have selected your file, it should automatically upload.
To add more than one qualification, answer Yes to ‘Do you want to add another qualification?’ and proceed as
above.
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Your institution name should be presented in English, or in another language written using the Roman alphabet,
or a transliteration into the Roman alphabet.
Select your degree qualification (e.g. Bachelor of Arts or Master of Sciences) from the dropdown, and input the
title of your degree:
Indicate whether you have completed this degree by selecting Yes or No on the dropdown. Provide the start and
end dates for your course. These dates may be estimates if you do not have exact dates available:
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Upload your transcript from this university. This transcript must be uploaded as a PDF.
To do this, click the ‘Choose file’ button. In the window that appears, click on the space marked ‘Select Files to
Upload’ and select the transcript from your files. Once you have selected your file, it should automatically
upload.
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Academic references must be provided by individuals who are familiar with your academic work, achievements,
and abilities. They could be (this list is non-exhaustive):
Character references must be provided by individuals who know you well in a personal capacity and can speak
to your integrity, values, and interpersonal skills. They could be (this list is non-exhaustive):
Please note that we can only accept references in English, so you must ensure that you nominate referees who
have a high level of English language proficiency.
Confirm with your referee that they have received the request and are able to fill in the form by the advisory
early deadline of Thursday 1st August 2024, 4pm (UK time).
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You may need to delete a reference that has already been submitted. To request a reference again from the
same referee, click the ‘Delete reference’ button:
When the page reloads, your referee’s details will be saved, but you can now change them again. Either click
the ‘Send Request Now’ button to request a reference from the same referee, or change the details and send a
request to a new referee:
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    •   Take a thoughtful approach: Consider the humane endeavours outlined by the Ellison Institute of
        Technology and reflect on which one resonates with your vision, expertise, and the global issue you are
        passionate about addressing.
    •   Align with your vision: Your choice of the humane endeavour should closely align with your personal
        vision for positive change. Choose the area and the programme that ignites your passion and aligns
        with your commitment to making a difference.
    •   Articulate your impact: Use this section to articulate how your chosen humane endeavour and EIT
        programme align with your commitment to creating positive change.
    •   Share your ‘why’: Begin by expressing the motivations that drive you to address the issue central to
        your chosen humane endeavour and EIT programme. What experiences, values, or insights have led
        you to this point? Your response should reflect a genuine commitment to creating positive change.
    •   Be specific and authentic: Dive into the specific aspects of your chosen humane endeavour and EIT
        project that ignite your passion. What about this particular area resonates with you? Connect your
        personal experiences or beliefs to the broader vision of making a positive impact.
    •   Showcase your strengths: This is an opportunity to showcase the unique strengths, skills, and qualities
        you possess that align with the goals of the programme. Whether it be leadership, problem-solving,
        collaboration, or innovation, highlight what sets you apart.
    •   Show your commitment: Describe any previous experiences, projects, or initiatives that showcase your
        dedication to making a difference. This could include volunteer work, community involvement, or
        academic projects that align with the humane endeavour and programme you have chosen.
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You may include bold or italicised text in your response. In order to expand the text box, click and drag the arrow
in the bottom right corner.
Do not exceed the 250-word limit or you will not be able to submit your application. Your word count is visible
above the text field and updates as you type.
Carefully review the guidance provided in the application form to understand what we expect from this video:
To upload your video, click on the ‘Choose file’ button. In the window that appears, click on the space marked
‘Select Files to Upload’ and select your video from your files. Once you have selected your file, it should
automatically upload.
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For each entry, add a short summary. This serves as an overall heading, and so should be brief and to the point.
Do not exceed the 25-word limit.
Please indicate which of the selection criteria this entry provides evidence for. In a maximum of 100 words, use
the space provided to describe your involvement with the activity.
If you have received any award for this achievement, please select Yes and complete the relevant fields that
appear. Disregard any questions that are not applicable or relevant to your situation. If the award was the result
of a competition, indicate whether competition took place within your school, or on a local, national or
international level using the ‘Achievement/Competition/Award type’. If you have selected Other, specify the
scale of the competition in the space that appears. If applicable, indicate what the outcome of the
achievement/competition/award for you.
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To upload a file, click the ‘File upload’ button. In the window that appears, click on the space marked ‘Select
Files to Upload’ and select your file. Once you have selected your file, it should automatically upload.
To add an entry, click on the ‘Add’ button at the bottom of the page. Please note that while you are in the process
of adding an entry, you cannot navigate away from this page. You should either ‘Add’ and ‘Cancel’ your entry to
proceed.
Repeat this process for as many entries as you would like to add, with a maximum of five.
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    •   Be self-aware: Consider instances where you have demonstrated each trait in the past.
    •   Provide examples: Support your choice or ranking with concrete examples of your experiences.
    •   Relate it to the Ellison Scholars programme: Explain how your chosen trait aligns with the goals and
        vision of the program.
You may include bold or italicised text in your response. In order to expand the text box, click and drag the arrow
in the bottom right corner.
Do not exceed the 250-word limit or you will not be able to submit your application. Your word count is visible
above the text field and updates as you type.
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You may include bold or italicised text in your response. In order to expand the text box, click and drag the arrow
in the bottom right corner.
Do not exceed the 250-word limit or you will not be able to submit your application. Your word count is visible
above the text field and updates as you type.
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    •   you meet the minimum entry qualification and grade requirements for your chosen course at the
        University of Oxford. You can find the relevant information under ‘Admissions requirements’ section on
        individual course pages.
    •   you meet the English language requirements for your course
You must also articulate the reasoning for your choice — share your passion, motivations, and how your selected
course aligns with your long-term goals. We encourage you to reflect on the academic challenges you are excited
to embrace and the knowledge you hope to gain during your time at Oxford.
12.1. Disclaimer
If you are shortlisted to proceed with your application to the Ellison Scholars programme, you will be invited to
submit an application to the University of Oxford.
You must confirm that you have read and understood that the University of Oxford handles the admission
process independently, and that you are aware that you will be asked to sit Oxford admissions tests and
participate in interviews as part of your application to the University of Oxford.
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Do not exceed the 250-word limit or you will not be able to submit your application. Your word count is visible
above the text field and updates as you type.
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    •    Relevance to your chosen course: When collating evidence of additional activities, consider entries that
         align with your chosen course at the University of Oxford. Highlight connections between your
         extracurricular pursuits, volunteering, personal projects, and the academic path you are pursuing.
    •    Aim for diversity in your submissions: Showcase a range of activities, awards, and achievements that
         collectively portray the breadth and depth of your interests. This could include involvement in sports,
         arts, music, volunteering, or any personal projects that hold significance to you.
    •    Impact and Significance: Emphasise the impact of your activities, awards, and achievements. Discuss
         how these experiences have contributed to your personal growth, skills development, and how they
         have shaped your perspectives.
    •    Share your professional experience, as applicable. You may include up to three roles, prioritising recent
         or relevant ones. Provide details on your responsibilities, achievements, and the skills gained during
         these roles. Professional experience can offer valuable insight into your practical skills and readiness for
         academic and professional challenges.
Remember that this section is an opportunity for you to showcase the unique aspects of your character and
achievements. Make the most of it by presenting a well-rounded and compelling narrative.
To add an activity, first click the ‘Add activity’ button under the table:
Under ‘Activity / Achievement / Award area’, select the category that best fits the activity. If Other is selected,
specify in the field that appears:
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If you have received any award for this achievement, please select 'Yes' and complete the relevant fields that
appear. Disregard any optional questions that are not applicable or relevant to your situation. If the award was
the result of a competition, indicate whether competition took place within your school, or on a local, national
or international level using the ‘Competition type’. If you have selected Other, specify the scale of the
competition in the space that appears. If applicable, indicate what place you came in a competition in the space
provided.
You may add up to three pieces of evidence for each entry, either as URLs or as file uploads. Select which of the
options applies to you and use the space provided to input the URL or upload the file.
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You may add up to three relevant roles. It is not necessary to add professional experience, and relevant roles
and experience should be prioritised.
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As such, we do ask that you respond to all of the questions in this section, although you may opt out of
answering any question by selecting ‘Prefer not to answer’. You should always prioritise your own safety; do not
answer questions if they would put you at risk in any way.
Please note that the information you provide in this section will not be shared with your application reviewers.
Indicate the highest level of education attained by your parents by selecting one of the options from the
dropdown. If selecting the Other option, specify in the text field that appears.
If any of your schools charged fees, indicate how these were covered by selecting one of the options from the
dropdown. If the Other option is selected, you will be asked to specify in the text field that appears.
Estimate your financial income in pounds sterling (£, GBP). You may need to ask a parent or guardian to help
answer this question. We recommend using Google’s currency exchange calculator to convert your national
currency into pounds sterling.
To answer this question, select the appropriate income bracket from the dropdown:
Select the racial identity, religious background and disability category that best represent you.
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Read each statement and confirm that you agree by clicking the checkboxes beside them:
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You will receive a confirmation email with information about next steps, including timelines. Decisions about
the next stage of the application process will be communicated to applicants by the end of September 2024.
17. Contact
If you have any questions or need support with your application, please contact the Ellison Scholars team at
scholars.applications@eit.org.
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