The Andrew Romay New Immigrant Center provides a welcoming and nurturing environment along with diverse educational, cultural and professional offerings. Recent immigrants will improve their English, gain essential skills and cultural fluency, and develop the networks they need to participate fully in American society and exercise the responsibilities of citizenship.

Study Abroad.  Return Inspired!

Educators and lifelong learners: Study in the UK for an unforgettable immersive experience! Live and learn on the famed campuses of England and Scotland or take a deep dive into Shakespeare -- exploring his hometown or standing on the stage of the Globe. Lose yourself in our short (one-week) and intensive (two- to six-week) courses and explore the history while soaking up the culture for a truly comprehensive learning experience.

Our exclusive partnerships give you access to renowned scholars and behind-the-scenes experiences specifically designed for classroom teachers and lifelong learners. TLab's intensive programs elevate you as you study in official university courses with top professors at the UK's most prestigious campuses.

Teachers, return to your classroom refreshed and reinvigorated with new insights to share with your students. Professional development credit, scholarships, and fundraising assistance are all available.

Multi-Week Courses

Every year, the ESU provides nearly 50 scholarships for classroom teachers in their communities. ESU scholarships are for current classroom teachers attending our multi-week courses at Shakespeare's Globe, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Oxford.

Additional Funding Opportunities

What do I do if I don't win a scholarship? 

Click here and download our fundraising guide! We will provide supporting documentation for teachers applying for grants and scholarships from other organizations. Email us at tlab@esuus.org for more information.

Applicants to SUISS programs at the University of Edinburgh may be eligible for a SUISS Scholarship. Click here to read more about SUISS Scholarships.

The ESU has partnered with the National English Honor Society (NEHS) to provide an additional source of funding. High school teachers who are advisors for active NEHS chapters are eligible to apply for "Advisor Grants," which are competitive grants designed to help finance study and travel opportunities. Visit the NEHS website for more information or email: nehs@niu.edu.

The ESU has also partnered with Fund My Travel to provide a platform with additional resources to launch a funding campaign from. Visit www.fundmytravel.com for more information and to set up a funding campaign.

BRANCH LISTING

The following ESU Branches sponsored scholarships in the summer of 2019. This page will be updated with information for the summer of 2020 on an ongoing basis. Once the applications are live, please click on the ESU Branch closest to where you live, even if you do not live in that city, as some branches offer scholarships for their entire region or state.

The Competition

The National Shakespeare Competition provides teachers across the country with a performance-based program for the study of English Language Arts and Shakespeare. It is a school-based program serving Grades 9-12. Through the Competition, students develop communication skills and an appreciation of the power of language and literature. The Competition has engaged more than 300,000 young people since its inception in 1983.

Through the English-Speaking Union National Shakespeare Competition, students:

• develop essential skills: critical thinking, close reading and public speaking
• increase self-confidence through reading, analysis and performance of Shakespeare
• explore the beauty of Shakespeare's language and classic themes
• bring the timeless works of Shakespeare to life and learn to express his words with understanding, feeling and clarity
• meet local, state and national standards in English Language Arts and Drama.

Students read, analyze, perform and recite Shakespearean monologues and sonnets in three qualifying stages: at the school, community and national levels. Approximately 2,500 teachers and 20,000 students in nearly 60 ESU Branch communities participate each year.

The ESU National Shakespeare Competition has been recognized by the Globe Center (USA), the Children's Theatre Foundation of America and the American Academy of Achievement. Many distinguished judges have served on the Competition panels.

The ESU Middle School Debate Program is an ESU educational initiative in partnership with Claremont McKenna College's Middle School Public Debate Program, international leaders in middle school debate education.  The program is for students in grades 5-8 to help them develop critical thinking and language arts skills through public speaking. 

The English-Speaking Union Luard Morse Scholarships are merit awards for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, enabling them to spend a semester of their junior year at the British university of their choosing. Luard Morse scholars have studied at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, and the London School of Economics, where they have performed with distinction as scholars and unofficial American ambassadors.

Through The Secondary School Exchange, American and British teenagers spend a postgraduate semester or year abroad on a full scholarship provided by participating schools.  Since 1928, thousands of students have participated, many describing the SSE Exchange as the most formative experience in their lives.

The ESU International Public Speaking Contest brings together outstandingly, articulate young people from all over the world for a week of public speaking competition and international cultural exchange in London.  Under the auspices of the ESU of the Commonwealth, the finalist contestants meet and learn with their peers of different backgrounds and cultures from some 50 countries. Through all its qualifying levels, the program engages more than 40,000 young people globally.

The Evelyn Wrench Speaker Program provides expert lecturers on history, politics, the arts, language, literature and current events to cities across the U.S. through the network of ESU Branches. The English-Speaking Union has always provided a national platform for gifted, professional speakers from a broad spectrum of fields, including journalism, government, business, teaching and the arts.