The Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation aims to promote the understanding of financial markets and institutions, and in particular to foster excellence in financial journalism. Preference will therefore be given to applicants who can write well and who will produce a piece of research (probably based on their dissertation) that is suitable for publication. We aim to give preference to people who wish to pursue a career in financial journalism. For details about our studentship alumni, click here.

Candidates should send a CV, a proposed research topic and proof of entry to a Master’s degree programme to studentship@marjoriedeane.com.

Studentships are open to all, regardless of age, sex. etc.

The deadline for applications is Friday, May 17th 2013

I applied for the foundation studentship frantically in the summer of 2011. I held a place on the MSc Economics for Development at Oxford starting just a few months ahead but had very little funding and had no real idea where I was going to find the rest of the money I needed. Fortunately, I stumbled upon this studentship, and with the incredible generosity of the foundation was able to continue my studies. Those studies have in turn led to my current year as a Special Student at Harvard, and will hopefully lead to the DPhil in Economics back at Oxford next year.

My interest is in development economics. Although I could be studying for a while longer yet, my desire is to report on economic and financial policies in developing countries one day. To this end, I am currently enrolled in writing courses at the Kennedy School of Government. Without the Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation, the path of postgraduate study would have been closed for me, and I would have been rushed into the real world without the skills I am now learning, ill-equipped to succeed in economic and financial journalism. I cannot express enough my thanks to the foundation.

“The Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation helped me take my first steps into the world of journalism, something I had hankered for after several years working in the City of London. It supported me through my Master’s in Financial Journalism at City University, London, giving me the time and freedom to make the most of the course.

It was a privilege to be associated with the foundation, and the skills, contacts and experience I acquired as a result saw me land a job at Bloomberg in London covering the world’s billionaires. Thanks Marjorie!”

Applications should be sent to deaneintern@economist.com by March 30th 2013.

The internship itself was an incredible experience, from being told on my arrival (armed only with my copy of the famous style guide and an unkempt beard) that “we have no rules on hirsuteness here” to bittersweet farewells around the departments four months later. Returning over the Atlantic would have been worthwhile just for one chance to sit in on an editorial meeting, or even some of the conversations I enjoyed over freshly cooked lunches in the boardroom.

A typical day at the paper saw me lining up interviews with experts on the other side of the world (and sometimes closer to home), debating the future of the eurozone and international energy policy, and listening to the old hands’ war stories about reporting from far-flung countries. The highlight has to be—of course—seeing my own words laid out in three impeccably presented columns in the main paper. I was constantly surprised by the generosity of the writers with their time and even with their story ideas; many of my most interesting pieces came from leads sent to me from around the newspaper, and even senior editors took time to chat with the interns and discuss our career plans.

Six months after completing my internship I took up a position at a specialist financial services consultancy, as the best way to continue learning about the industry. I plan to continue blogging about international finance and economics in my spare time, to share my experiences from within the industry and keep working on my writing style.

The foundation was extremely supportive and accommodating throughout this journey, and also gave me the opportunity to sit in on an editorial meeting at The Economist, making the experience that much more special. All that I learned, the people I met, and my experiences in London made for a remarkable year.

I am grateful to the foundation and her trustees for their faith in me. Armed with this degree, I am now renewed in my resolve to write about economics and help explain economic phenomena to the world.

-Vaishnavi Surendra

Please apply with a short letter explaining your interest, a brief CV and an original article, no longer than 500 words, on a suitable subject.

Applications should be sent to deaneintern@ft.com by July 31st 2012.

“I gained my first journalism experience as a political news reporter for PoliticsHome during the UK election, subsequently making the transition to financial reporting with Incisive Media covering wealth management and the European investment funds industry. In August 2011, I left London to pursue a new challenge studying for a two-year Masters in International Economic Policy at Sciences Po, Paris. I have continued to work as a freelance local correspondent. 

“I have known of the Marjorie Deane internships for a few years, having set my sights on working for The Economist since completing my first degree four years ago. I am delighted to receive this award and sincerely grateful to the Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation for giving me the opportunity to advance a career I am passionate about.”

Without a doubt, there is no way I could have attended City University London to study financial journalism had it not been for the studentship that I received from the Marjorie Deane Financial Journalism Foundation.

The support that the foundation gave me was invaluable because it allowed me to pursue my Master’s degree while also continuing to work as a freelance journalist. Through the various individuals that I met over the course of the school year in London—either via the university or my various freelance jobs—I was able to land my dream job.

At the end of March I will join Bloomberg TV as a producer inLondon, and could not be more excited. In this position, I will be able to apply what I have learned as a business journalist and an analyst in the financial services sector over the course of five years in Cairo as well as the skills I was fortunate enough to acquire at City University.

If not for the support of the foundation, I would not have been able to move to the bustling, busy and exciting city that is London, nor pursue a Master’s degree at City University, nor land the dream job I have long been hoping and working for. It’s true that you cannot get by without a lot of hard work, sweat and tears, but help from various individuals and organisations is just as important, especially in a niche field like financial journalism.

And one small shout out to my colleagues—this is what financial journalism students can produce when they receive just a little help and support: www.citybudget2012.com.

-Sarah Marquer

Following his foundation-supported internship in London, in 2009, Adam worked as an economic adviser at the Australian parliament and as a research fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies, a think tank.

For more on his appointment, read the announcement in The Australian.