An opportunity for classes of ’95 to ’02
John Sperling ‘48, founder of the University of
Phoenix and an alumnus of both Reed College and King’s College of
Cambridge University, has committed more than $1 million to support Reed
graduates in the pursuit of a three-year doctoral degree at Cambridge.
Sperling, whose degree from Reed was in history, earned a master’s
degree in political history at the University of California–Berkeley
and a Ph.D. in economic history from Cambridge University on a fellowship
from the University of California.
Reed graduates from 1995 to 2002 (all classes graduated since the inception
of the award) are eligible to apply for the Sperling Studentship through
Reed’s Committee on Fellowships and Awards. Reed may nominate up
to three ranked candidates to King’s College. The nominees then apply
directly to their chosen doctoral programs. Upon admittance to his or
her program, one nominee is awarded the studentship, with the offer being
made according to the order of the original ranking.
Applications will be considered in all graduate fields at Cambridge University
except medicine. These three-year doctoral programs require superior academic
training and performance, and students are expected to work closely with
a specific tutor and to move quickly into the chosen area of research.
Most of the programs, with the exception of some in the sciences, mathematics,
and the Judge Institute of Management, require a master’s degree
for admission; thus a Reed graduate who does not already have graduate
experience comparable to a master’s degree should be cautioned about
the suitability of this competition. In addition, it is virtually impossible
for an applicant to be admitted to a Cambridge doctoral program without
the explicit endorsement of the student’s potential adviser; therefore,
applicants should be well informed about the program to which they are
applying, and in contact with the future adviser, before submitting the
internal application.
The 1997 recipient of the Sperling Studentship was Dorthea Sartain ’95,
who received a master’s degree in history at the University of Minnesota
and is completing a degree in history at Cambridge; the 2001 recipient
was Michelle Schaffer ’99, who is working on a doctorate in the Graduate
School of Biological, Medical, and Veterinary Science.
The 2002–03 internal application process will take place in the fall
semester; more information is available on Reed’s fellowships and
awards web page (with links to the relevant Cambridge University sites),
and from the chair of the committee, Virginia Hancock ’62 (virginia.hancock
@reed.edu). 
