Frequently Asked Questions

Founded in 1969, the Wattles Fellowship is the only program of its kind, offering a one-year, fully integrated position in the London insurance market. The Fellowship provides unparalleled international work experience which has proven to be highly transferable into a variety of industries including finance, consulting, law, medicine, education, risk management and more. Wattles Fellows make up a robust network of women who share a unique experience and common bond.

Three women graduates from Vanderbilt University are selected each fall to participate in the Wattles Fellowship. All candidates receive a first-round interview and have a variety of educational backgrounds. Knowledge of insurance is not a prerequisite. Learn more on our About page.

The Wattles Fellowship is independently operated. Applicants apply directly and all outreach, interviews and selection are conducted by Wattles Fellowship alumnae representatives and employer partners.

Lloyd’s of London is the global foundation and hub of the commercial insurance industry. Founded over 330 years ago as a coffee shop where merchants shared shipping information, Lloyd's remains an important historical and financial landmark and is respected as the world’s leading marketplace for specialist insurance. For more information, explore www.lloyds.com/about-lloyds.

• You must be an undergraduate woman graduating from Vanderbilt University in the Fall/Winter or Spring terms immediately preceding the upcoming Fellowship cycle, which initiates in the Summer of each year. Undergraduate women in special degree programs (“3+1”and “4+1” degrees) are also eligible.
• Women in graduate programs including combined undergraduate and graduate degrees (“4+2”) are not eligible.
• Applicants to the 2027 Fellowship will graduate in Fall 2026 or Winter/Spring 2027, with a start date in Summer 2027.
• You must be eligible and able to travel to the UK for 1 full year beginning in the first summer following your graduation.
• You must have a current passport valid for at least two years from the date of the first interview, or show proof of application for a new or renewal passport at the first interview.
• Students with multiple citizenships are welcome and encouraged to apply.
• If you are an EU or UK citizen, please contact us at [email protected] for additional details.
• Information regarding applying or renewing a passport may be found here.
• Your passport may take 4-6 weeks to receive so this should be an immediate priority. Application forms may be picked up and presented at the Acklen Post Office in Hillsboro Village. Passport pictures can be made and ordered online or by visiting FedEx or Walgreens.

Each year, we interview a pool of applicants and select three finalists. Beginning the summer after graduation, these Fellows will live and work for a full year in London, UK at three different companies operating within Lloyd's of London, where they will gain invaluable experience transferable to a number of industries.

Recipients receive a Fellowship grant, a salary from company sponsors and public health insurance provided by National Health Service (NHS). Recipients pay rent for a furnished flat arranged by the Fellowship and pay for transportation and living expenses. Any payments made by the Wattles Fellowship are gifts for which the Wattles Fellowship does not receive any return benefits.

The skills acquired through Wattles have proven transferable into many industries.

Fellows have gone on to work in a variety of sectors including:

• Finance (insurance, banking, investing)
• Law
• Technology
• Commercial real estate
• Consulting
• Education
• Medicine
• Government
• Media
• Management

Many Fellows successfully apply to business, law, or medical school during or following their time in Wattles.

It's easy! Go to the APPLY section of our website and follow the link to the application. The application will only be open for the listed application window.

If you are selected for the final round of interviews, we will ask you to submit one letter of recommendation from a former or current faculty member or employer. Your letter of recommendation will be considered only for the final interview round, regardless of when it is submitted. Please share this letter with your chosen recommender for submission instructions.

In evaluating applicants, the committee considers each applicant's academic performance, student leadership, internship experience, community service, personal qualifications as demonstrated through the interview process, essay content and letter of recommendation (if asked back to final interviews only).

The recipients are selected by former Fellows and the Fellowship Board of Directors.

No. The Fellowship Board of Directors matches each recipient with their position in coordination with the relevant departments at each of the three companies.

We invite students of any academic background to apply. While we evaluate academic performance in the context of each applicant's coursework, we do not favor or select for specific majors/minors over others.

You are not expected to have industry-specific knowledge when you apply, and coursework does not determine potential for success as an applicant or as a Fellow.

You will not be able to submit your application unless you have answered every question that has an asterisk ("*") beside it. Once you submit your application, you will receive an automated email acknowledging receipt.

If you have any problems, contact us at [email protected].

All applicants will participate in a first interview and, if selected to continue the process, will be asked to attend an evening reception and a final interview. Three recipients and one alternate will be chosen following the final interview. Decisions of the selection committees are final and are not subject to appeal. No application or interview feedback will be given.

There are three interview events.

In the first interview, you will meet with 2-3 former Fellows and/or a board member for approximately 15 minutes.

If selected to move forward, there will be an evening reception, where you will mingle with former Fellows and other important stakeholders in a conversational social setting.

In the final interview, you will meet with several panels of 3-5 board members, advisors and former Fellows to discuss your application, qualifications, and intentions.

In accepting an invitation to the reception, you agree to accept the Fellowship if selected. If you would not be able to carry out the Fellowship duties, please withdraw prior to the reception.

All notifications will be sent by email within several days of each round. After the final round, those selected for the Fellowship will be notified first via phone call.

To ensure you receive all information regarding the application process, add [email protected] to your email address book or “safe senders list."

Fellowship recipients will:

• Accept the position offered at one of the firms affiliated with the Fellowship
• Complete the necessary processes to obtain a work permit and UK Visa
• Attend a debriefing meeting in February, a one-night retreat in the Spring, and a graduation celebration the Thursday afternoon before graduation
• Complete the full Fellowship year, barring unplanned exceptions at the Fellowship's discretion

Fellows live and pay rent in a fully-furnished, 3-bedroom flat secured by the Fellowship.

More details are provided following selection.