University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom) - Barnson Bequest

What the Barnson Bequest gives you

You will receive a one-off grant of up to about 2,340 EUR (£2,000) to study abroad during your semester break, usually for a cultural rather than an academic course at a foreign university. Alternatively, you may use the money for a fieldwork project or other studies in the United Kingdom or abroad. The exact amount depends on how many people apply and how strong the applications are. The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) at the University of Edinburgh will award up to 15 of these grants during the period from 2025 to 2026.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are currently a student at the University of Edinburgh, at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS).
• Nationality and fees: You are a British national and, in Edinburgh, you are subject to the ‘Scotland fee rate’.
• Level: Primarily Bachelor’s students wishing to study abroad during the semester break. Master’s students may also apply, but only for a field research project or another academic undertaking.
• Field of study: All degree programmes are eligible for funding. Should the number of applications exceed the funding available, cultural degree programmes will be given priority over technical ones.
• Timing: You must still be enrolled at the University of Edinburgh at the time of the funded study period. If you are in the final year of your undergraduate degree, you will not be eligible for funding to study during the holidays after you graduate in 2026.
• Fieldwork rule: If you are applying for a field placement, it must not count towards a graded or assessed course module, and you must have completed it by 31 August 2026.

How to apply

Please apply by email to the CAHSS Secretariat by 5 British time on 3 May 2026 at the latest. To apply, please submit an application form, a personal statement, a project proposal (for fieldwork) and a risk assessment. You will also need an academic reference, which must be submitted separately. The Dean of Education at CAHSS will select the successful applicants based on the extent to which the project will benefit your further studies or your career. You will receive a response by the end of May 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding is highly targeted. You must be a student with Scottish tuition fee status enrolled at a specific higher education institution in Edinburgh, meaning that only a small number of applicants will be competing for up to 15 funding places. If you clearly meet these criteria and can demonstrate that a cultural stay abroad will benefit your studies or your career, your chances are good. A well-reasoned application, particularly for a cultural semester abroad, is crucial here.