MEd TESOL Scholarships

The Trust provides Master degree scholarships in TESOL at the University of Exeter for international ELT professionals.

It also provides a scholarship for a refugee teaching English to refugees or asylum seekers.

 

MEd TESOL international scholarship applications - Closed. Scholarship for Teachers of English to Refugees - Closed.

The A.S. Hornby Educational Trust has been offering its prestigious Hornby Scholarships for 60 years. These Scholarships provide for all the costs for international ELT professionals from middle- and low-income countries to study for Master’s degrees in TESOL at a UK university. Places are allocated through a competitive process. The current Master’s Scholarships programme is offered through a partnership between the Hornby Trust and the University of Exeter.

What are the aims of the scholarships?

The primary objective of Hornby Scholarships is to enable scholars, on completion of their UK Master’s degree, to make effective contributions to the strengthening of English language teaching in their home countries.

In order to facilitate this, on return home, the Trust offers scholars:

  • access to professional support through its alumni network
  • possible funding via alumni project grants for in-country capacity-building activities that are relevant to the needs of teachers in their working context
  • access support for in-country activities such as seminars and workshops.

Scholars are therefore selected to ensure that they have the ability and commitment to deliver new initiatives in their home country.

What does the scholarship cover?

The Trust will cover:

  • course fees
  • a monthly stipend to cover accommodation and living costs
  • travel and visa costs
  • any language test costs
  • warm clothing allowance
  • dissertation allowance.

Who can apply?

ELT professionals:

  • with several years of experience working in the ELT sector
  • who are citizens of low- and middle-income countries as detailed on the DAC List
  • have a full university first degree (First or Second Class UK or equivalent)
  • who meet the University of Exeter Master’s degree entrance criteria and completed their application form.

What is the timeline?

November Call for applications can be found on this page
March Applications for 2026/27 are now closed
April – May Unsuccessful applicants informed and interviews for successful applicants take place
September Scholars arrive in Exeter and MA TESOL course begins
April Scholars attend IATEFL
May-September Dissertation writing
September Course ends and scholars return home

Scholarship for Teachers of English to Refugees

The A.S. Hornby Educational Trust is offering a scholarship to support the teaching of English to refugees.

We invite applications from experienced teachers who are themselves refugees, or have previously held refugee status, and are currently teaching English to refugees or asylum seekers in the UK.

The successful applicant will join a group of Hornby scholars from a range of different countries to study on a one-year master’s in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) at the University of Exeter in the academic year 2026/27.

The selected candidate will need to be based in Exeter for the duration of the MEd TESOL programme.

The call for applications is now closed.

Let’s hear from a successful Scholar – Dany Prima Putra

I was the recipient of Hornby Educational Trust Scholarship to study at the University of Warwick, on their MA TESOL program, in 2022-2023. Being an awardee has given me a plethora of memorable, wonderful experiences. I met lifelong colleagues from different parts of the world and I learned so much from their contexts. As a group we were able to present our work at IATEFL to the ELT community from different parts of the world. We visited Oxford University Press to see the history of A.S. Hornby’s work, the amazing project that made my once-in-a-lifetime journey happen. I had wonderful professors who guided me and gave insights and advice for my future journey. We also networked and still keep in touch with past alumni and the Trust’s board members

I am now the Director of Danz English in South East Sulawesi in my home country of Indonesia. I am active in my NGO, Indonesia Teaching Community (ITC). Danz English is a newly established English centre which provides English Language, business and exam preparation classes for all levels and ages. While ITC focuses on teaching English to students and teachers for free online.

I feel extremely lucky and honoured to be part of Hornby Trust. I urge everyone apply for this scholarship and I wish all the best for its programs and work.

2026 IATEFL Conference

Each year’s Hornby Scholars give a presentation at the Annual IATEFL International Conference. Watch a video of their presentation at IATEFL 2026.