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 now open!

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
9th February Applications close – Applications for 2026/27 are now open
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

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.

Our 2025-26 Scholars

Rogerio Pereira

I am an English language teacher from Brazil with nearly 20 years of experience. I began my career teaching adults in private language schools but later found my true vocation in public secondary education. As a Hornby Trust scholar, I hope to gain the tools needed to contribute more effectively to English language education in my community. Upon returning, my goal is to help strengthen local educational policies and curricula, support fellow teachers through professional development grounded in innovative methodologies, and ultimately provide learners with engaging learning experiences that foster autonomy, promote social equity, and broaden understanding of global issues.

Christian Saavedra Cabrera

I am an enthusiastic EFL and FLE teacher with a master’s degree in creative writing. I have taught in diverse contexts, ranging from preschool to pensioners, but over the past nine years my experience has mainly been in higher education settings. My research interests include English for Academic Purposes (EAP), teacher training, and curriculum development. After successfully completing the MEd in TESOL, I plan to continue enhancing my students’ academic language skills, strengthen Colombian syllabus design through the principles of Global Englishes, and contribute more actively to decentralized perspectives on language learning and the education of future SLA professionals.

Hanna Kuznetsova

I am an EFL teacher from Kharkiv, Ukraine, with experience teaching students of various specialties at Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics (KNURE). As a volunteer at the Professional Association of English Language Teachers in Ukraine (PAELT), I support fellow teachers amidst the challenges of wartime. I am deeply grateful to the Hornby Educational Trust for the opportunity to pursue the MEd TESOL at the University of Exeter. Upon completing my studies, I aim to contribute to the teacher association and the development of ELT in my home country.

Thanh Tam Ngo

I am an English Language Teacher in Vietnam, teaching English to college students and learners of different age groups. Besides teaching, I am the co-founder of Community of ELT Practice (CEP), where we regularly organize professional development workshops for English teachers in Vietnam. My interests in ELT include Teacher Development, Technology-enhanced Learning, and Testing and Assessment. I am honored and grateful to be supported in this academic journey by the Hornby Trust Scholarship and University of Exeter. After completing my studies in the UK, I hope to apply valuable insights and experience gained and collaborate with other educators to develop teacher professional development projects and make effective English teaching practices more accessible to teachers in my country.

Ngwa Bichearline

Ngwa Bichearline is an EFL teacher at Government Bilingual High School Sodiko, Douala, Cameroon, and a Hornby Scholar pursuing an MEd TESOL at the University of Exeter. She is an IATEFL Scholarship winner, CAMELTA Best Active Female Teacher Award recipient, and President of the CAMELTA Littoral Chapter. A passionate advocate for digital education and inclusive learning, she trains teachers in digital pedagogy and mentors through HP MAT and One Million Teachers. As a Global Schools Advocate, College and Career Counsellor, and Open Dreams facilitator, she guides students toward achieving their academic and professional aspirations.

Naw Phaw Eal Wah

I am a Hornby Trust Scholar from Myanmar, studying at the University of Exeter for the 2025–2026 academic year. I have been teaching English for about a decade to diverse groups of EFL learners including higher education and non-formal sectors. Before beginning my studies here, I worked as a freelance English teacher, teaching English, Language Arts, young learners and IELTS foundation classes. Upon returning to my country, I aim to contribute to the professional development of local teachers and to the curriculum development of community-based learning centres in the non-formal education sector. My goal is to strengthen support for learners from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds and to promote inclusive education.

Farida Ladipo-Ajayi

I am a Children’s Book Specialist, educator, and founder of The Bookworm Café, where I inspire children to read for pleasure and meaning. Since 2016, I have established 17 learning labs and trained hundreds of volunteer literacy coaches reaching thousands of children. My work integrates technology, storytelling, and culturally relevant materials to make language learning engaging and accessible. As a Hornby Scholar pursuing an MEd in TESOL at the University of Exeter, I am keen to deepen my expertise in technology-enhanced language teaching to design training frameworks that empower English teachers across Nigeria. I am grateful for this transformative opportunity.

Madany Abdelakher

I am a dedicated English language teacher and teacher trainer from Egypt with extensive experience in teaching English to learners from diverse backgrounds in international schools. I have also contributed to teacher education through training initiatives that focus on classroom research and test construction. My academic interests lie in language assessment and teachers’ development. I am passionate about advancing English education in Egypt through research-informed pedagogy and assessment practices. As a Hornby Scholar, I aim to design sustainable professional development programs that empower teachers and improve learning outcomes across under-resourced educational contexts in my community.

Zhananur Kassimova

I am an English language teacher from Kazakhstan with over 15 years of experience in teaching. I work at Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Chemistry and Biology, where I collaborate with my colleagues to design lesson materials and develop assessment tools. From 2022 to 2024, I was a British Council facilitator on the OTC platform, supporting teachers as they completed the Teaching for Success course. I also contributed to the design of the Positive and Productive Classroom course within the Accelerating English Language Learning in Central Asia project. As a Hornby Scholar pursuing an MA in TESOL at the University of Exeter, I aim to continue supporting teacher training in Kazakhstan, helping educators enhance their skills and create engaging, student-centered learning experiences.

Imadeddin Almadhoun

Imadeddin Almadhoun is an experienced English language teacher from Gaza with over 14 years of teaching in UNRWA schools. He is passionate about using technology and creative methods to enhance English learning, having received the Presidential Award for Excellence and Achievement in 2019 for developing animated educational videos along with other prestigious awards. During the ongoing crisis in Gaza, he has also served as a reporting officer, documenting humanitarian needs and educational challenges. As a Hornby Scholar at the University of Exeter, Imadeddin aims to strengthen his expertise in TESOL and contribute to improving English education and teacher training in crisis-affected contexts.

2022-23 Scholars filmed by OUP when they visited Oxford University Press in June 2023.