Q & A

Please find below a list of questions we are often asked about Scholarships and Bursaries at Fettes College. This guide is designed to be honest and open about the bursary process and provide you with an insight into how applying for a Scholarship or Bursary will work.

1. What exactly is a Bursary?

A Bursary is simply the name we give to an award which reduces the cost to you of sending your child to Fettes. Bursaries are awarded purely on the basis of financial need.

2. What are my chances of getting a Bursary?

Bursaries are open to anyone whose child is awarded a Scholarship and who can demonstrate that the school fees are simply more than they can afford.

3. What is the difference between a Scholarship and a Bursary?

The main difference between the two is that a Scholarship is awarded based on your child demonstrating excellence in one or more areas and is fixed at up to 10% of the fees. These areas of excellence might include music, piping, academic, sport or the arts. In cases where a child doesn’t necessarily excel in any one area but demonstrates an interest and some ability in several areas, All-Rounder Scholarships are also available.

A Bursary, on the other hand, is simply linked to ability to pay and, whilst reviewed annually, will only seek to mirror changes in the parents' financial position, if any.

4. Does my child need to be really bright to get a scholarship? What if my child is just average at everything?

Academic, Music, Piping, Sport and Art Scholarships will be awarded to children who are seen to excel in that particular area. The All-Rounder Scholarship is made to those children who don’t necessarily excel in one area but rather demonstrate an interest in and a certain aptitude for a variety of disciplines which may include those above and a whole variety of additional ones.

5. What benefits are there to having a Scholarship?

The award of a Scholarship in any discipline is seen as a significant achievement by staff and other pupils alike and certain additional privileges – some of them very longstanding and traditional – are afforded to those individuals. In addition, most of our Scholarships carry the name of the benefactor and Scholars are presented with a certificate carrying the name of the award and the history behind it.

6. How and why is a Scholarship linked with a Bursary at Fettes?

An award of a Scholarship ‘opens the door’ to a Bursarial award and anyone whose child is or becomes a Scholar is eligible to apply for a Bursary. As you can imagine, funds available for Bursary awards are extremely tight and need to be allocated in a fair and transparent manner; it is for this reason that we have made the award of a Scholarship a prerequisite for a Bursary.

7. Why is it means-tested?

A Bursary is means-tested to ensure that children who are keen to come to Fettes and who are committed to learning are not excluded from coming simply because their parents cannot afford it.

8. What exactly do we take into account – is it just earnings?

The process is quite simple and involves a review of your financial situation. This will certainly include income and expenditure and may take into account assets and liabilities depending upon the circumstances.

9. How much do I need to be earning to have a chance of being successful?

This is a very difficult question to answer and perhaps the first step is to ask yourself whether, based on your own circumstances, you think you could afford the fees. If the answer is no, the likelihood is that you would be successful in obtaining some sort of award.

As regards earnings, it is important to note that the threshold would take into account the number of children you have at the school.

It should be borne in mind, however, that the funds available for Bursaries are not limitless and that offers of assistance are made against that backdrop.

10. Do I ask for a certain amount of help or does the school calculate that?

The school calculates the level of assistance it can offer but it would be normal for the parents to do their own calculations as well. Assuming we both work from the same information and bearing in mind the basic test of affordability, it is unlikely we would come up with calculations which differ significantly.

12. Will people know my child is on Bursarial support?

Bursary awards are confidential and no one knows who is on Bursarial support unless the parents have chosen to share that information with the child.

13. What about all the extras such as trips abroad and school uniform?

We believe that children benefit most from Fettes if they are able to participate in every aspect of what is on offer at the school; that includes trips and other activities whether onsite or offsite. We are aware that some of our pupils in receipt of Bursaries might not, for financial reasons, be able to attend some of these trips and assistance is available for Bursary holders on these occasions. Similarly, assistance is provided in respect of the initial costs of joining Fettes, specifically in respect of uniform and laptop computers.

14. Do Scholarships and Bursaries only apply to people in the UK?

Anybody is able to apply for a Scholarship, regardless of where they live or come from.