MEd TESOL Scholarships

The Trust provides up to ten fully-funded scholarships for a Master’s degree in TESOL at a UK university

Apply now for 2025

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
  • 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
  • who meet the University of Exeter Master’s degree entrance criteria.

What is the timeline?

November Call for applications can be found on this page
26 February Applications close
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.

Refugee Scholarship

The Trust offers an additional scholarship to support the teaching of English to Refugees or asylum seekers. The successful applicant will join a group of Hornby scholars from a range of different countries to study on a one-year full-time Master’s degree in TESOL at the University of Exeter.

A separate call for applications will open in December.

Who can apply?

The Hornby Scholarship for Teachers of English to Refugees is Scholarship is intended to support experienced English language teachers who:

  • are legally resident in the UK
  • hold (or have previously held) refugee status
  • have at least three years’ full-time ELT (English Language Teaching) experience
  • have a full university first degree
  • are currently teaching English to refugees or asylum seekers.

Let’s hear from successful refugee scholar – Younos Dost Mohammadi

Before beginning this scholarship, I volunteered teaching English to Afghan and Syrian families as well as for the British Heart Foundation in North Wales. The Hornby scholarship provided me with advanced knowledge of English language teaching. I also developed significant research and practical skills, which led to my successful appointment as an ESOL Tutor for Warwickshire County Council even before graduation. Additionally, since graduating I have been working with the British Council, teaching online for the STEP Ukraine project.

My life continues to improve in every aspect, and this progress would not have been possible without the prestigious Hornby Scholarship, for which I owe a lifetime of gratitude to the Hornby Educational Trust.

Our 2023-24 Scholars

Hang Pham (Vietnam)

Hang Pham worked as an ESL teacher in both private and public universities before winning the Hornby Trust Scholarship to study at the University of Exeter. Upon completion of her programme Hang Pham plans to return to Vietnam and disseminate the innovative practices that she has learned about decentring ELT to colleagues and the broader Vietnamese ELT community.

Danson Kimathi (Kenya)

Danson is an English Teacher from Kenya. Before starting his MEd TESOL course as a Hornby Scholar, he worked in Kenyan secondary schools in Tharaka Nithi County. He plans to continue teaching and cascade the skills and knowledge he has acquired to colleagues through local communities of practice.

Merve Demir (Turkey)

Merve is an EFL instructor at a preparatory school in Turkey with 10 years’ experience. On completing the MEd TESOL programme in the UK her plan is to contribute to the professional development unit at her institution, enhancing educational practices and supporting the growth of fellow teachers.

Yiviri Rasifatu Tombir (Cameroon)

Yiviri is an English teacher at the Government Bilingual High School, Obala, Cameroon. Upon completing her MEd (TESOL) at the University of Exeter she hopes to establish a vibrant community of practice for teachers and foster meaningful conversations, collaboration, and mentorship, focusing on the effective integration of multilingual approaches in ELT.

Jawid Jafari (Afghanistan)

Jawid has been teaching English to secondary and high school students in Afghanistan for the past six years. As an English teacher, he is keen to improve language education in his country. On completing his Master’s programme he plans to assist other English teachers, working in his context, including through distance learning, with the new insights and strategies gained through his Exeter studies.

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