Bursary Awards and the Admissions Process
We offer a number of bursary awards and a simple application process.
Bursaries are worth from 5% to 100% of the fees. Depending on family circumstances, we can sometimes help with additional costs as well, such as IT equipment, academic trips, travel costs and uniform.
The bursary award is determined by a means-testing process which enables the College to assess how much could be contributed by a pupil’s household based on its income and resources. The application process is as follows:
- A Financial Circumstances Form should be submitted by 1st July of the summer prior to your child’s year of assessment – Year 10 for 16+ entry and Year 5 or 6 for 13+ entry. Forms are then assessed independently to determine the level of means-tested bursary the College can offer. It is advisable to contact the Admissions by May to request the Financial Circumstances form you will be asked to complete. You will also be required to submit supporting documentation.
2. Candidates should apply for a College place. To do this, Registration and Enrolment forms must be submitted by:
- 1st October of Year 11, for 16+ (Sixth Form) Entry
- 9th October of Year 6 or 7 for 13+ Entry
3. We will let you know the outcome of your bursary assessment.4. Your child will take part in the usual assessment process for their year of entry. If they are successful in gaining a place at the College, the assessed bursary will be award
For further details, please review our full bursary admissions process.
Bursary Awards
You can apply for general or specific bursary funds.
General Bursary Awards
- College bursary awards: These are available to all bursary applicants and make up the majority of our bursary awards. They are funded by the College.
- Sponsored bursary awards: These are available to all bursary applicants. They are funded by individual donors who, with parental permission, receive periodic updates on the progress of the bursary pupil during their time at Marlborough.
Art and Sport Awards
- The Christopher Martin-Jenkins Bursary: this is available to a talented cricketer or golfer joining the College in the Sixth Form.
- The Robin Child Art Bursary (sponsored by Simon Mordant): this is available to a talented artist joining the College in the Sixth Form.
Specific Boarding House Awards
- The Fred Packard Memorial Bursary: this is available to a boy joining C1 House in the Shell.
- The Susie Frearson Memorial Bursary: this is available to a girl joining Summerfield House in the Sixth Form and the next award will be made for September 2024.
Consolidated Fund Awards
Swindon Academy awards
These are available every year to pupils who are part of the Grammar Stream at Swindon Academy and who want to join the College in the Lower Sixth.
Old Marlburian awards
The Marlburian Club Charitable Funds provide bursaries for the children of Old Marlburians (former pupils of the College).
Bursary Admissions Process
Means-testing
Bursaries are worth from 5% to 100% of the fees. Depending on family circumstances, we can sometimes help with additional costs as well, such as IT equipment, academic trips, travel costs and uniform.
The bursary award is determined by a means-testing process which enables the College to assess how much could be contributed by a pupil’s household based on its income and resources. This is established through the submission of a Financial Circumstances Form, which is accompanied by copies of documentary evidence to support details of income, expenses and capital.
Bursary Process
Bursary applications should be made by 1st July prior to the school year in which your child is being assessed for a College place. However, later applications may be considered if funds are still available. Please contact the Admissions Office for more information.
The bursary application involves a means-tested assessment and forms part of the admissions application process.
The standard means-testing process is as follows:
1. Deadline for submission of the Financial Circumstances form: 1st July in the academic year prior to that in which your child is being assessed (this is normally Year 6 or 7 for Shell entry or Year 11 for Lower Sixth entry). Therefore, it is advisable to contact the Admissions by May to request the Financial Circumstances form you will be asked to complete. You will also be required to submit supporting documentation.
2. A firm of independent assessors will review your application and recommend the appropriate level of financial assistance. The Director of Admissions will inform you of the likely level of financial support you can expect to receive, subject to your child being successful in gaining a place at the College.
3. Deadline for school place applications: 1st October in Year 11 for Lower Sixth entry or 9th October in Year 6 or 7 for Shell entry.
4. Prospective pupils will take part in the normal entry assessment process. For some bursary awards your child may also need to provide supporting materials (e.g., a portfolio for an art bursary). This would be better discussed on an individual basis – confuses with scholarship applications.
5. The Director of Admissions will determine whether or not an applicant has performed well enough in the entry assessments to be awarded a place at the College.
6. You will be advised whether or not your child is to be offered a place at the College and the level of bursary you will receive will be confirmed.
For further information about this process, please contact the Admissions Office.
