Scholarships

Scholarships have been a central part of Eton ever since King Henry VI founded the College for the 70 King’s Scholars in 1440. Today, there are still 70 King’s Scholars in the school, but in recent years we have expanded our scholarship schemes considerably: Music Scholarships were first awarded in 1970; Sixth Form Scholarships in 1988; New Foundation Scholarships were awarded for the first time in 2009. Most Sixth Form Scholarships are awarded to boys at UK maintained schools, but deserving applicants from fee-charging UK schools can also be considered. In a typical year there are about 130 scholarship boys, 8 at preparatory schools and the remainder at Eton. The Horizon Foundation Scholarship is designated to benefit a boy coming from the Middle East, entering the School as a Sixth Form Scholar. Tsukanov Scholarships are available for boys who are exceptionally talented both musically and academically and have Russian or former Soviet Union heritage.

Of these 130 boys, about 100 - the King's Scholars and Music Scholars - receive an automatic fee reduction. Eton’s policy is that finances will not be an obstacle to any boy who is offered a scholarship. If the automatic fee reduction leaves a higher fee than can be afforded, the fee will be set according to means. Some 40 of those scholars benefit from bursaries supplementing their scholarships.  For the other scholars, the fee is set at a level that can be afforded; these means-tested bursaries can cover the entire fee, if necessary.   There are a large number of boys who are charged a very small fee; about 30 boys are educated free of charge, and in several cases the college pays for extras, including school uniform and in some cases even pocket money.

Eton is looking for boys of high academic promise or high musical promise who will benefit from the opportunities that Eton provides and who will contribute strongly to the life of the school.

For further information, please contact the Access Adviser.

Please click here for the Election Roll 2010.