A bursary is a means-tested financial award granted to families who meet our academic entry requirements but require financial assistance to help towards the cost of tuition fees.  Bursaries ensure that a St Columba’s education remains accessible to able and ambitious young people, regardless of financial background.   

We accept bursary applications for prospective pupils entering any stage from Junior 1 through to Senior VI. Additionally, current St Columba’s families are welcome to apply if an unexpected and significant change in financial circumstances occurs during their child’s time at the school.

Bursary awards are scaled based on financial need, performance during the admissions process, and available funding.

You will be required to fill out a confidential declaration of your financial circumstances. This includes providing supporting documentation regarding your family’s overall financial position, such as household income, savings, investments, and any realisable assets.

Absolutely. We understand that financial matters are deeply personal. All information submitted to our secure portal is treated with the highest degree of confidentiality and is handled impartially. Within the school community, no distinction whatsoever is made between pupils who receive bursary support and those who pay full fees.

Because spaces and funding are limited per year group, we recommend applying as early as possible. For entry in the upcoming August term, the deadline for bursary applications is December of the prior year. This allows our Bursary Committee time to review declarations before admissions offers are sent out in February.

Parents and guardians can reach out to us during the year if they need additional support.  We will always do what we can to support current families.

While bursaries are intended to support your child throughout their entire journey at St Columba’s, they are reviewed annually. This ensures that funding continues to reflect your current financial need and that the recipient upholds our school values, performs to the best of their academic ability, and contributes positively to school life.

Bursary awards are applied directly as a deduction from tuition fees. Ancillary costs, including school uniform, lunches, optional school trips, Duke of Edinburgh, and school bus transport, are not covered by the bursary.

There is no single “cutoff” figure. Our third-party assessment looks holistically at your income, assets, outgoings, and the number of dependents in your household. We assist families across a wide financial spectrum.

Yes. The Sports Scholarship is merit-based and non-means-tested. If your child qualifies for a scholarship but your family requires further financial assistance to bridge the gap in tuition fees, you are highly encouraged to submit a concurrent application to our means-tested Bursary Fund.