The Student Scholarship Scheme

HMC Projects has provided a channel through which students from the former communist bloc can enter the Lower Sixth (or Scottish equivalent) in HMC boarding schools. The schools charge no fees to the student and provide full board and lodging. By September 2009, 1037 students from 22 countries will have come to Britain via HMC Projects or Elworthy scholarships (for students from the Kirovograd oblast in Ukraine). The majority of participant schools offer one scholarship, but some offer two or more.

The scholarship scheme is open to students who will be at least 16 years old in the following September and who will not then be older than 17 years 6 months. Applications for scholarships must be made through the appropriate national co-ordinators (see Applications) and at the appropriate time (in the previous autumn). In view of recent Charity legislation in the UK, selection for full scholarships is restricted to students whose parents' combined income in the previous year did not amount to more than £20,000 sterling or local equivalent. (It should be noted that students who, for this reason, would not qualify for full scholarships, may apply through the scholarship process for Reduced Fee scholarships - see below.)

Most students selected for scholarships will have a very good command of English and will not normally require EFL tuition or, indeed, any special provision. Our only request to schools is that they should appoint a 'Contact Person' who will ensure that satisfactory arrangements are made for exeats and half-terms.

In September 2009 HMC Projects scholars will come from ten countries - Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine. The scholars are selected through open competition, administered locally by nationally accredited organisations and following interview by members of the HMC Projects Working Group.

HMC Projects arranges a three day 'Orientation' course in Cambridge for our students on their arrival in September. The HMC Projects Student Counsellor (Mr Robin Hildrew) supplies pastoral back-up through the year and, in particular, will arrange supervised half-term stays for those students who request such accommodation.

The scholarship is for one year only and students are advised that they should not and must not count on a second year in the UK. While it is not uncommon for HMC Projects scholars to be invited back for a second Sixth Form year by their schools, usually at full cost to the school, HMC Projects has no formal link with such students after the first year and can provide no further support, financial or otherwise.

HMC Scholars usually emerge as outstanding members of their sixth forms, achieving excellent examination results and offering a great deal besides. We are proud that former scholars are already occupying important posts in their own countries.

Financial Arrangements

Since 2003, when support from the Open Society of New York came to an end, it has been necessary to charge an administrative fee to students selected for scholarships and to schools. For the academic year 2009-10, the fee for students will be £2,000 for students from the Czech Republic and Estonia and £1,000 for students from all other countries (other than Kirovograd, where no charge applies).

On arrival in the UK, each student receives a Bursary from HMC Projects. A cheque for £500 is paid into an account held by the school to help the student to take good advantage of cultural and travelling opportunities during his or her stay. Students may apply to the Student Counsellor for discretionary travel grants.

In circumstances of exceptional financial difficulty, and only when appropriate and detailed information is supplied, HMC Projects may reduce the administrative fee and/or award supplementary bursaries.

Reduced Fee Scholarship Scheme

Since 2006 HMC Projects, as a means of expanding the number of opportunities open to students in Central and Eastern Europe, has nominated for Reduced Fee consideration by schools some students who, although they did not win a full scholarship, showed in their applications and at interview that they would have been worthy of a full scholarship. Each year, many of the schools offering full HMC Projects scholarships offer reduced-fee scholarships to students nominated on this account by HMC Projects. Roughly 25 Reduced Fee places become available in this fashion, with fee reductions ranging from 25% to 75% of fees. Students whose parental income would debar them from consideration for full fee scholarships are encouraged to enter the competition for HMC Projects scholarships, as the means to consideration for Reduced Fee scholarships.