The Foundation lies at the heart of Heriot’s school and provides support to children of widows and widowers, including pastoral and financial assistance. Foundation support is available to pupils joining the school from Primary 6 upwards; existing Heriot’s pupils are eligible to apply to the Foundation in the event of the death of a parent.
Foundation places are awarded at the discretion of the Governors. They will consider applications for children who have lived in the EH, KY or FK postcode areas for at least five years before applying. Alternatively, one parent must have had a significant and longstanding link with the city of Edinburgh.
Previously Heriot’s provided a fully funded school place and benefits for a child when a parent earned below a household income threshold of £45,000. We have now removed the current income threshold for new Foundationer pupils and are introducing a tiered model of support, where any family living within Edinburgh and the locality who has lost a parent may apply for their child to join the school as a Foundationer. Where financial support is requested, applicants will be required to complete an annual means-tested household income sheet and provide information of their financial circumstances. Governors will consider the salary of a single parent for Foundation applicants, as well as other sources of household income, for examples relatives and partners, Trust funds, shares and savings.
Places for Foundationers will be offered within a tiered support system, ranging from 100% fee remission plus sundries, to an offer of a place that will entitle a pupil and their family to access pastoral and bereavement care without financial support.
Both the residential and financial criteria for a Foundation place must be met. We currently have 54 Foundationers at the school.
Applicants to the Foundation are not required to pay the £90 registration fee. Please contact the Admissions Office for an alternative application form to be sent to you.
Means-tested bursaries are available for pupils joining from Primary 6 onwards, whose household meets the financial criteria. Existing Heriot’s pupils are also eligible on the same basis. Funds may be available to support pupils in receipt of 100% bursaries with some of the extra costs associated with school, for example uniform, books etc.
Heriot Bursaries are awarded for a year at a time and are reviewed annually, with the amount awarded decided on a case-by-case basis. Families are welcome to reapply each year that they qualify for assistance. Awards are made at the discretion of the Principal and the Governors and are subject to satisfactory pupil behaviour and continuing effort.
The School currently offers bursarial places to 61 pupils. The household income level has been changed to better reflect UK salaries and is now set at a qualifying level of £72,000 per applicant (the joint income of the Edinburgh median salary level of £36,000p/a). All applicants seeking financial support will be means tested based on the recognised evaluation of family income, including income for example from relatives and partners, Trust funds, shares and savings.
Financial Criteria
To qualify for financial awards, total gross household income must not exceed the relevant limit set by the Governors.
For session 2025/26, the qualifying limits are:
| Foundation Applicants | No Qualifying Limit |
| Bursary Applicants | £72,000 per annum |
The value of capital assets is also considered.
How to Apply
To apply for financial assistance, tick the relevant box on the Application for Admission form. We will send you the appropriate form to complete.
Before applying, please view our Admissions and Financial Assistance Privacy Notice.
Find Out More
For all financial matters, please contact the Finance Office.
Emergency Support
Support may be available for parents and guardians of existing Heriot’s pupils who experience a significant change in financial circumstances. Please contact the Director of Finance in the first instance via trust@george-heriots.com .
Some scholarships carry fee remission or a financial award, others an appropriate prize. As scholarship awards are not means-tested, all pupils are eligible for consideration.
Academic Scholarships
An Academic Scholarship award of 50% fee remission will be made to both the top performing external pupil entering Senior 1 based on their entrance assessment, and the Dux of the Junior School. This fee remission lasts for the duration of Senior School.
Academic Scholarships may be awarded to other external and internal candidates entering Senior 1, or to new entrants in later year groups. Any such awards take the form of an appropriate prize and carry no fee remission.
Application is not required for an Academic Scholarship, it is decided based on the performance of the applicant during the entrance assessment process or academic performance of an existing pupil in the school.
Expressive Arts Awards
You may apply for your child to be considered for a special award in Music, Art and Design or Drama, if joining Heriot’s from Senior 1 onwards. To request the criteria for any of these awards, please contact the Admissions Office.
External awards are valued at 10% of the fees, and up to one award will be made annually in the Senior School in each discipline. One internal scholarship may also be awarded annually in the Senior School in each discipline, in the form of an appropriate prize. Internal awards do not require an application, they will be decided within the relevant department based on performance.
Sports Scholarships
Up to four Sports Scholarships in the form of an appropriate prize, are awarded each year to pupils already at Heriot’s. We do not invite applications for the Sports Scholarships, as they are awarded based on performance.
Join us on the 27 September to see George Heriot’s in full swing.
Meet teachers, explore academic departments, hear the pipe band, watch activities, and hear from school leaders.
Importantly, hear why your investment in a Heriot’s education will give your child strong foundations for life.