The Alice Horsman Fund was established in 1953. Its purpose is (a) to provide alumni with opportunities to travel at such time in their careers as may be of most value to them, in order to either broaden their experience of other countries and their peoples or to carry out research and (b) to support alumni in a significant career change.
More information about 2025-26 awards will be confirmed in January 2026.
About the Alice Horsman Fund
Alice Horsman was a Classics student at Somerville College, Oxford. She matriculated in 1908 and was among the first women to be called to the English Bar. She practiced law for many years until deteriorating hearing forced her to end her career. Her law chambers were destroyed in the Blitz in 1940, and in 1943 she bought the Drimnin estate in Morvern, Argyll and took up farming. With her adventurous spirit she took up sailing at the age of 65, cruising across the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean and later across the North Sea to Norway, keeping a medicine cupboard of Scotch whisky on board and never once succumbing to seasickness! She died in 1978 at the age of 89, but her abiding interest in her College never waned in her lifetime.
Eligibility
Enrolled students in the final year of their course are eligible. This includes research graduates who have submitted their thesis, but not received leave to supplicate. Students who are on suspension, visiting students and associate students are not eligible. The project does not need to be course-related. Applicants should be in need of financial support, and be able to demonstrate that their proposed project meets one of the two aims of the Alice Horsman Fund:
- To support travel in order to either broaden experience or carry out research
- To support a significant career change
Here are some examples of past projects that have been supported by the Alice Horsman Fund:
- Internship with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative in Kenya
- Internship with the Living Reefs Foundation in Bermuda
- Attending the Nordic Migration Research Conference in Norway
The planned travel or project must start after the course completion date and end before 31st December 2026. For projects ending after this date, finalists can apply for Alice Horsman Scholarships in Michaelmas Term. Please note that travel to places where students are usually resident when not in Oxford will not normally be funded.
Award levels
To be confirmed in January 2026.
Environmental sustainability is integral to Somerville’s commitment to social responsibility. Students who are applying for funding for travel within Europe are incentivised to choose lower carbon travel solutions. Lower award levels will apply unless there are exceptional circumstances. These could include disabilities that prevent long train journeys, caring responsibilities or the need to avoid travelling through particular countries. For the purposes of these awards, the countries on this list are considered to be within Europe.
Students should refer to the University’s Guide to Sustainable Business Travel for information about reducing carbon emissions. They are also encouraged to offset flights using an offsetting scheme compliant with the Gold Standard.
Application process
To be confirmed in January 2026. Applications will open during the Easter Vacation and close at 12 noon on Monday 27th April.
Decisions
Decisions will be made by the Somerville College Travel and Special Project Grants Committee.
Reporting
Successful applicants will be expected to submit a brief report after the completion of their project.
Queries
If you have any queries, please email student.funding@some.ox.ac.uk
