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.

Please note that applications have now closed for the 2023-24 academic year. This webpage will be updated in late September for 2024-25.

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 (2023-24)

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

The planned travel or project must start after the course completion date. Please note that travel to places where students are usually resident when not in Oxford will not normally be funded.

Award levels (2023-24)

Environmental sustainability is integral to Somerville’s commitment to social responsibility. Students who are applying for funding for travel within Europe will now be incentivised to choose lower carbon travel solutions. The following 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.

Travel within the UK or outside Europe (standard award) Up to £500
Travel within Europe which does not involve flying (increased by 20%) Up to £600
Travel within Europe which involves flying (reduced by 20%) Up to £400

 

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.

Graduate application process (2023-24)

  • Graduates should complete the application form and email it to their Supervisor, copying in their College Adviser and student.funding@some.ox.ac.uk. We recommend that this is done at least a week before the application deadline. This is to allow enough time for Supervisors to complete their section. Students should also include any evidence of estimated or actual costs.
  • Supervisors should complete their section and email the application form to student.funding@some.ox.ac.uk by the deadline.
  • The Scholarships and Funding Officer will forward applications to College Advisers for their comments.

Undergraduate application process (2023-24)

  • Undergraduates should complete the application form and email it to student.funding@some.ox.ac.uk by the deadline. Students should also include any evidence of estimated or actual costs.
  • The Scholarships and Funding Officer will forward applications to Personal Tutors for their comments.

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (BMBCH) application process (2023-24)

  • BMBCH students should complete the application form and email it to student.funding@some.ox.ac.uk by the deadline. Students should also include any evidence of estimated or actual costs.
  • The Scholarships and Funding Officer will forward applications to Personal Tutors for their comments.

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 the Scholarships and Funding Officer.