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.

The 2023-24 application form will be available to download from this webpage in March 2024. 

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 planned travel or project must start after the course completion date.

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

Award levels

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 Up to £500
Travel within Europe which does not involve flying Up to £600 (20% more funding)
Travel within Europe which involves flying Up to £400 (20% less funding)

 

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

  • The 2023-24 application form will be available to download from this webpage in March 2024.
  • Applicants should complete the application form and email it to the by 12 noon on Monday 6th May 2024. They should also include any evidence of estimated or actual costs.
  • Applicants should also arrange for a reference to be submitted to the by 12 noon on Monday 6th May 2024.

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.