Scholarships & Exhibitions

The Scholarship & Exhibition programme rewards excellence and outstanding ability, giving our most talented academics, sportsmen and performing artists the best possible opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Whilst upholding RBAI’s traditions and ethos, recipients of Scholarships & Exhibitions also play an important role in inspiring their younger peers.

Each recipient receives a contribution towards their fees and a cash award, to contribute towards his participation/development in the specific area for which the Scholarship has been awarded. Please review the criteria for each award below, before downloading and completing an application form.

Open to pupils in Year 13 or 14

The recipient will receive a contribution of £500 towards their school fees.

The student will receive £500 for specialist training and/or to support the development of their business idea.

The student will be eligible for support via either mentoring, a work placement or access to development programmes at the Ormeau Baths.

Eligibility

Pupils already in the Senior School, as well as those joining RBAI in Year 13, would be eligible to apply for an Award.

Applicants must show evidence of innovation or entrepreneurship and have a business idea in mind.

Note: This Scholarship will reopen for applications in Autumn 2025.

One Year (Either Year 13 or Year 14)

The award will cover a contribution of £400 towards school fees for one year.

The student will receive £100 towards his participation in the sport for which the Scholarship has been awarded.

Eligibility

Pupils already in the Senior School, as well as those joining RBAI in Year 13, would be eligible to apply for an Award.

At time of application the student should be performing at least at Provincial Squad level with potential for Ulster and/or Ireland representative level in one of the current recognised school sports.

Note: This Scholarship will reopen for applications in Autumn 2025.

Years 11 and 12

A Scholarship will be awarded to the boy who can demonstrate the most significant improvement in attainment and progress during Year 10.

A Scholarship will be awarded in Year 11.

The award will initially cover school fees in Year 11.

The student will initially receive £500, to contribute to his academic studies.

The re-awarding of the Scholarship in Year 12 will be subject to satisfactory academic performance in Year 11.

Eligibility

This award is not open for applications. Selection will be overseen by the Principal and Vice Principals, utilising academic assessments in Year 9 and Year 10, alongside PTiE and PTiM scores.

The recipient will also have demonstrated their commitment to the life of the School through participation in house activities, extra-curricular activities, music or sport.

Note: This Scholarship will reopen in Autumn 2026.

Years 13-14

This 2 year Scholarship will be presented on behalf of Susan L. Gillen’s sons Robert, William Tennant (RBAI 1954-61) and Sir John De Winter Gillen to the highest performing pupil;

Reading one or more of Design & Technology, English, History Latin or Music at A’ level and/or GCSE Greek.

And/or aspiring to study Drama/Theatre Studies, English, Greek, History Latin, Law or Music at Trinity College Dublin, the University of Cambridge or the University of Oxford.

Who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement at GCSE level.

Selection will be overseen by the Principal and Vice-Principals, utilising academic assessments.

The recipient will also have demonstrated their commitment to the life of the School through participation in extra-curricular activities which complement the pupil’s learning.

The Scholar will receive a bursary of £400 towards fees & a cash award of £100 in Year 13, to be re-awarded in Year 14 subject to good academic progress and attainment.

Application Process

Selection will be overseen by the Principal and Vice-Principals.

Note: This Scholarship will reopen for applications in Autumn 2025.

Years 13-14

This 2 year Scholarship will be presented in memory of Jonathan McCartney, by his father, Professor D Graham McCartney (RBAI 1966-73) to a pupil demonstrating outstanding potential in Design & Technology or BTEC Engineering.

Selection will be overseen by the Principal and Vice-Principals, utilising academic assessments.

The Scholar will receive a bursary of £400 towards fees & a cash award of £100 in Year 13, to be re-awarded in Year 14 subject to good academic progress and attainment.

The Principal and Vice-Principals will process the assessments and their decision will be final.

Note: This Scholarship will reopen for applications in Autumn 2026.

Selection will be by audition. Candidates will be required to perform to at least Grade 6 standard on their chosen instrument and undertake a short sight-reading test and interview.

The awardee will receive £250 towards fees and a cash award of £250, for a maximum of two years.

The successful candidate will have to participate in the School Orchestra, School Choir and/or Jazz Band, and the re-awarding of the scholarship will depend on contribution to musical activities within the school.

Whilst the performance criteria for both is the same, preference for one of these awards will be given to a pupil in receipt of a fees bursary/free school meals.

Note: This Scholarship will reopen for applications in Autumn 2026.

Each recipient receives a cash award, to contribute towards his participation/development in the specific area for which the Exhibition has been awarded. Please note Exhibition awards do not include a fee contribution from the School.

The Robert Howard Swimming Exhibition – £300* per annum (Re-awarding for an additional year is subject to continued participation in the school Swimming Club and achieving at representative level).Exhibitions will be awarded, for a maximum of two years, to those students achieving representative honours, or an exceptional level of performance to be determined by the SLT, Head of PE and Games, and the appropriate Master in Charge of the Sport.*To contribute to development in the sport for which the Exhibition has been awarded.

Note: This Exhibition will reopen for applications in Autumn 2025.

The Tom Reid Hockey Exhibition – £300* per annum (Re-awarding for an additional year is subject to continued participation in the school Hockey Club and achieving at representative level). The recipient will be encouraged to develop links with Instonians Hockey Club, eg. coaching.

Note: This Exhibition will reopen for applications in Autumn 2026.

Dr Kenneth Watson Sports Exhibition – £300* per annum (Re-awarding for an additional year is subject to continued participation in the school sporting provision, and achieving at representative level in one of the current recognised school sports).

*To contribute to development in the sport for which the Exhibition has been awarded.

NB: The holder of a Swimming or Hockey Exhibition is not eligible to hold an Open Exhibition.

Note: This Exhibition reopen for applications in Autumn 2025.