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. All new 2026 Scholarships will be awarded for one year.

(Open to pupils joining RBAI in Year 8 – NO APPLICATION REQUIRED)

 This Scholarship will be awarded to the current Year 8 pupil who achieved the highest SEAG score in Primary 7 and does not require an application submission.

This Scholarship will cover a contribution of £400 towards school fees in Year 8 and the student will receive £100 to contribute towards his academic studies.

The SLT will process the assessments, and their decision will be final.

(Open to pupils in Year 13 and Year 14)

At the 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.

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.

This Scholarship is available for applications in Autumn 2026

(Open to pupils in Year 13 and Year 14)

This 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 and a cash award of £100.

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

This Scholarship is available for applications in Autumn 2026.

Please note that whilst the performance criteria for both music Scholarships are the same, preference for one of these awards will be given to a pupil in receipt of a fees bursary/free school meals.

(Two Scholarships open to all pupils)

Selection for this Scholarship 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 successful candidate must also participate in the School Orchestra, School Choir and/or Jazz Band.

The awardee will receive £250 towards fees and a cash award of £250.

This Scholarship is available for applications in Autumn 2026

(Open to all pupils)

Selection for this Scholarship 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 successful candidate must also participate in the School Orchestra, School Choir and/or Jazz Band.

The awardee will receive £250 towards fees and a cash award of £250.

This Scholarship is available for applications in Autumn 2026

(Year 11 and Year 12 – NOT OPEN for applications in 2026)

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.

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.

This is a two year Scholarship and  is NOT OPEN for applications in 2026.

(Year 13 and Year 14 – NOT OPEN for applications in 2026)

This two 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 and a cash award of £100 in Year 13, to be re-awarded in Year 14 subject to good academic progress and attainment.

This is a two year Scholarship and is NOT OPEN for applications in 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.

All new 2026 Exhibitions will be awarded for one year.

(Open to all pupils)

This Exhibition will be awarded to a pupil 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.

The pupil will receive £300 towards his participation in the sport for which the Exhibition has been awarded.

This Exhibition is available for applications in Autumn 2026.

(Open to pupils in Years 8-11)

This Exhibition will be awarded to a pupil who participates in the School Hockey Club and can demonstrate achievement at representative level.

The pupil will receive £300 towards his participation in the sport for which the Exhibition has been awarded.

The recipient will be encouraged to develop links with Instonians Hockey Club, eg. coaching.

This Exhibition is available for applications in Autumn 2026

(Open to pupils in Years 12-14)

This Exhibition will be awarded to a pupil who participates in the School Hockey Club and can demonstrate achievement at representative level.

The pupil will receive £300 towards his participation in the sport for which the Exhibition has been awarded.

The recipient will be encouraged to develop links with Instonians Hockey Club, eg. coaching.

This Exhibition is available for applications in Autumn 2026

(NOT OPEN for applications in 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.

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

This is a two year Exhibition and is NOT OPEN for applications in 2026.