Application Deadline: 23:59 (UK Time) on 31st March 2026
LOCATION: United Kingdom
The BIG (‘Backing Invisible Geniuses’) Program offers prodigious young talents the opportunity to study at world-class institutions. Scholarships are open to students from around the world who have medaled in international Olympiads.
ELIGIBILITY:
Scholarships are open to students from any country who have earned a gold, silver or bronze medal in any of the following major international science Olympiads:
International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO)
International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI)
International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)
Romanian Master of Mathematics (RMM)
European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO) (gold or silver medal only)
The scholarships are awarded to applicants who are accepted for full-time admission to one of the following undergraduate degree programmes hosted in the School of Mathematics:
BSc Mathematics and Statistics
MMath Applied Mathematics – (direct entry to second year only)
MMath Mathematics – (direct entry to second year only)
Please note that the maximum duration of the funding is 4 years. If you wish to study one of our MMath programmes you would need to join directly into second year in order to receive funding for the duration of your degree
The scholarship is not available to students already on programme. It is also not available to students studying Mathematics as part of a degree programme hosted by another School within the University.
Applicants should have applied to the University of Edinburgh through the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS), but do not need to have received an offer in order to begin the scholarship application process.
In order to gain access to the scholarship application system applicants must have applied for admission to the University of Edinburgh. Please note that, following the submission of an application for admission, it can take up to five working days for all system checks to be completed and access to be granted. We highly recommend you apply for the scholarship well in advance of the scholarship deadline date should you encounter any technical difficulties with your application that need to be resolved.
The online scholarship application form is located in EUCLID and can be accessed via MyEd – our web based information portal at: https://www.myed.ed.ac.uk
BENEFIT:
The BIG Program offers holistic support for students, encompassing tuition costs, assistance with living costs, a stipend for academic pursuits outside the classroom, and other benefits such as social events, networking, internships, and research placements.
The initiative is spearheaded by the Global Talent Fund, supported with a founding donation from XTX Markets and working in collaboration with the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
