Written by The Global Talent Fund is an annual scholarship hosted by the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom (UK).
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 medalled in international Olympiads.
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.
Summary of the 2026 Global Talent Fund BIG Scholarships
- Type: Masters Scholarships
- Country to study: United Kingdom (UK)
- School to study: University of Edinburgh
- Sponsor: Global Talent Fund
- Funding Type: Fully Funded
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Benefits: Full Scholarship, Living Stipend, Internship, Networking, Travel Costs
- Deadline: 31st March, 2026
Eligibility Criterias for the 2026 Global Talent Fund BIG Scholarships
The Global Talent Fund BIG 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 Applied Mathematics
- BSc Mathematics
- BSc Mathematics and Statistics
- MMath Applied Mathematics – (direct entry to second year only)
- MMath Mathematics – (direct entry to second year only)
Benefits
- 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.
Step 🪜 by Step 🪜 Application Guide
- Apply for admission to the University of Edinburgh
- Proceed to apply for the scholarship.
- The online scholarship application form is located in EUCLID and can be accessed via MyEd – our web-based information portal.
- The scholarship deadline is 23:59 (UK Time) on 31st March, 2026.