Apply for a Bursary

The Society is committed to making the Conference as financially accessible as possible. We have a bursary fund that can provide help towards the conference to support attendance from students, those on a low income, unemployed people, and clergy/ministers. Bursaries can offset all or part of the cost of the conference fee.

In order to receive a bursary, you must be registered with the Society. If you are not already registered, please follow this link. To apply for a bursary, please complete the form below. The deadline for bursary applications is the 14th of December.

If you apply for a bursary, the Secretary or Treasurer will notify you by e-mail (to the address from which you applied) of the outcome by the 15th of January. This allows you to book and pay before the early booking rate deadline (typically in March). If you have applied for a bursary, please do not make your booking until you know the outcome of your application. This is because bursaries will be e-mailed as a coupon that holders can use when booking online.

Bursary Allocation

Bursaries are available in three amounts: maximum (£200), half (£100), and minor (£50). Historically, about half of applications have been successful.

Bursaries are allocated in the following way:

• Applications from those invited to present papers are considered first.
• First preference will be given to applicants without income or access to institutional funding. Successful candidates in this category will be awarded maximum bursaries.
• Secondary consideration is given to those with partial employment and/or access to institutional funds. Preference will be given first to those who are partially employed with less access to institutional funds, and then those with access to more institutional funds. Successful candidates will be awarded half bursaries.
• Final consideration to those who are fully employed. Preference will be given to those with less access to institutional funds. Successful candidates will be awarded minor bursaries.
• If funds remain at this stage, applicants who are not presenting a paper will be considered in the same order as above.

In the case that the number of applicants in a category (e.g., presenters with access to partial funding) exceeds the amount of funding available, applications will be chosen at random.

Please note that bursaries do not cover the full amount of the conference. However a bursary may cover the cost of a one day ticket.  If a successful bursary applicant opts to come for a duration costing less than their bursary amount they forfeit the remainder of the bursary. Moreover, bursaries cannot be used for delegates’ travel expenses.

Additional Bursaries

Global Majority Heritage applicants are also invited to apply for one of our GMH bursaries. GMH applications will be considered first, and unsuccessful GMH applicants will automatically be considered in the regular bursary allocation process.

We are in the process of developing a bursary for Palestinian Theologians, more information will be provided in due course.

If you have any questions about the bursaries or experience any problems completing the form, please contact admin@theologysociety.org.uk.

Contributions to the fund may be made when booking or at any other time. For further information about making a donation, please click here.

Data protection and privacy

Personal data is collected for the legitimate interests of SST to support all those engaged in theology. Special category data is collected under Article 9(2)(d) (not-for-profit bodies). See our Privacy Notice for more information.