The British-spanish Society

Charity Number: 1080250

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £54,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (hundreds of applications received annually)
  • Decision Time: Approximately 6 months (applications close May, awards announced November)
  • Grant Range: Up to £9,000 per scholar
  • Geographic Focus: UK and Spain
  • Number of Awards: 6-7 scholarships annually

Contact Details

Website: www.britishspanishsociety.org

Scholarship Applications: info.scholarship@britishspanishsociety.org

General Enquiries: info@britishspanishsociety.org

Treasurer: treasurer@britishspanishsociety.org

Phone: 07919274356

Address: 7 New Quebec Street, Marylebone, London, W1H 7RH

Overview

Founded in 2000 and registered as charity number 1080250, The British-Spanish Society is a charitable company dedicated to advancing education about Spain for UK residents and about the United Kingdom for Spanish people. With annual income of approximately £154,644 (2024), the organization operates primarily through grant-making activities. The Society's flagship programme is its annual scholarship scheme, launched in 2008, which has distributed over £270,000 supporting more than 70 postgraduate scholars and bursary recipients across diverse academic fields. In November 2024, Sir Anthony Cooke-Yarborough was appointed as Chairman, succeeding Jimmy Burns Marañón who served from 2013-2024. The Spanish Ambassador serves as Honorary President. The scholarship programme is supported by major corporate sponsors including BBVA, Santander Universities, Fundación Cañada Blanch, Plastic Energy, and Cuatrecasas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Annual Postgraduate Scholarship Programme: Up to £9,000 per scholar

  • 6-7 awards made annually
  • Applications open: 31 March to 23 May
  • Awards ceremony: Mid-November at Spanish Embassy, London
  • Application method: Fixed annual deadline via email submission

Priority Areas

The Society supports postgraduate research (Master's and Doctoral programmes) that strengthens links between the UK and Spain across all academic disciplines. Recent awards have covered:

  • Sciences: Neuroscience, reproductive medicine, environmental studies, civil engineering, physics
  • Social Sciences: Economics, urban planning, psycholinguistics
  • Arts and Humanities: Music, literature, history, architecture, marine archaeology
  • Innovation: Renewable energy, medical technology

The scholarship programme specifically aims to support individual and institutional links between the two countries, with the Selection Committee assessing whether applications conform to the Society's objective of promoting friendship and understanding between the UK and Spain.

What They Don't Fund

  • Postdoctoral research or fellowship positions
  • Applications from working professionals receiving a salary to develop their projects
  • Projects without a clear British-Spanish connection
  • Undergraduate programmes
  • Projects that can proceed without additional funding (they specifically aim to support work that “would not be possible without additional funding”)
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Governance and Leadership

Chairman: Sir Anthony Cooke-Yarborough (appointed November 2024)

  • Private banking chair of EFG International
  • Former CEO of EFG Private Bank UK (2011-2019)
  • Society member since 2000, served as Trustee 2009-2020

Honorary President: H.E. José Pascual Marco Martínez, Spanish Ambassador

Trustees: 14 trustees serve the organization, with none receiving remuneration

Grants Sub-Committee: Includes trustees Dr. Marina Pérez de Arcos and Dr. Mike Short, along with representatives from corporate sponsors and benefactors who participate in the selection process

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via email to info.scholarship@britishspanishsociety.org by 23 May 2025. No applications or documents are accepted after this deadline.

Email Subject Line: Must be 'BSS Scholarships Application pack' followed by candidate's full name

Required Documentation:

  • Completed application form
  • References on official letter-headed paper, dated and signed (must be dated less than one year prior to application deadline)
  • Written confirmation of unconditional acceptance to postgraduate degree programme
  • Shortlisted candidates must provide scanned copy of British or Spanish passport/identity card

Eligibility Requirements:

  • British or Spanish nationality
  • Enrolled or accepted for postgraduate studies (Master's or Doctoral) at a UK or Spanish university
  • Must have unconditional acceptance to programme
  • Research must demonstrate connection to UK-Spain links
  • Cannot be a working professional receiving salary to develop the project

Membership Requirement: Successful applicants must join the British-Spanish Society as members for minimum one year (student rate: £30/annum for 2025)

Decision Timeline

  • Application Window Opens: 31 March
  • Application Deadline: 23 May
  • Selection Process: May-October (conducted by Grants Sub-Committee with sponsor representatives)
  • Notification: Autumn (approximately October-November)
  • Awards Ceremony: Mid-November at Spanish Embassy, London
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 6 months from submission to decision

Success Rates

The Grants Sub-Committee receives “hundreds of applications every year” for 6-7 annual awards. While exact success rates are not published, this suggests a competitive selection process with likely single-digit success rates. The Society does not provide feedback on unsuccessful applications due to the high volume of submissions.

Reapplication Policy

No specific restrictions on reapplication are mentioned in available materials. Given the annual cycle and lack of stated prohibition, unsuccessful applicants appear able to reapply in subsequent years.

Application Success Factors

The Society uses a scoring system that includes:

British-Spanish Link (maximum 20 points): This is the highest-weighted criterion. Applications must clearly demonstrate how the research strengthens connections between the UK and Spain. Review recent scholar projects to understand the range of acceptable connections - these can be comparative studies (e.g., youth unemployment policies in both countries), collaborative research involving institutions in both nations, or studies of cultural/historical exchange.

Centre Evaluation (maximum 10 points): The quality and relevance of your host institution and research environment.

Alignment with Sponsor Interests: Applicants are encouraged to review Principal Supporters' websites and consider how to present applications with reference to their interests. Recent sponsorship patterns show:

  • BBVA: Economics and finance projects
  • Fundación Cañada Blanch: Music and cultural studies
  • Plastic Energy: Environmental and sustainability research
  • Santander Universities: History and neuroscience
  • Cuatrecasas: Various academic fields

Demonstrated Financial Need: The Society explicitly states it aims to support courses or research “which would not be possible without additional funding.” Applications should clearly articulate why the scholarship is essential for the project to proceed.

Quality Indicators:

  • Strong academic references on official letterhead
  • Unconditional acceptance to a postgraduate programme
  • Clear, well-articulated research proposal
  • Evidence of exceptional academic achievement (the Society seeks “exceptional applications” and “talented” researchers)

Recent Successful Projects (2023-2024):

  • Comparative study of demographic change's impact on public finances (UK-Spain)
  • Classical music education access programmes
  • Environmental detection and decontamination of emerging contaminants
  • Martial culture in Spanish and English armies (1511-1604)
  • Developmental programming of stress-regulating neurons
  • Offshore wind turbine foundations and scour effects
  • Dystonia treatment in pianists
  • Interwar women composers from Britain and Spain
  • Bilingual language processing

Common Themes in Successful Applications:

  • Clear bilateral UK-Spain connection
  • Innovative research addressing contemporary challenges
  • Multidisciplinary approaches
  • Potential for practical application or societal benefit
  • Strong institutional support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Emphasize the UK-Spain link: This is the highest-weighted criterion (20 points). Make the bilateral connection explicit and compelling throughout your application.
  • Research sponsor alignment: The Society encourages applicants to review corporate sponsors' websites. Tailoring your application narrative to sponsor interests may strengthen your candidacy, particularly if your research aligns naturally with a sponsor's sector.
  • Demonstrate financial necessity: Clearly articulate why this funding is essential - the Society specifically aims to enable research “that would not be possible without additional funding.”
  • Expect high competition: With hundreds of applications for 6-7 awards, presentation quality matters. Ensure references are on official letterhead, dated within one year, and applications include all required documents in the correct format.
  • Plan for long timeline: From May deadline to November awards ceremony is a 6-month process. Budget your research timeline accordingly and note that no feedback is provided on unsuccessful applications.
  • Membership is required: Factor in the £30 annual student membership fee and one-year commitment. This suggests the Society values building a community of scholars, not just funding projects.
  • Academic excellence is expected: The Society consistently describes scholars as “exceptional” and “talented” - ensure your application demonstrates outstanding academic achievement and potential.

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References