Nine Scots have been granted international fellowships by the Scottish International Education Trust (SIET), enabling them to pursue advanced postgraduate study, critical research, and professional development across various global institutions. This autumn 2026 awards round underscores SIET’s commitment to supporting talent in fields spanning education, research, and the creative industries.
Among the distinguished recipients are Kaitlin Easton from South Lanarkshire, Anna Fettes from Fife, and Violet Hejazi from Glasgow, each embarking on unique international pathways.
Ms Easton is set to undertake an internship with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) in Geneva, Switzerland, as part of her Master of Science degree in Human Rights and Diplomacy at the University of Stirling.
UNIDIR is an autonomous institution within the United Nations, conducting independent research on disarmament, arms control, and international security challenges.
Reflecting on her award, Ms Easton stated: “I am incredibly grateful to the Scottish International Education Trust for supporting my internship at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) in Geneva.”
“The financial support provided by the Trust is enabling me to undertake an opportunity that, without external funding, would not have been accessible to me.”
Ms Easton also highlighted the experiential learning: “Being here in Geneva, and particularly being based at the Palais des Nations, has been an invaluable experience. Seeing how discussions, negotiations and multilateral cooperation unfold in practice has brought my academic interests to life in a way that could not be replicated through study alone.”
Anna Fettes, a drummer since the age of three, will advance her musical education at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA.
Berklee is renowned globally for its contemporary music education and commitment to professional excellence in the arts. Ms Fettes harbours an ambition to become the first female Scottish drummer to attend the institution.
She shared her long-standing passion: “I have been playing drum kit since I was just 3 years old, but I truly found my passion at age 11 when I decided I wanted to be a professional musician.”
Recalling her initial encounter with the college, she said: “My first encounter with Berklee was in 2024 when I was 15. I flew to Boston by myself to attend their 3-day Drums and Percussion Workshop. Even though it was short, I was completely hooked. For someone from a tiny Scottish village, being surrounded by people who are just as obsessed with music as I am was an indescribable feeling.”
Expressing her gratitude, Ms Fettes remarked: “It’s incredible to have the Trust’s support to help fulfil my dream of becoming the first female Scottish drummer ever to study at Berklee College of Music.”
Violet Hejazi, who arrived in Scotland as a refugee from Syria, will complete an internship at the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC) in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. PCRC is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to peacebuilding and preventing violent conflict in the Western Balkans.
This opportunity is integral to her Master of Laws degree in Human Rights and Diplomacy. Ms Hejazi conveyed her profound appreciation: “I am absolutely thrilled and deeply honoured to accept the Trustees’ generous offer.”
She articulated the personal significance of the award: “Arriving in Scotland alone at eighteen as a refugee from Syria, education became my anchor and my pathway to rebuilding a life. Receiving this grant is not only a vital financial lifeline that relieves the daunting prospect of high-interest debt, but also a profound vote of confidence in my potential as a legal scholar.”
She concluded: “Scotland gave me a second chance at life, and this award empowers me to represent Scottish academic excellence on the international stage.”
These fellowships are designed to offer crucial financial assistance, enabling recipients to access international opportunities that might otherwise be financially inaccessible, thereby fostering the development of specialised skills and experience in their chosen professions. SIET, co-founded in 1971 by Sir Sean Connery and Sir Jackie Stewart, focuses on supporting Scots with exceptional promise who face financial barriers to international education.
Nick Bibby, Chair of SIET, commented on the calibre of the recipients: “Every round of awards reminds us of the extraordinary talent, determination and ambition that exists across Scotland.”
He further noted the unifying factor among them: “What unites our new Fellows is not a particular subject or destination, but their belief in what an international experience can enable them to achieve.”
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Ken Thomson, Director of SIET, reinforced this sentiment, stating: “Our Fellows demonstrate the many different ways in which international education and experience can change the course of a life.”
He emphasised the dual purpose of the awards: “These awards are about recognising ability and potential, but also about helping to remove financial barriers that can prevent talented people from taking up exceptional opportunities.”
