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British Institute FAQs

How do I pay?

You may pay by PayPal, debit, or credit card on our website store, or by check made payable to ISBGFH and mailed to our treasurer (see below).

Note that PayPal will process other forms of payment, so if you are paying by debit or credit card, you do not need to have a PayPal account to use PayPal’s service to register for BI. 

Yes, members receive a discounted price! If you would like to join or renew an expired membership, please go to the shop first and purchase your membership. Then log in and purchase your BI registration. Your discounted price will automatically appear.

NOTE: REGISTRATION WILL OPEN 1 APRIL 2026

Visit our store – join ISBGFH and register for British Institute

If you prefer to pay by check, download the form below, fill it out, and mail to:
ISBGFH 1312 17th Street #1751, Denver, CO 80202 (USA). Your payment must be received no later than 1 September, 2025.

Register by Mail – Download British Institute 2026 registration form here

Video Recordings and Syllabus- FAQs

If I purchase Recordings Only option, when will videos be available for viewing?

  • Access to videos of only the pre-recorded lessons will be available the Monday after British Institute ends. Recordings of the daily Q&A sessions are not included

If I purchase the Live Format option, when will videos be available for viewing?

  • If you attend the Virtual Institute, you will be provided links to the pre-recorded lessons and syllabus before class begins. Video recording of each live Q&A session will be made available shortly after the end of each session.

Syllabus

  • Both options, Recordings Only and Live Format, include access to the syllabus which will be downloadable and yours to keep.
  • Videos are not downloadable and may be viewed through 31 December, 2026.

British Institute – FAQs

What are the dates for British Institute?

  • British Institute 2026 will be from 5 October to 9 October, 2026.

Are there any additional fees or charges?

  • If you want to attend the British Institute Virtual presentation from Salt Lake City, in order to have access to the FamilySearch library, be aware that the class fee does not include travel to and from Salt Lake City, hotel stay, food or local transportation costs.

If I change my mind or something comes up, can I get a refund?

  • Cancellation policy – A refund will be issued upon written or email request request to the Institute Director before 30 September 2026 at 11:59pm Eastern Daylight Time. There will be a $50 service charged for canceling. Beginning 1 October , no refunds will be issued. Registrations are not transferable to another person or for future events.

I am a beginner to genealogy. May I attend?

  • Beginners are encouraged to take basic free courses offered through FamilySearch.org before attending the Institute. Sessions will address the fundamentals with topics that will also benefit advanced researchers.
  • Our British Institute 2026 instructor, Paul Milner, has said it best. “Are you an experienced researcher, but new to English research? Or maybe you are familiar with the basic English records but want to dig deeper and learn what else is out there. In either case, this course is for you.”

If you have questions, please contact our Institute Director.

How many classes can I register for?

  • This year there is only one course, “Scottish Research: The Fundamentals and Beyond,” to be offered in a virtual format.
  • Purchase of a complete course includes access to the pre-recorded lessons, live participation in each virtual session (including recordings of these sessions), and a one-on-one virtual consultation with the instructor.
  • You may purchase a complete course for a friend or partner.
  • You may purchase access to the pre-recorded lesson recordings only, which does not include live virtual participation or a consultation with the instructor.
  • Access to online course materials and recordings will be available until 31 December, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time).

Again, please do reach out to the Institute Director with questions.

Are there any handouts or prerequisites? What can I expect to receive?

  • Our instructor strongly recommends obtaining and reading a book (or books) on the history of Scotland to have a good overview.
  • A robust handout will be sent as a PDF for you to download and print prior to the Institute.
  • This year attendees will be asked to watch the pre-recorded presentation(s) for that day. Session time will be used to address questions and to discuss the course material.

If you have questions, please contact our Institute Director.

So how does this new Live Format work?

  • The Live Format combines ‘homework’ consisting of viewing pre-recorded lessons and ‘Live’ Q&A sessions meeting by Zoom for questions, answers and discussion about the lessons.
  • All pre-recorded video lessons will be available before the sessions commence.
  • The day before each session, the instructor will assign specific pre-recorded lessons to be viewed, at any time, and as often as you desire. The following day a ‘Live’ Q&A session from 10:00 am to 11:30 am (Zoom) will concentrate on questions, answers and discussion, and the next pre-recorded lessons will be assigned. This will repeat each day from Monday through Friday.
  • Individual one-on-one consultations will be available for each attendee. Time and date will be scheduled by the attendee and the instructor.

Will we have access to class lists and contact information for the instructor?

  • The instructor will offer a sign up sheet for those interested in being on the class contact list, and the completed list will be shared. Contact information for the instructor will be included on course materials as well as the class contact list.

If I have additional questions, who should I contact?

You may contact our Institute Director.

Location and Lodging

  • In previous years, British Institute in-person classes were held at the Salt Lake Plaza Hotel at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah, just steps away from the FamilySearch Library where you could use your new-found skills right after class. The Salt Lake Plaza Hotel has been demolished and is no longer available.
  • Our virtual format lets you join the sessions from any convenient location, including your home, a friend’s home, or a hotel room, via Zoom.
  • Now, if you plan to be in Salt Lake City you can attend each session by Zoom, and then go to the FamilySearch library.

Have more questions?

NOTE: REGISTRATION WILL OPEN 1 APRIL 2026

Visit our store – join ISBGFH and register for British Institute