Burnet was educated at the Royal High School, Edinburgh, the University of Edinburgh, and at Balliol College, Oxford, where he obtained first-class honours in Classical Moderations (Greek and Latin) in 1885 and in Literae Humaniores ('Greats', a combination of philosophy and ancient history) in 1887.
Burnet received his education at the Royal High School, Edinburgh, the University of Edinburgh, and Balliol College, Oxford, where he excelled academically, earning first-class honors in Classical Moderations (Greek and Latin) in 1885 and Literae Humaniores ('Greats', a combination of philosophy and ancient history) in 1887.