Postgraduate Funding

Funding your postgraduate programme can often be one of the major hurdles to face when deciding whether to study at postgraduate level. However, help is readily available. Each year thousands of students successfully discover a cross section of different ways to fund their postgraduate courses.

Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards
Each year hundreds of bursaries, scholarships and award schemes are made available to provide students with the appropriate funding for postgraduate study. Firstly check with your university for any scholarships or awards schemes available. You can also contact the Research Councils who provide regular funding for research-based degrees. www.rcuk.ac.uk

Check also with the awarding bodies if they have any scholarships or grants available. You should find these on their websites but don’t be afraid to contact them directly. Charities, foundation and trusts also run bursary schemes and competition prizes.

Whilst you will need to put your researching skills to the test, if you are successful in your application the rewards will speak for themselves.

Employer Funded Postgraduate Study
An employer- sponsored postgraduate study seems ideal! Not only will you get the chance to study for your qualification, you are likely to advance your career and improve in your job. However, whilst most businesses are committed to training and development, only a handful of employers are willing to fund postgraduate training. You may also have to commit yourself to that employer for a significant amount of time. Do your research and check the requirements before making any commitments.

Career Development Loans
Career Development loans can be applied for through Barclays, the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Co-operative Bank. A Career Development Loan (CDL) is one of the most popular loans for students studying a vocational course. They can be used to cover your fees and expenses and you may even apply for help with living expenses if your course is full-time. For more information log onto: www.direct.gov.uk/cdl