University scholarships and awards

Most UK higher education institutions offer scholarship and award schemes. These vary from institution to institution and may be full-fee studentships plus a maintenance grant. Such scholarships are often advertised in the press or relevant academic publications.

Employer sponsorship

If your proposed course of study or research is relevant to your work you may be able to obtain funding from your employer. This support may come in the form of the employer paying for all or part of the tuition fees, or allowing paid leave for study. Online and distance learning programmes have become increasingly popular and may make this a more attractive option to the employer.

Graduate teaching and research assistants

With these schemes students receive a payment or a reduction/payment of their fees in return for undertaking teaching or research.

Trusts and charities

There are a number of trusts and charities which award partial funding for postgraduate study. Such organisations include the Wellcome Trust, the world's largest medical charity which awards several hundred studentships each year. Some smaller organisations provide awards of a few hundred pounds a year to cover expenses such as travel, books, computers and fieldwork. Ask at your careers service, prospective financial institution or in discipline publications for sources of funding. As a starting point try the Charities Aid Foundation which provides a useful summary of information sources on educational grants.

Local Education Authority

LEAs do not normally provide funding for postgraduate study but may have a small amount of money they are able to award. It is always worth writing or phoning just in case.

Hardship funds

Universities generally have a hardship fund available to students upon application. Awards are usually between £300 and £3,500 and are made at the institution's discretion.

Funding for disabled students

There are a number of additional sources of funded for students with disabilities. The major source of funding for disabled postgraduate is the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) which from 2000-2001 covers postgraduate students. Eligibility depends upon where the student studies and what is being studied; whether funds are available from a research council; whether the student continues straight from undergraduate studies; the nature of the disability and the availability of funding from other sources. DSAs are available up to a maximum of £5,000 per year to meet expenses incurred as a consequence of students' disability. Applications should be made to the Local Education Authority (LEA) in England and Wales, to the local Education and Library Board in Northern Ireland and to the Students Awards Agency in Scotland.

The research councils also provide specific funding more students with disabilities.

Career Development Loans

Career Development Loans (CDLs) are principally designed for vocational courses and therefore many postgraduates are not eligible. They are run by four - Barclays, The Royal Bank of Scotland, The Co-operative and the Clydesdale - and the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). They are available to anyone who is over 18 and lives in the UK. Loan may be used to cover most of your course fees and related expenditure as well as living expenses. Further information can be obtained from any of the participating banks or by calling the Career Development Loan information line on 0800 585 505 between 8am and 10pm, Monday to Friday.

Professional studies loan schemes

These are available for training for a professional qualification in, for example, Law or Medicine. Many banks offer some sort of professional studies loan scheme. See our graduate banking section for a review of what the banks offer.

MBA Loan Scheme

Students on MBA (Masters in Business Administration) programmes accredited by the the Association of MBAs (AMBA) are eligible for the The Association of MBAs Loan Scheme which is designed to help students paying their own fees or part-fees. This scheme is operated through the NatWest and the Bank of Scotland. Students may borrow up to two thirds of their pre-course gross annual salary in addition to tuition fees for each year of study. To be eligible you must be a permanent UK resident and have 5 years of practical work experience within industry or commerce, or if you are a recent graduate, two years relevant work experience. Futher details are available from the AMBA or either of the banks involved.

Other bank loans

Check with your bank to see what loan deals they offer. If they think you have good prospects and will be able to repay they are likely to help you. Much however may depend on how you conducted your account as a student.