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Choosing a Postgraduate Course | Research Degrees and Taught Programmes | Further study FAQ & Postgraduate courses | Funding Postgraduate Study | Study and Training Abroad

 

Funding Postgraduate Study

Funding arrangements for further study are different from those for undergraduate degrees. In all cases, it is competitive, so you need to apply early, plan ahead and think of other options if the first choice of funding is not available.

Vocational courses
This varies enormously and sometimes can involve employer sponsorship. In some vocational areas, particularly law, it is essential to seek sponsorship from law firms for CPE and/or LPC courses, as funding is extremely difficult to find. In other areas such as social work, students can still seek support from appropriate professional departments. Research the occupational area you are interested in and ask the course tutors for advice. You may have to be very creative in your search for funds.

Be prepared to consider a loan, preferably a career development loan (CDL). But ask yourself whether the course is worth it - how realistic are your chances of getting a job at the end and repaying the loan? Of course, you can study part-time for a higher degree, sometimes with the support an employer. Even with non-vocational masters courses, the part-time route is often available - an ideal way of combining study and earning, or study and family commitments.

Academic study
As a general guide, you should obtain your place on the course and then apply to the research council or other funding body through the course you have chosen. Most of the closing dates for research council funding are in the Spring. Some scientific research is industry funded, which in some cases can be more generous than the research council funding. Sometimes, universities have their own bursaries for certain courses.

Other options
If research council funding is not possible, try:

• Other grants and awards
• Career Development Loans for vocational courses
• Opportunities for work in the University - if you are a PhD student, you can sometimes earn money for teaching
• Becoming a resident tutor - you can have free campus accommodation in return for pastoral duties

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