Funding a Masters degree

first78

I've almost finished my degree with the OU and have been offered a conditional place at Manchester uni to study for a MA social work.

I've deferred entry until Sept 2014 as I'm unsure how to fund the course as it will be 2 years full-time. I know there may be the option of an NHS bursary which will cover some of the course cost (although I believe this is currently under review), but I'm worried about how my partner and I will afford the mortgage, household bills etc.

Does anyone have any advice?

sharp910sh

first78 wrote: »

I've almost finished my degree with the OU and have been offered a conditional place at Manchester uni to study for a MA social work.

I've deferred entry until Sept 2014 as I'm unsure how to fund the course as it will be 2 years full-time. I know there may be the option of an NHS bursary which will cover some of the course cost (although I believe this is currently under review), but I'm worried about how my partner and I will afford the mortgage, household bills etc.

Does anyone have any advice?

Career development loan?

Aryndeneth

This might help, scroll to bottom of page for funding info. Also check out the PG Study and Funding guide linked to in top right corner. PG funding is very scarce at the moment I'm afraid.
http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/options/study/postgraduatestudyandfunding/


Consider moving your question to the student money saving board as there's often questions / advice on funding for all types of study on there. Also might be able to get some advice on any other support you and your partner are entitled to (depending on your exact personal circumstances) to help with bills etc i.e. if you are a full-time student and you don't pay council tax, your partner may be able to claim single-persons level CT for the time you're studying. Like I said, depends on exact circumstances but worth exploring.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=25

bartelbe

I was in a similar situation, had the offer for an Msc place, two years full time. In the end I deferred, and got a job. The only way to get the money together to fund such a course is to work every hour god sends and might not be practical in your situation. I did manage to save just under 20K, but it wasn't much fun doing it.

first78

sharp910sh wrote: »

Career development loan?

I wondered about this idea but was advised by a careers officer that you are expected to pay the loan back pretty soon after completing your studies :eek:

ILW

Job?................

agrinnall

As ILW says, either get a part time job to help out your finances during the course, or work for a few years and save up so you can study full time later.

LL30

Save as much as you can - it's nigh on impossible to work whilst you're on the course. I'm currently in my first year, and it really is an endurance test! Huge amounts of work, plus 200 days worth of placement over the two years - during which you also have masses of theoretical and written work to complete. Many of my friends managed some work during the first term, but now we're out on placement, they've had to stop. I'm 'lucky' in that I can claim HB as I'm a single parent, so that's of huge benefit (no pun intended) to me. I'd check how your course is structured, some uni's just do the theory in the first year, and placements on second, which might make a difference to you. Good luck, I'm loving it! xx

Racheldevon

I turned down my first offer on an MSc and took up relevant paid full time work, later down the line within a couple of years work had offered to fund all of my masters - might be an option.

first78

I am working as much as I can, taking all the overtime that's offered but it's still not going to allow me to save enough to get through 2 years of full time study.

There will be placements in both years of study so as LL30 says working as well as studying will be pretty tough. It's taken me 6 years to complete my OU degree and I really can't put off going to uni now that I've been offered a place. I've been looking for a better paid job for over 3 years but the current climate is tough. Completing this Masters is hopefully going to lead on to better paid work so I can't afford not to do it.