Masters Funding.

Nednats

I'm think of studying a Masters part time.
How do people fund their masters?
Is there any funding available? Where do you look?

GothicStirling

Very difficult to get funding for a Masters these days. The government only fund a certain type of course(Initial Teacher Training, Social Work and medical/healthcare courses.) Your other options are: Career Development Loan, Research Councils, Studentships, Charitable trusts and societies, and Employer sponsorship. Research Council and Studentships are incredibly hard to get for Masters degrees these days. I'm currently self-funding myself through a second UG degree, researching Masters, and to be honest I'm expecting to have to fund it from my own pocket.

Indie_Kid

Is it an undergraduate masters? Which student finance would fund.

amiehall

I'm a maths student and my uni are throwing grants at people wanting to study for an MSc. What subject are you looking at? If you approach unis you're considering, I'm sure they can tell you where their students often get funding from.

Callie22

GothicStirling wrote: »

Very difficult to get funding for a Masters these days. The government only fund a certain type of course(Initial Teacher Training, Social Work and medical/healthcare courses.) Your other options are: Career Development Loan, Research Councils, Studentships, Charitable trusts and societies, and Employer sponsorshi=p. Research Council and Studentships are incredibly hard to get for Masters degrees these days. I'm currently self-funding myself through a second UG degree, researching Masters, and to be honest I'm expecting to have to fund it from my own pocket.

None of the Research Councils fund stand-alone Masters courses. There is some funding from a couple of councils for '+1' type PhD courses where a Research Preparation/Research Skills Masters is funded as part of the overall course, but if you just want funding for a general MA/MSc etc then unfortunately they won't be able to help.

timestar

Postgraduate study in UK is largely not-funded (Masters level anyway) so you will struggle to find any sort of grant or bursary. Most people bite the financial bullet and self-fund, or if it is work-related, study part-time and get their employer to pay all or part of their fees. This tends to be for vocational Masters programs such as the MBA or postgraduate professional qualifications (CIPD, CIM, ACCA, CIMA and so on).

Nednats

timestar wrote: »

Postgraduate study in UK is largely not-funded (Masters level anyway) so you will struggle to find any sort of grant or bursary. Most people bite the financial bullet and self-fund, or if it is work-related, study part-time and get their employer to pay all or part of their fees. This tends to be for vocational Masters programs such as the MBA or postgraduate professional qualifications (CIPD, CIM, ACCA, CIMA and so on).

I'm currently working full time.
I plan to study part time but it is looking like I would be unable to afford it.

I already have an offer from the only uni that does my course in the format that suits me.

I have recently started a new job and the subject is only slightly relevant to my employment. So I doubt my employer would help. My previous freelance work was more relevant.

skintygerlinky

How's it going, NedNats? Are you any further along?

I took out a Career Development Loan with the Co-op Bank for my MA - Barclays also offer this service. I work 11 hours a week and am living a very frugal existence!
My uni does offer a bursary to hard-up studes, no matter what course you are studying - you have to apply for it of course. I'm currently 'awaiting a decision'!
All uni's offer a free service to discuss financial issues - make an appointment at yours ASAP to find out if you are entitled to any benefits or extra funding.

Magsnoodle

Hi

I also have a career development loan from Barclays - although had to apply twice was incapable of filling in the form - doh... I am studying an MBA part time over two years and attend uni two nights a week. They will only give you up to £10,000 and you start paying it back the month after your course ends - but it only is for a two year course. The skills council? pay the interest until this time and then you take over. Not sure of the rate of interest but it is more affordable than traditional bank loans and you can choose how long it will take you to pay back. Good way to do it if you cannot apply for uni help.

Mrs_Soup

Does your uni or department have any studentships? I work for a Law school and we do have a certain amount fo money available for scholarships although it tends to go to people who have done extremely well at UG level (ie a first or equivalent). But generally i you plan to do a masters these days it is advisable to have the funds to pay for it yourself.