Am I eligible for any Masters funding?

Kicks4Free

I’ve just started to look into Masters funding and seem to be running into brick wall after brick wall, so am wondering if there is any point me carrying on?

[FONT=&quot]I’m over 30, have a 2:1 rather than a 1:1 and I’m in the enviable position of having savings set aside for a mortgage (over £30[FONT=&quot],000)[FONT=&quot].[/FONT] [/FONT]I am really unhappy in my job and I’m looking to study something totally different to my first degree.[/FONT]

Am I right in thinking that I'll have to fund it myself? I'm obviously prepared to do this, I just want to know where I stand.

[FONT=&quot]Many thanks.[/FONT]

Voyager2002

As a general rule, there is no system for funding Masters degree courses. However, certain courses that provide specific training for health-related careers are funded by the NHS, while career development loans from commercial providers (and at commercial interest rates) may be available for many courses. At present there are proposals to extend the student loan system to make it available for (some?) Masters courses, but the intention is to impose an age limit.

Of course, you can study for free (in English) in universities in Germany, Netherlands and some other EU countries.

Maggie.Moo_2

Can't really top Voyager2002's response, but it's always worth looking at each university's website as some of them will offer funding options for certain subjects/student criteria, however these are often for disadvantaged/under-represented students (low income, low participation area and/or care leavers) which won't help you if you're not considered disadvantaged.

It's interesting you mention savings as I've actually yet to see any criteria referring to savings - I'm hoping to get the Postgraduate bursary (£10,000 for those of us who completed our undergraduate degree during 2012-2015) even though I currently have £8,000 saved (however most of this will be gone once I move out next month). So this may not be a barrier if you do find a university with funding suited to your subject/circumstances.

Have you considered part-time and/or distance learning so that you can still earn money to help with living costs? Living costs are often the main problem when it comes to funding a Master's degree. You would still have to provide the tuition fees yourself, would it be possible/worth sacrificing some of your savings to provide a new career opportunity?

The other option would be to see if you can get yourself into a new career without the Master's degree, providing you were happy to start from the very bottom and work your way up - or even negotiate a similar job in a different field before branching out into a different job in the new field (if that's possible of course).

Kicks4Free

Thank you very much for your replies, I feel energised to carry on looking-I was expecting to get a blanket “not eligible for anything with that grade” response!

You would still have to provide the tuition fees yourself, would it be possible/worth sacrificing some of your savings to provide a new career opportunity?

I am prepared to do this, I was just hoping there may be bursaries of a few hundred quid somewhere to at least take the edge of my living costs for the year; I can imagine putting an immense about of pressure on myself to do well (almost to the point of making myself ill again) because I will have blown nearly half my savings if I don't.

Of course, you can study for free (in English) in universities in Germany, Netherlands and some other EU countries.

I have looked into these but most of them seem to be 2 year courses, so although I'd save on tuition fees it would be double the living costs, which isn't much cheaper than UK living costs in some cases.

missbiggles1

How unrelated to your first degree is the subject you want to do and do you have any relevant experience in the field instead? Have you looked at the possibility of studying part time while continuing with your job - that's more realistic and what most people do.

Maggie.Moo_2

Kicks4Free wrote: »

I am prepared to do this, I was just hoping there may be bursaries of a few hundred quid somewhere to at least take the edge of my living costs for the year; I can imagine putting an immense about of pressure on myself to do well (almost to the point of making myself ill again) because I will have blown nearly half my savings if I don't.

I'm gonna emphasise the part-time/distance learning option again, you won't be much more than 10% to 20% of your savings on the tuition fees while working to cover your living costs, thus reducing the pressure you put on yourself to succeed - although you will have to be extremely organised and motivated to make this work.

Distance learning would be the easiest as you can keep your current job and just fit the study around your normal work hours, although this usually takes a lot longer to complete. Part-time tends to be more desirable (due to contact with tutors/lecturers/other students) and, although you hate your current job, if you are on good terms with your employer you may be able to negotiate your working hours to fit your classes (these are often outside of the typical work hours anyway).

A better compromise may be to reduce your work hours (if possible) so you have more time to focus on study without completely relying on your savings to support yourself. The part-time work with part-time study is often the solution to funding postgraduate study as many people don't have £30,000+ in savings to live off. If can you live on a very strict budget for two years there's no need to "blow" nearly half of your savings and you should be able to enjoy your course without feeling like you have.

missbiggles1 also raises some good questions - there's no point worrying about funding if you do not meet the entry requirements for the course. Although a lot of people use a Master's degree as a step towards a career change, you're still required to prove your suitability (through a somewhat related undergraduate degree or relevant work experience) to study that subject at that level.

Kicks4Free

I’m hoping to do a Marine Science Masters with lots of practical experience, so distance learning isn’t really an option.

My first degree is in Physics, which of course limits my choice, but some people have successfully made the transition. It is a big gamble! :eek: I’m currently looking to secure some work experience.

Part time is something that I am going to give serious consideration to, but I would have to move for the course so keeping my current job isn’t an option (There’s talk of redundancies anyway!)

Maggie.Moo_2

The change of subject is definitely something to discuss with your potential tutors and it's worth mentioning that you're aware of successful transitions. Attending an open day (if possible) will show your enthusiasm and convey your current understanding of Marine Science and they may even be able to tell you if there's some kind of funding to take the edge off tuition fees.

I'm glad that you're considering part-time as it's probably the best financial option for you. Ideally, when you move you will get a job that is obscurely related to Marine Science and on a living wage but realistically you may be looking at something similar to your current job and worst case scenario you would be living on minimum wage. You are in the fortunate position to have savings which will enable you to "top-up" your wages to cover your living costs but you then need to work out if that'll end up costing more as it'll be over the period of two years. If you are able to attend an open day, you might be able to talk to a student financial advisor and get their opinion on best options.

Good luck with it all

agrinnall

Are you sure that a MSc will get you a job in Marine Science? I'm doing some work with Marine Scientists in 5 countries around Europe at the moment and all of them have doctorates.

Kicks4Free

Thanks Maggie.Moo!

agrinnall wrote: »

Are you sure that a MSc will get you a job in Marine Science? I'm doing some work with Marine Scientists in 5 countries around Europe at the moment and all of them have doctorates.

I’m going to ask Universities what previous students have gone on to do. It may be that a Phd is my next step. Sounds like an interesting job you've got there!