If your place doesn't attract funding
To fund course fees, accommodation and living costs, most students will either use savings or part time work during the course.
There are other sources of funding such as Charities, Trusts and Scholarships that you can apply to for more funding.
Charities and Educational Trusts:
They may be able to help with costs such as accommodation, living costs, fees, books, equipment, travel, childcare, field trips etc. Awards from these organisations vary greatly so you will need to check what it is you are getting and whether it is going to be helpful. You will need to check:
- The amount of the award
- Whether you receive a one off payment or a series of payments throughout your studies
- Whether it covers fees
- Whether it covers part time or fill-time study
- Whether it covers masters' degrees or doctorates
You may also have to fit into the charities aims which may be very specific, e.g. age, sex, nationality, religion, subject area etc.
There is no point in applying unless you are sure that you fit the requirements.
Check with them beforehand!
Charities and Trusts can provide postgraduate students with various grants. Often much of the funding is reserved for people on low incomes or for student from disadvantaged backgrounds or for those who have achieved academic excellence. You can find out more about such organisations from publications such as:
- The Educational Grants Directory: http://www.egas-online.org.uk
- The Charities Digest:
- The Grants Register
- The Directory of Grant making Trusts
- Funderfinder: http://www.funderfinder.org.uk
- Scholarship Search UK: http://www.scholarship-search.org.uk
- Charity Commission for England and Wales
- Charity choice
- Gradfund
- International Education Financial Aid etc
- The Snowden Award (for disabled students)
