Money - UK Postgraduates
Introduction
This information is currently being updated. Please contact the Student Advice & Representation Centre if you would like more advice and information about funding for UK Postgraduates.
For information from the National Union of Students on financial support for Postgraduate students, click here.
As a postgraduate student, you should have already thought about how you are going to fund your studies, and possibly secured your main source of funding. Funding for postgraduate study is limited and for most courses there is no source of mandatory funding.
Please note this information is for UK students. If you are an international student, your status in the UK may be affected if you claim any public funds. European students may be able to claim some help, but this depends on their circumstances.
If you have secured funding but are struggling to make ends meet, there may be sources of funds available to help you. However, you may not have been as fortunate and have no major source of funding, and are looking to see what is available. If so, this information will outline possible sources of funding.
The first thing to do if you are worried about money, is to speak to someone about your concerns. Initially, this could be the Student Advice & Representation Centre or Student Services.
You should also find the Prospects postgraduate student funding guide and the National Postgraduate Committee site have some useful information.
Maximising Your Income
Course-Specific Funding
Postgraduates are generally not eligible for statutory funding, except those on postgraduate courses of Initial Teacher Training and Social Work. For students considering undertaking a postgraduate course it is worth checking with the School concerned to see whether there is any funding available. Some schools, for example, may be able to offer you help with the Tuition Fees (and with your maintenance) via the European Social Fund or through one of the many Research Councils.
Research Councils
Many postgraduate students are funded by Research Councils . Funding is administered through individual University schools, and competition for awards is very competitive. However, if you have already started your postgraduate course it will generally be too late for you to apply for this type of funding.
University Scholarships & Studentships
The University's Graduate School has basic details about the main sources of funding open to postgraduate students and information on external financial support for postgraduate study available in the University.
Enquiries regarding this type of funding should be made directly to the School which you intend to study. However, if you have already started your postgraduate course it will generally be too late for you to apply for this type of funding.
Bank Study/Professional Loans
Many high street banks offer study loans to enable students to undertake a postgraduate course, similar to the CDL. You should contact the banks directly for current details, and to ensure you get the best deal.
Sponsorship
Further information about obtaining sponsorship or scholarships may be available from the following website: www.scholarship-search.org.uk
Disabled Students Allowance
The Disabled Student Allowance is available for both part-time and full-time postgraduate students. They can help with the additional costs involved in attending your course, which are a direct result of your disability. Applications should be made to your Local Education Authority.
Tax Credits
Students are not excluded from applying for Tax Credits if they fit the required criteria. If you have responsibility for a child/children, you may be entitled to Child Tax Credit. Students may also be entitled to Working Tax Credit (which may include an amount to help with childcare costs, if relevant). You do not have children to claim WTC, but there are minimum hours you must be working.
Help with NHS Costs
Postgraduate students can apply for means-tested help with NHS costs (e.g. dental treatment and health prescriptions). HC1 Forms are available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre and Cripps Medical Centre.
Employment
The University's Student Employer Services assists students in finding part-time and temporary work. If you wish to use the service you will need to complete a registration form. They are located in the Centre for Career Development, in the Portland Building, University Park, Nottingham (Tel: 0115 951 4744).
Schools may also offer students tutoring opportunities to supplement their income.
University
- Access to Learning Fund
The Access to Learning Fund is administered by the University and help can be given to students in financial difficulty. Full-time and part-time postgraduate students can apply (to qualify for help a part-time student must be able to study for 60 credits, unless prevented from doing so by reason of disability).
Payments of between £100 and £3,500 can be made to those in financial difficulty. The Fund administrators will look carefully to see how you have been financially supporting yourself, and it is important to note that the Access to Learning Fund is not available as a main source of funding for your studies. Application forms and more information are available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre, Student Services and on the web. - Revis Fund
Student Services administer the Revis Fund . If you are a part-time postgraduate home student on a low income or unemployed, and 100% self-financing, you may qualify for some help with your Tuition Fees. Application forms are available from Student Services and on the web . Applications are accepted between 1st October and 31st July (final year students must apply by 30th April to ensure that there is adequate time to deal with their application). - Child Care Support Fund
The University Child Care Support Fund offers eligible students some financial support towards meeting the costs of childcare. All students at the University who incur registered childcare costs, e.g. day nurseries childminders etc. can apply. Funds are limited so the University adopts a selective approach to the allocation of payments, so that those students who are most in need will benefit from the scheme. Further details and application forms are available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre, Student Services who administer the Fund and on the web. If you are eligible to apply to the Access to Learning Fund, you can apply for it first. - If you have a financial crisis, you may be able to get help from the Student Crisis Fund.
- Alternatively, if you need a short-term loan (maximum £50), and have a cheque book and a smart card, you may be able to have a loan from the Student Union Emergency Loan Scheme - contact the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
Welfare Benefits
If you are in full-time education, including postgraduate study, you will generally be ineligible to receive low income benefits such as income support, jobseekers' allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit. You may, however, be eligible if you are:
- a single parent
- a student with a qualifying disability
- a student with a partner
- over pensionable age
- a part-time student
- absent from your course due to illness (in limited circumstances)
NB: PhD writing up/thesis pending students: After the initial 3 years of studying on a PhD, you may spend some time writing up your thesis. You will not be registered as a full-time student with the University of Nottingham, and this means that you will no longer be exempt from Council Tax charges. However, if you are a UK student and no longer considered a full-time student you may be eligible to claim Council Tax Benefit and other income-related benefits.
Please seek further advice if you think you may be eligible for benefits. Advice on eligibility for all benefits is available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
Trusts and Charities
Most trusts and charities will only help postgraduate students in exceptional circumstances and usually towards the end of a course. The Student Advice & Representation Centre subscribes to the Funderfinder
database - we can do a search of such possible sources of income. You could also try going through the Educational
Grants Advisory Service to find possible sources of help from trusts and charities
Bugeting
When you are living on a low income, budgeting is a necessary tool to enable you to manage your money. Click here for basic information on budgeting and helping your money last. More information on budgeting is available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
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