Funding postgrad study

The UK may be one of the most popular destinations for international students but it certainly isn’t the cheapest. Don’t let that put you off, though, funding is available to help with your studies.

When it comes to funding postgraduate study in the UK, there are a few general rules. Firstly, there is usually more funding available for research degrees. Secondly, there are only a handful of full scholarships. And thirdly, there is no single database of funding sources. From the start then, it might seem like an uphill battle for prospective students, but it doesn't have to be.

‘Universities often offer far more than meets the eye,’ says Suzanne Alexander, Director of the International Office at the University of Leicester. ‘It is very important for students to look not only at institutions’ websites but also departmental websites too.'

Home and away

Yet while there are sources of funding in the UK, international students are encouraged to investigate what funding is available in their own country first, for example, through regional or national government initiatives. At the same time, students are also pointed in the direction of their nearest British Council office, if they have one.

One of the most prominent schemes for international postgraduates is the British Chevening Scholarship, which is funded by the UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It provides approximately 2,300 new scholarships per year for postgraduate studies or research, covering both fully funded and part funded places. But with only one in every 25 applicants being successful, competition is extremely intense.

For a very different reason, places on the British Council administered UK 9/11 Scholarship are also limited. ‘All the applicants are members of a very exclusive club; a club they do not want to be to be a member of,’ says Robin Vidler, a Scheme Manager at the British Council.

The UK 9/11 Scholarship was set up after the attack on the twin towers, using money donated by UK financial institutions and individuals with strong links to New York. The funding is generally made available (on application) to people affected by the tragedy and who are considering an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the UK. So far, five postgraduate scholarships have been awarded.

‘Although not every applicant is related to the 9/11 tragedy itself, we do find a majority come from the US,’ explains Robin. ‘We did have one applicant who was the daughter of the only Ukrainian victim of the twin towers attack.’

Study support

As with the Chevening Scholarships, students are directed to their local British Council Office for further information, though in the US the scheme is handled by Scholarships America. When scholars come to study in the UK, though, Robin is keen to point out that the Council are acutely aware of the sensitive nature of the programme.

‘When it comes to certain times of the year, people would rather be with their loved ones. We do have specialist 24-hour trained welfare advisors here and we do meet up with participants as often as possible when we do institution visits or personal visits.’

The Council recommend that students considering the 9/11 programme start around 18 months before they would expect to begin a UK degree programme, though planning ahead is a vital piece of advice for all sources of funding.

‘Definitely look for the deadline of any scholarship,’ says Suzanne adamantly. ‘It’s very frustrating to find that you would have qualified but that you missed the deadline. It happens often!’

One student who did not miss the deadline is Divya Maharajh, currently studying for an MA in Mass Communication at the University of Leicester. Divya received an Open Masters Scholarship from the University, which gave her a 25% reduction in her tuition fees (£2,000). She is funding the rest of her programme using money from an Ontario Student Assistance Programme and her parents. Suzanne says it is common for taught Masters students to fund themselves through a mixture of sources.

Spend and save

For Divya, the Leicester scholarship helped but it was not crucial in her decision to come to the UK to study. She was also well aware of the cost of living here too.

‘It is much more expensive that Canada; we are always doubling everything because something that is two dollars in Canada is two pounds here. But for me it is not that bad because I am here for a year and I probably would have spent the same in Canada as our Masters programmes are two years.’

Trying to gauge the cost of living in the UK is far from straight forward and likely to be the most difficult aspect of your decision. Different regions of the UK vary and of course London is generally seen as the most expensive city to study in. Suzanne recommends that all prospective students make a realistic and honest assessment of what type of lifestyle they want to lead as a student and then decide if they can afford to maintain that.

Despite their best efforts though, some students do find themselves in financial difficulty. ‘They can experience unexpected hardship, such as if a funding source dries up,’ explains Suzanne. ‘Most universities do have hardship funds but they really are for exceptional cases only.’

Suzanne Alexander’s points on funding:

• Contact the universtity department running your course - they may be able to provide details of how previous students funded their studies and inform you of any scholarships the university offers.
• Competition will be fierce and scholarships are mostly awarded on academic merit.
• Application deadlines can vary, so start your research early and apply as soon as you can.
• Conduct a budget review and calculate how much money you need to cover your fees and living costs.
• Don't underrate yourself - you have nothing to lose and everything to gain from applying.

Further information:

• For more information on funding for international students pick up a copy of Prospects International Applications and Funding Guide from your nearest British Council Office, or visit the International Community for more information.

Related articles:

• Right to work - International students studying in the UK can work up to 20 hours a week to help cover costs.

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