Self-funding students
You may have to cover the cost of your tuition fees privately, as well as making full provisions for your living costs.
Possible sources of funding open to you as a self-funding student are as follows:
Savings
If you have savings you could use those to help fund your postgraduate study.
Trusts and charities
A limited number of educational trusts and charities offer some assistance to home self-funding students. You should apply for funding the year before your course is due to start. A good place to start is the Educational Grants Advisory Service who have an online search facility. If you meet the eligibility criteria of any of their trusts, you will be able to complete an application form.
Studentships
A few full-time postgraduates receive a studentship from one of the Research Councils.
British Council Awards
The British Council offers a number of awards for international students studying in the UK. Details can be obtained from the nearest regional office in your country of residence.
Find out more by visiting the British Council website.
Professional and career development loans
A professional and career development loan is a bank loan you can use to help pay for work-related learning. You can borrow between £300 and £10,000 from a participating bank to help towards the cost of two years of learning (or three years if it includes relevant unpaid practical work).
Like any loan, you need to repay the money you borrow. However, with a professional and career development loan, the Young Peoples' Learning Agency will pay the interest while you are learning and for one month afterwards. The loan can be used to pay course fees or other costs such as travel and living expenses. You can also use the loan to supplement other forms of support such as grants and bursaries.
Because the Professional and Career Development Loan is a commercial loan product, you should only consider it as an option once you have investigated all other student funding options. For further information on financial assistance to support your learning, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning or contact Careers Advice on 0800 100 900.
There are currently two banks participating in the scheme (Barclays and the Co-operative) but other banks are expected to join the scheme in the coming months.
You must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years prior to the start of your course and have 'settled' status. This means you must have either indefinite leave to remain or enter or the right of abode in the UK.
For more information or to request an application pack, call 0800 585 505 or visit www.direct.gov.uk/pcdl. Our learner provider number, which you will need for the application form, is 9527.
Other banks may offer professional studies loans, especially for postgraduate law or MBA courses.
The bank will require a section of the form, and a Course Start Notification, to be completed by the University. The Student Funding Service at Cooper House is the only department in the University authorised to complete these forms.
Access to Learning Fund
Full- and part-time home postgraduate students can apply for additional help from the Access to Learning Fund. Awards are means-tested and you will need to provide evidence of how you will support yourself. As a general rule, you will be expected to have secured the majority of your funding before you can apply to the Access to Learning Fund.