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Money Matters Postgraduate Funding

Are you considering Postgraduate study, but aren't sure what funding options are available? Explore this page to start your search.

Postgraduate Funding Demographic

UK Students
International Students

UK Students

UK Students that wish to continue their studies and complete a postgraduate course will have to think carefully about how they will manage the costs of study, including both the tuition fee costs and living costs for the length of your course. We would recommend that you research your funding before registering onto a course. You can get funding for postgraduate study through loans, studentships, bursaries and grants - you might also be able to get help from your employer.

If you are an eligible UK citizen and who is thinking of starting a master’s course, you could be eligible for a loan from the UK Government to help with course fees and living costs.

Funding for PhDs

If you're doing a PhD and you're from England or Wales, it's worth applying for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan (PDL). Please see the Government website for the eligibility criteria and application process.

How Postgraduate Loans Work

You can use your loan however you like – towards your tuition fees, living costs, any associated costs.
The loan is not means tested.
It will be paid directly into your bank account in three instalments during the academic year.
If your course is longer than one year, the loan will be divided equally across each year of your course.
If you study part-time, you can only get payments in the first two years of your course.
You’ll repay the loan once you’ve finished or left your course and are earning over the threshold.

We suggest that you financially forecast for your degree as your Postgraduate Loan will not be enough to cover all associated costs.

How To Supplement Your Income

If you are employed, you can ask your employer to partially fund your further study if it has a vocational element to it.
Save up before you start your studies.
See whether you can get a Postgraduate Loan (PGL) from a High Street bank. Most banks do offer PGLs, and you can search the web for the most competitive rates.
Work part-time to support your studies
See whether your family can offer financial support during your studies.

The Government believe that PG study is a choice that you make to continue studying and you are expected to supplement the costs towards it yourself.

Additional Funding & Support

You could also look at the Postgraduate Funding Database to learn about scholarships and funding opportunities available to support postgraduate taught and research programmes at the University of Birmingham.

International Students

Funding for international students is often limited in the UK because international students are expected to have sourced their funding from their home country before applying for their student visas. So, funding for international students is not readily available in the UK after the start of your studies.

However, we appreciate that sometimes unexpected financial issues can occur due to problems with your funding sources; be it parental support, a private loan from your home country, scholarship support or from economic issues arising within your home country.

If that’s the case, you may wish to explore alternative financial funding options during your studies. We would suggest looking at the following financial support options that international students could apply for, they are not guaranteed, and success would be dependent upon meeting the eligibility criteria.

Please look at the Government website to see if you are eligible for support via UK Scholarships.

It could be helpful for you to look at the University’s website to learn more about Loans and explore Scholarships available to International Students.

Additional Funding & Support

Chevening Scholarships: this is the UK Government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. This scheme awards to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the globe, providing financial support for those looking to study postgraduate courses at UK universities.

The Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Plan: for students from particular Commonwealth countries.

British Council: You could also look at the funding available from the British Council.

Post graduate Scholarships for International Students: visit the Government website to view available Scholarships.

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA): serves the interest of International Students and provides information and support on all issues facing you, including funding.

IEFA- International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search enables you to explore further scholarships. You will need to register to view full details.

If you are struggling to fund your studies, it may be useful for you to get in contact with the University’s International Student Team to check to see if there will be any visa implications.

If you are unable to source any alternative funding and you believe these funding issues are going to be ‘long term’, you may wish to consider taking a Leave of Absence from your studies (put them on pause) whilst you return home to manage your financial funding situation.