Additional Information on PGR Funding
There is no automatic Government funding for postgraduate students, however this section
provides information on funding opportunities and offers advice on how to fund your
studies.
Bursary competitions
A number of other public and non-governmental organisations hold annual bursary
competitions. In some instances, the money is available for study anywhere; in others, you
may be required to apply for study at a specific University or in a specific country.
Annual bursary competitions
A number of other public and non-governmental organisations also hold annual bursary
competitions. In some instances, the money is available for study anywhere; in others, you
may be required to apply for study at a specific University or in a specific country.
The list below is by no means definitive: it includes only information about bursary
competitions sent to the University by specific organisations and will be updated on a
regular basis as and when we receive relevant information.
Fulbright Commission Postgraduate Student Awards
Each year between 12 and 16 awards are offered to UK citizens for the first year of
postgraduate or doctoral study, or for 'special student research', in any subject at any
accredited US institution. Successful candidates will work with the Fulbright Commission
and the Institute of International Education (IIE) to identify and apply to the university
departments which offer the best academic fit for them. The closing date is the end of May.
Kennedy Memorial Trust
The Trust offers scholarships for postgraduate study for one year at Harvard University or
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Applicants must be British citizens at the time of
application, and resident in the UK. They should have recently graduated or spent at least
two of the last five years studying at a UK university. The closing date for applications is in
late October.
British Federation of Women Graduates
BFWG gives awards annually to women in their third and final year of doctoral studies. The
awards are given on the basis of evidence of academic excellence and are NOT expected to
provide for financial need. The do not cover fees. The amounts offered range upwards from
£1000 with the average award being around £3000. Applicants need to be registered at a
University in England, Scotland or Wales. The closing date is late March. See also Funds for
Women Graduates for other small grants (run independently from BFWG scholarships).
Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust
The Trust offers annual grants (normally from £300 - £1000 in value) for postgraduate study
in any subject area at any British university. Applicants must be graduates with a first or
upper second class honours degree, who are over the age of 24 on 1st October of the
proposed year of study.
Part-time work
If you want to earn some extra cash while you are studying then Hope Works will provide
you with access to vacancies throughout the year. Remember though while earning money
is important you will need to keep the right balance between work and study so talk to your
personal tutor to find the right balance for your subject area.
Professional career development loan
A Professional and Career Development Loan could help you pay for learning that enhances
your job skills and career prospects. It’s a bank loan, so you’ll have to pay it back once
you’ve left your course, however you don’t pay interest for the period when you’re in
learning. You can borrow between £300 and £10,000 interest free while you’re studying and
once you’ve finished studying you pay it back in the normal way. Contact your local bank to
find out more or find out more at the Directgov website.
Postgraduate funding guide
Prospects produce a useful funding guide to postgraduate study which can be found in the
University library or you can order direct from the Prospects website.
Other External Funding Bodies - UK
Many charities, foundations and trusts provide funding for postgraduate study. Some offer
full scholarships and others offer smaller awards. Some awards are dedicated to a particular
purpose while others have more general eligibility criteria. Below is a list of some
organisations offering funding for postgraduate study. The University is not involved in the
selection and award of these scholarships and applications should be made directly to the
funding body following the instructions on their website.
Scholarship
Details
Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds PhD
Fellowships
Supports research in biomedicine. Provides a monthly
maintenance stipend of 2,000 Euros and support to attend
international scientific conferences.
Schools Competition Act Settlement
Trust (SCAST)
Awards to former pupils of a list of specific schools.
Royal Historical Society
Various support grants and scholarships
Royal Geographical Society
Grants from £500 to £6,000 to support fieldwork.
Postgrad.com
Various bursaries to the value of £500.
FindAMasters.com
FindAMasters.com Postgraduate Scholarships – 9 annual
Masters scholarships available in all subjects for study at any
EU university
FindAPhD.com
FindAPhD.com Postgraduate Scholarships – 9 annual PhD
scholarships to support PhD study in any subject at
universities within the EU
Carnegie Trust
Graduates of a Scottish University holding a degree with firstclass honours in any subject and intending to pursue three
years of postgraduate research for a PhD degree.
Institute of Engineering &
Technology
For students who have achieved a 2:1 or higher in 1st degree
and are an IET member (or interested in becoming a member)
Colt Foundation
For research within the area of occupational and
environmental health.
Community Foundation
For women from either Tyne & Wear or Northumberland to
study science, grants of up to £1000.
Musicians Benevolent Fund
Several awards for postgraduate study for exceptional young
musicians.
Google – Anita Borg Scholarship
Female students with an excellent academic record, an award
of €7000 or equivalent per year.
Google Europe Scholarship for
Students with Disabilities
For students with a disability studying Computer Science,
Computer Engineering, Informatics, or a closely related
technical field.
Gen Foundation
For study and/or research in the field of biological, chemical,
botanical, and food sciences; language, music, and art.
Thomas Wall Trust
UK nationals who have financial difficulties but who wish to
pursue vocational courses or courses concerned with social
welfare which will subsequently lead to paid employment.
Taught courses only.
The Armourers & Brasiers' Company
Grants to support students in metallurgy and materials
science.
Wingate Scholarships
Additional costs in the final year of a PhD/DPhil, e.g.
additional fieldwork, dissemination or extension costs.
Gerda Henkel Foundation
PhD and research scholarships of up to 24 months’ duration
are
available for research projects focused on Central Asia.
Catholic Record Society
Several awards to support the study of British Catholic
History.
The Leakey Foundation
Funds research related specifically to human origins.
The Chartered Institute of Taxation
Grants for students undertaking research towards a PhD in
taxation at a UK university.
Yivo Institute for Jewish Research
A range of doctoral and postdoctoral awards for research in
the field of Jewish Studies.
University Association for
Contemporary European Studies
Support with travel expenses for studies in 'Contemporary
European Studies'
The Spalding Trust
Research awards and travel grants for projects with an
interfaith
component.
The Folklore Society - Estella Canziani Assistance for research "in any aspect of Folklore Studies
Post-Graduate Bursary
broadly defined" - purchase of materials or equipment, travel
or fieldwork expenses.
The Alcohol Education & Research
Council
Awards of up to £7,000 each per year for three years to
undertake research in the alcohol field leading to a PhD.
The Bibliographical Society
Various awards for research within the field of the
bibliographical or book-historical study.
British Society for Geomorphology
Grants of up to £1000 are available to postgraduate BSG
members registered for a higher research degree, to
contribute towards specific costs of research or to assist in
presenting a paper or poster at a conference.
Gilchrist Educational Trust
Awards for students on a higher education course who find
themselves facing unexpected financial difficulties which may
prevent completion of it; also for students who are required,
as part of their course, to spend a short period studying
abroad.
Elizabeth Evans Trust
To provide financial assistance for the further and higher
education and training of young people aged 16-26 years
wishing to pursue a professional career in any aspect of the
performing arts and who are able to demonstrate a close
association or connection to Wales.
Responsible Gambling Fund
Funding for PhDs in gambling-related research.
Society for Theatre Research
Awards from £100 to £2,000, as contributions to the cost of
research which is substantially concerned with the history and
practice of the British theatre.
Venere Scholarships
Scholarships for studying business or tourism at an approved
United Kingdom university.
Funding Search Sites
The following sites can be used to search for further funding
opportunities:
Iefa.org | Scholarship-search.org.uk | Prospects.ac.uk | Family-action.org.uk |
Postgraduatestudentships.co.uk |
British Council | Turn2us