This brief guide summarises the funding available to new postgraduate students applying for taught courses starting in September 2010. This information applies to UK students living in England and Wales and to EU nationals.  It does not apply to research students.

University of Westminster Scholarships

The University of Westminster offers a number of scholarships for postgraduate ‘home’ students (ie those living in England and Wales, and EU nationals). For more information, visit westminster.ac.uk/scholarships

Professional and Career Development Loans

For self-funding UK students, and EU/EEA students who have been resident in the UK for at least three years, a Professional and Career Development Loans may be available.

Professional and Career Development Loans are bank loans that can be used to help pay for work related learning. You can borrow between £300 and £10,000 to help support the cost of up to two years of learning (or three years if it includes one year’s relevant unpaid practical work). The Young People’s Learning Agency will pay the interest on the loan 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 or bursaries. Because the Professional and Career Development Loan is a commercial loan product, they should only be considered as an option once all other student funding options have been investigated.  For further information on financial assistance to support your learning, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning on contact Careers Advice on 0800 100 900. Our learning provider registration number is 8108.

Business School Loan Scheme

This is for full- and part-time students on MBA or other general management courses. Although there is no public funding for these courses, the Association of Masters of Business Administration (AMBA) may be able to arrange loans for postgraduate study at certain business schools. For more information visit mbaworld.com or the NatWest Information Line on 0800 015 1166, email h.shaw@mbaworld.com

Professional studies loans

Some banks operate loan schemes for postgraduates taking professional courses such as law or accountancy. Interest rates and repayment terms vary, although repayments do not normally start until after the end of the course. For more information contact your local branch.

Access to Learning Fund (ALF)

The Government allocates Access to Learning Funds (ALFs) to all higher education institutions. The purpose of the ALF is to provide financial help to students who may not otherwise have access to higher education, or who have difficulty meeting their living costs.

Full-time ‘home’ (UK/EU) postgraduate students and part-time students studying at least 50 per cent of a full-time course can apply, but the ALF cannot be used for tuition fee payments for postgraduate study. You will need to show that you have either taken or been refused a Career Development Loan (or equivalent), and have made reasonable provision to pay your tuition fees and living expenses. You should not count on the ALF to help fund your studies and cannot apply to the ALF unless all your tuition fees have been paid.

At the University of Westminster, you can apply for the ALF through the Central Admissions and Student Funding Office on +44 (0)20 7911 5716.

Statutory funding

Very few students at any university receive statutory funding for taught postgraduate courses. Many students choose to study part-time and work in a full- or part-time job to fund their course and living expenses.

Local authority awards

Local authorities do not fund postgraduate study, apart from teacher training (PGCE).

Students with disabilities

Postgraduate students with a disability receive an allowance of up to £10,260 This money is to help you with extra study costs incurred because of disability, and cannot be used for tuition fees or general living expenses. For more information on how to apply visit westminster.ac.uk/disability

Postgraduate award-making bodies, England and Wales

To apply to any of these organisations, you will need to have already been accepted on to a postgraduate degree course. All applications are normally made through the department in which you will study. If you are not clear which body covers your subject, contact your prospective course leader. However, very few taught courses at the University of Westminster attract any funding from these bodies.

• Arts and Humanities Research Council, +44 (0)117 987 6500, ahrc.ac.uk
• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, +44 (0)1793 413200, bbsrc.ac.uk
• Economic and Social Research Council, +44 (0)1793 413145, esrc.ac.uk
• Medical Research Council, +44 (0)20 7636 5422, mrc.ac.uk
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, +44 (0)1793 444000, epsrc.ac.uk
• Science and Technology Facilities Council, +44 (0)1793 442000, scitech.ac.uk
• Natural Environment Research Council, +44 (0)1793 411500, nerc.ac.uk
• Social Work Bursaries – NHS Business Services Authority, +44 (0)845 6101122, ppa.org.uk/swb

Postgraduate award-making bodies, other parts of the UK

• Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS), +44 (0)845 111 1711, student-support-saas.gov.uk
• Department for Employment and Learning Northern Ireland, +44 (0)28 9025 7777, delni.gov.uk
• State of Guernsey Education Department, +44 (0)1481 710821, education.gg
• Jersey Department of Education Sport and Culture, +44 (0)1534 44279/449450, gov.je/educationtraining
• Isle of Man Board of Education, +44 (0)1624 685820, gov.im/education
• Welsh Assembly Government, new.wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills

Useful reference books and websites

• Direct Gov
• Scholarship Guide for Commonwealth Postgraduates, published by the Association of Commonwealth Universities
• Awards for Postgraduate Study at Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
• Study Abroad, published by UNESCO, lists postgraduate awards abroad
• The Grants Register, published by Macmillan
  
• Postgraduate Funding Guide, a guide to funding further study, is found at prospects.ac.uk
• Hotcourses, scholarship-search.org.uk

Where to find more information

For more information, visit Student Services

or contact:

The Student Advice Service
1st Floor, Cavendish House
101 New Cavendish Street
London W1W 6XH

Tel: +44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 66080
Email: studentadvice@westminster.ac.uk

The Counselling Service
3rd Floor, Marylebone Building
35 Marylebone Road
London
NW1 5LS

Tel: +44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 3232
Email: studentadvice@westminster.ac.uk