Postgraduate students

Unfortunately there is no statutory government funding for postgraduate study, unless you wish to do a course of Initial Teacher Training (ITT). However, RIBA Part II in Architecture normally attracts Student Finance England grants and loans, although this depends on meeting the Student Finance England eligibility rules and on the duration of the gap between taking RIBA Part I and Part II.

Alternative sources of funding include a Career Development Loan, a professional studies loan or applying directly to an award-making body.

If you’ve been resident in the UK for at least three years and have no restrictions on your stay, you may be eligible to apply for a Professional and Career Development Loan.

You can borrow between £300 and £10,000 to support 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’re learning and for one month after completion.

It 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, it should only be considered as an option when all other student funding options have been investigated.

If you decide to apply, you’ll need to provide the University of Westminster PCDL registration number, which is 8108.

Have a look at the Directgov website for more information.

Professional studies loan

Some banks operate loan schemes for postgraduates taking professional courses such as law or accountancy. Interest rates and repayments will vary. Check availability with your local branch.

Access to Learning Fund

The government allocates Access to Learning Funds (ALF) to all higher education institutions. Full-time home students and part-time Home students studying at least 50 per cent of a full-time course can apply.

ALF cannot be used to pay tuition fees. You’ll also need to prove you’ve made reasonable provision to pay your fees and living costs and be able to show that you’ve either taken out a Professional and Career Development Loan or been refused one.

You cannot count on ALF to fund your studies and you must have paid all your tuition fees to be eligible to apply.

For more details, visit our Access to Learning Fund page.

You can only apply to this fund when you have enrolled and are attending your course.

University Scholarships

There are a number of University of Westminster scholarships for postgraduate students. You must apply before the start of your course and should check the eligibility rules as they all differ.

Please visit the University Scholarships page for full information.

There are a number of postgraduate award-making bodies in England and Wales who offer a limited number of awards to students studying certain subject areas. However, very few of our taught courses attract funding, although the Arts and Humanities Research Council is applicable to some.

To apply, you need to have been accepted on to a postgraduate degree course and you must usually apply before you start. Applications are normally made through the department in which you will study. If you’re not clear which body covers your course, contact your prospective course leader.

Part-time postgraduate students are eligible to claim Social Security under the usual rules - part-time study itself should not affect your entitlement to receive benefits.

Most full-time students aren’t eligible for Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), but the following exceptions apply:

• single parents with a dependent child/children
• some students with disabilities 
• students who are pensioners 
• student couples with at least one dependent child can claim Housing Benefit throughout the year.
• students who have suspended their studies due to ill health or caring responsibilities can claim JSA from the date of recovery or the date their caring responsibilities end until they resume their studies, or a maximum of 12 months – whichever is shorter
• non-student spouses and partners, subject to the normal rules

Entitlement to Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit is unchanged by study

If you receive Disability Living Allowance, Contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit, you are eligible to claim benefits as a full-time student. However, this is a complex area so we recommend you discuss your entitlement with Student Advice.

If you receive a Career Development Loan or other study loan towards your living costs, this can be counted as income and reduce your benefit entitlement. Postgraduate Maintenance Grants awarded by a Research Council can also affect benefits and are used in the same way as Undergraduate Student Loans and Grants.

To be exempt from paying Council Tax, you must be attending a full-time course that lasts at least one academic year, requires at least 24 weeks' attendance, and a minimum of 21 hours' study per week. Your exemption applies from when you start your course.

New students: If you move into a property before the start of your course, you’ll have to pay Council Tax up until when you enrol. Please bear this in mind when deciding on a date to move in.

If you live in Halls of Residence, you’ll automatically be exempt from paying. However, if you live in privately rented accommodation, you’ll have to prove you’re a student to the local Council Tax Office.

If you live by yourself or in a house where every adult is a full-time student, you will not have to pay Council Tax, but all of you will need to provide proof of your student status to the local Council Tax Office.

You can request a Council Tax Exemption Certificate from your School Registry Office after enrolment.

If you’re a full-time student sharing with two or more people who aren’t students, a bill will be generated. Although full-time students aren’t liable to pay, the non-students in the house are. If you provide your Council Tax Exemption Certificate to the Council Tax Office, you should be excluded from the bill and cannot be pursued for any unpaid money.

If you’re a full-time student and you live with only one other person who isn’t a full-time student, they are liable to pay the bill but will qualify for a 25% discount called a 'single person's discount'. However, you’ll need to submit your Council Tax Exemption Certificate to be excluded and receive the discount.

If you rent and share with others, you should check the terms of your contract, as sometimes Council Tax is included as part of the rent. The agreement may also state you have to pay a share towards Council Tax. If so, you could be liable to contribute towards this cost.

There is an exception to the rules listed above: if you own your house/flat or you are the only named person on the tenancy and you have tenants or adult family members living with you who are not full-time students, there will be a Council Tax bill issued and you will be liable to pay. Your student status will not exempt you.

Visit the Students and Council Tax page at Directgov