Funding Your Studies

Staffordshire University offers a world-class Postgraduate courses and research degrees supported by a range of funded opportunities internally. There is also a range of potential funding sources available to prospective postgraduate students externally.

They include:

Government-funded, Research Councils support different areas of research in the UK and also take responsibility for associated postgraduate funding. As competition for funding is considerable, only a small number of applicants are successful each year.

There are seven Research Councils providing postgraduate funding in UK:

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)  
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)  
Medical Research Council (MRC)  
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)  
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Non-repayable Bursaries, and Scholarships can be granted to assist with accommodation and living costs, childcare, course costs (not tuition fees) and essential travel. These can range from one-off payments to the full payment of fees plus maintenance grants. Sponsorship can also come from organisations completing research with a university.

If you are already in employment, you may be able to secure all or part of your course fees from your employer. You will probably have to prepare a case for the postgraduate funding, including your proposed costs and the benefit the organisation will gain as a result of your postgraduate studies.

Under these schemes, postgraduates receive direct payment or a waiver of their fees (or sometimes both) in return for undertaking teaching or research duties.

A popular choice for many students, Career Development Loans are offered by Barclays, The Royal Bank of Scotland and The Co-operative Bank. Loans can be used to cover course fees and related expenses. They have to be repaid.

If you have a disability, you may be eligible for a Disabled Student Allowance. Contact The Disabled Student Centre.