Postgraduate Study
Tuition Fees and Financial Support
Taught Degrees UK/EU Postgraduate Taught Students
On this page you can find information about possible funding sources that you can contact if you want some help with financing your course. If you are unsure about the cost of your course, please see our list of course tuition fees.
Departmental Assistance
Several University departments can offer scholarships and financial assistance to postgraduate students. Selection is usually based on a candidate's academic performance and the quality of the application. For additional information contact the relevant department directly.
SAAS Funded Courses
The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) operates the Postgraduate Student Allowance Scheme (PSAS) which issues an annual number of awards to postgraduate students. The awards are generally limited by quota and apply to students normally resident in Scotland or non-British EU students undertaking full-time, vocational postgraduate programmes, mostly at Diploma level.
For more details on which of Stirling’s programmes are recognised for the allocation of an award contact the relevant Programme Director or see the Postgraduate Allowance Scheme funding page.
Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)
(for students normally resident in Scotland)
Gyleview House, 3 Redheughs Rigg
Edinburgh, EH12 9HH
www.saas.gov.uk
UK Research Councils
The UK Research Councils and the British Academy are the main sources of financial support for full-time postgraduate students. They provide funding for students working towards a PhD but they also provide funding for students on full and part-time study where the focus is on advanced study and research, with the intention of providing students with the research training they need for further research at Doctoral level.
The Research Council to which you should make an application will be determined partly by the subject you wish to study, and partly by the area of the United Kingdom in which you live. The UK Research Councils offer both one year and three year awards which can cover tuition fees and maintenance for UK students. EU students may apply, but are normally eligible only for payment of tuition fees and not a maintenance grant.
To find out if your course is eligible for funding, contact the relevant department. You can find out further information about the Research Councils at the following addresses:
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2AE
Tel: +44 (0) 117 987 6543
www.ahrc.ac.uk
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: +44 (0) 1793 413 000
www.esrc.ac.uk
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: +44 (0) 1793 411 500
www.nerc.ac.uk
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: +44 (0) 1793 413 200
www.bbsrc.ac.uk
The British Academy
10 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH
Tel: +44 (0) 207 969 5200
www.britac.ac.uk
Career Development Loans
British residents may be entitled to apply for a Career Development Loan. These are administered by the Department of Education and Skills, operating in partnership with three banks – the Co-operative Bank, Barclays Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland. Loans range from £300 - £8,000 and are available for funding up to 80 percent of course fees (or 100 percent if you have been unemployed for over three months prior to the start of your course) plus 100 percent of any other expenses. Only vocationally-based courses are eligible and they must not attract a local education authority award (including SAAS). For more information contact the Career Development Loan Information Line. Tel: 0800 585 505 or refer to: www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/cdl
Trusts and Charities
Organisations such as the Rotary Club and other trusts and charities can be a useful source of small grants, but very few will be able to meet the total amount needed for fees and maintenance. See: www.rotary.org.uk
There is a wide variety of trusts covering differing locations and professions.
Consult the Grants Register and/or the Directory of Grant Making Trusts available from most libraries. The Association of Charitable Foundations provides links to charitable bodies that may have funding available: www.acf.org.uk
Employer Sponsorship
Your employer may give you paid leave for study, or pay for all or part of your tuition fees and other costs such as examination fees and books. This is only likely if the programme of study is directly relevant to your work but it may be worth considering if you feel that knowledge of a particular postgraduate programme will benefit your employer.
