1. Funding your Postgraduate
Study
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate

2. Tuition Fees
Standard Fee
For UK/EU students in 2011 was £3,732
 This WILL rise by a small amount next year, but will NOT be affected by the
rise in undergraduate fees
Fee Flexibility
Fees can be paid in instalments
Part-time study: fees are split over 3 years (for a Master’s course)
Funding your Postgraduate
2012 postgraduate fees will be
announced in April 2012 Study
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-and-funding

3. Cost of Living
Average = £6,000 - £8,000 per year
This varies according to circumstance and lifestyle!
Swansea = low cost of living compared to other University cities
Average Rent in Swansea = £55 per week
TIP: Welfare Warden positions (accommodation@swansea.ac.uk)
Course Costs can include:
 Conferences
 Field trips
 Books and Printing
 Thesis binding
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-and-funding

4. The Naked Truth
 There is NO government funding for most postgraduate courses
 The Student Loans company does not support postgraduates
 When you apply for a postgraduate course you are only applying for
the place – not the funding too
 You will need to make separate applications for your funding
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-and-funding

5. The Upside...
 There are lots of sources of funding for postgraduate study
 Most postgraduate students successfully manage to fund their
studies
 Your postgraduate degree will stand you in good stead for your
future career
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-and-funding

6. Sources of funding
1. Swansea University
2. Research Councils
3. Student Loans
4. Charities and Trusts
5. “Portfolio” funding
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-and-funding

7. Swansea University Scholarships
 Approx 100 Master’s Scholarships (all subjects) = 75% of tuition fee
 1 x Alumni Bursary (all subjects plus LPC & GDL) = full tuition fee
 Approx 10 PhD studentships (selected subjects) = tuition fees plus
stipend (£13,590 in 2011) - advertised January 2012
Funding your Postgraduate
Follow us on Twitter / Facebook for regular updates
www.twitter.com/SwanseaPostgrad
Study
www.facebook.com/SwanseaPostgrad
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships

8. Swansea University Scholarships
PLUS externally funded scholarships:
 Access to Master’s Scholarships (Biological Sciences, Computer Science,
Engineering, Geography) = full fees + stipend (£5,529)
 KESS Scholarships for MRes programmes (Biological Sciences,
Computer Science, Engineering, Geography) = full fees + stipend
(£9,835)
 AHRC Scholarships (MA courses in Creative Writing, History, Translation
and PhD programmes in Celtic Studies, Film Studies, History = full fees +
stipend (to be announced April 2012)
www.twitter.com/SwanseaPostgrad
www.facebook.com/SwanseaPostgrad
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships

9. Research Councils
Government funded agencies which support research
 Arts and Humanities (AHRC) www.ahrc.ac.uk
 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences (BBSRC) www.bbsrc.ac.uk
 Economic and Social Research (ESRC) www.esrc.ac.uk
 Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPSRC) www.epsrc.ac.uk
 Medical Research (MRC) www.mrc.ac.uk
 Natural Environment (NERC) www.nerc.ac.uk
 Science and Technology (SciTEch) www.scitech.ac.uk
Funding your Postgraduate
Funding covers MA/MSc, MRes, EngD, MPhil & PhD studies , and usually
includes:


UK/EU Tuition Fee
Study
Maintenance grant / stipend (£13,590 in 2011)
 Contribution towards travel and fieldwork expenses
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships

10. Research Councils
Applications:
 Most Research Councils do not accept direct applications
 Usually, funding is allocated to individual departments which will
advertise studentships throughout the year
Eligibility:
 UK/EU nationals “ordinarily resident” in UK for 3 years

Funding your Postgraduate
First-class or upper-second class degree in relevant subject
Competition for Research Council funding is intense, and deadlines are
Study
early, so you are advised to spend time putting together a strong
application
www.rcuk.ac.uk

11. Loans
Professional and Career Development Loans
 Up to £10,000 available for courses of up to 2 years ‘that will help with
your career’
 Available to anyone who lives in the UK and plans to work in UK or EU
 The Skills Funding Agency pays the interest on the loan while you
study Funding your Postgraduate

 www.direct.gov.uk/pcdl
Study
Loan repayments are NOT linked to your income, like student loans
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-and-funding

12. Charities, Foundations and Trusts
 Usually dedicated to a specific purpose
 Often one-off amounts (rather than fees + stipend)
 No standard rules on eligibility criteria and applications
 Application deadlines often well in advance of the start of the course
Find out more: The Grants Register
available in your careers service, at public libraries and on
www.prospects.ac.uk/funding
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-and-funding

13. Charities, Foundations and Trusts
Arts and Humanities
 The National Gallery
 Royal Historical Society
 Royal Institute of Philosophy
Business and Social Sciences
 The Leverhulme Trust
 Social Workers Educational Trust
 UK eInformation Groups
Engineering
 Institute of Engineering and Technology
 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
 Worshipful Company of Engineers
Science and Medicine
 Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research
 Epilepsy Action
 Heart Research UK
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate

14. Portfolio funding
Most postgraduate students fund their studies through 'portfolio funding'
in which they gather funds from a variety of sources.
Putting together your own funding package requires planning and tenacity
BUT most postgraduates say that the experience was worth it !
Case Study:
Gemma Reynolds, PhD Psychology
Grant-giving bodies:
Funding your Postgraduate
• £800 from The Sydney Perry Foundation
• £500 from the Chelmsford Educational Fund
StudyPart-time work - Overseas Student Mentor in Psychology department
It pays to get published - £1,400 for a 10,000 word research review about
Down’s Syndrome for the charity Cerebra
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-and-funding

15. International Students
• Contact the Ministry of Education or Education Department in your
own country for details of scholarships
• British Chevening Scholarships - get updates on Facebook
• Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan: Cover fees and living
expenses for courses of 1 – 3 years duration
• Some country-specific scholarships are also available
• For further information see: www.educationuk.org
•
Funding your Postgraduate
Part-time work: as an international student you can work for up to 20
hours per week which can help towards your study costs
Study
www.swansea.ac.uk/international

16. Finding Funding – our tips
 Start looking early
 Do your research
 Apply for everything you can
 Get expert advice from University staff
Useful Sources:
Prospects
• Funding Guide
• www.prospects.ac.uk/search_funding_bodies
www.postgraduatestudentships.com
The Grants Register – published by Palgrave Macmillan
www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees-and-funding

17. Where can a research career take you?
Interdisciplinary Research Week
Bridging the Gaps: My Academic Journey
Wednesday 23rd November, 5:30 pm
ILS Seminar Room, ILS (behind Café Glas)