Application, Fees & Funding
Postgraduate Fees and Funding
Overview
Students are motivated to invest in their future by studying for a postgraduate qualification for a range of different reasons: from pure love of a subject or advancing promotion prospects to professional advancement or dedication to a research career. Our latest figures show that 93% of our UK and EU Master’s Graduates went into full time employment and/or further study.
Student loans and other statutory support are NOT normally available to postgraduate students, other than those undertaking a PGCE, MSc Social Work or MArch. Some courses do have a limited number of bursaries available, check with the department you are applying to for further details.
Info
- University Advice
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Student Finance Centre
E: student.finance@port.ac.uk
T: General Enquiries: +44 (0)23 9284 3014 - Useful links:
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www.findamasters.com
www.findaphd.com
www.postgrad.com
www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk
www.prospects.ac.uk/funding - Research grants:
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www.researchprofessional.com
www.grantfinder.co.uk
Master’s courses
Tuition fees
Portsmouth, like other universities, sets postgraduate fees to reflect the mode of study (full-time or part-time) and the students' residency status (UK, EU, Channel Islands/Isle of Man or International) as well as the individual nature and characteristics of the course you wish to undertake. Tuition fees for UK and EU students, as a guide fees vary between £5,000 and £7,500. For exact course fees please visit the course pages. Our postgraduate fees for 2013/2014 are displayed in the Key Facts on each individual course page.
Architecture MArch
Tuition fees for the MArch (RIBA Part 2) depend on when you started your undergraduate studies. UK students progressing to the Master of Architecture course within 3 years of completing the BA Architecture will be classed as continuing students and will be liable for fees of £3,465 in 2013/14. Other UK students will be liable for tuition fees of £8,750 in 2013/14.
Loans for Fees and Living Costs, Grants and University Bursaries
Eligible MArch students paying £8,750 can apply for the standard statutory support package (maintenance loans, grants, bursaries and tuition fee loans). Students paying the continuers fee of £3,465 will find details of the support available on our Student Finance Centre webpages.
University discounts and bursaries
Alumni discounts
Students who have previously studied at the University of Portsmouth on undergraduate programmes wishing to follow a full time or part time postgraduate course may be entitled to a 20% discount on any self funding element of their tuition fees (this does not apply to PGCE or MArch students). To check if you and the course you wish to study are eligible for the alumni discount use the checker on our Academic Registry pages.
Staff discount*
A 20% staff discount is available on fees that are paid personally by the member of University staff for part-time courses only. Staff may apply to pay the fees by five instalments (completing in March) by deduction from salary.
Early payment discount
An early-payment discount of 2% is given to all students where self-funded fees for the year are paid in full before or at registration. Students may pay their fees anytime before registration to the Finance Department in University House or online. Only the self-funded element may be discounted if you are partly sponsored.
* Only one of these discounts can be claimed against each fee.
Students eligible to claim one of the discounts shown by *, are still entitled to claim 2% early settlement discount on the net value of their fees.
Business Scholarships for Masters courses
The Portsmouth Business School offers a number of scholarships for self-funding students applying for taught postgraduate study.
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Research Degrees Bursaries
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences offers bursaries for Home/EU students in January/February and between June and August. every year. Bursaries include payment of fees, a maintenance stipend (£13,290 in 2009-10) and an allowance for fieldwork. The bursary agreement includes a requirement to undertake up to 6 hours teaching per week during each semester.
Please see the FHSS Bursaries webpage for more information.
Other funding sources
Postgraduate Solutions Bursaries
Postgraduate Solutions Ltd is offering the opportunity of a £500 bursary to thirteen students starting postgraduate courses in September/October 2013. Payment of the award will be made directly to the institution, and will be discounted from the fees as appropriate. Students may only apply for a bursary after they have accepted an offer of a place at their chosen institution.
Target Courses Bursaries
Target courses is giving away six bursaries of £2,000 each, to help pay course fees. The competition is open to students interested in taking a postgraduate course next year. For further information and to complete an entry, please visit Target Courses website no later than 30th June 2013.
TARGET courses Funding Database is free to use and allows students to search for funding opportunities they are eligible for based on the following: level of study; subject of study; institution; funding source and country of origin.
FindaMasters.com Bursaries
Findamasters.com has recently launched new funding awards. The bursaries, which total £5,000, are available to students of any nationality and across a range of subject areas. There are nine awards on offer including one general prize and a further eight that are subject specific. In order to qualify for consideration students must be intending to start study at an institution within the EU in autumn 2013. Visit Findamasters.com for more information.
Postgraduate Studentships
Visit Postgraduate Studentships’ website for more information about research and funding opportunities. This website is specifically designed for students interested in postgraduate study both at Masters and PhD level. Use the database to search for funding available from trusts, charities and other general funding organisations as well as studentships and scholarships offered by University departments.
Professional and Career Development Loans
Professional and Career Development Loans (PCDL) 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 Skills Funding 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. As the Professional and Career Development Loan is a commercial loan, 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 contact the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900.
The University Learning Provider registration number is 8367.
Research Councils
A limited number of courses offer studentships through one of the six Research Councils. You will need to discuss a studentship with the department of the course you wish to study. Links to the relevant department are in the ‘Key facts’ on every course page. Research Councils won’t deal directly with you but their websites offer some useful information about funding opportunities:
- The Arts and Humanities Research Council
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Medical Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
Sponsorship
Some employers may consider sponsorship which may be in the form of help with fees, day release for part time study or by sponsoring the student to study an area of relevant commercial interest.
Trusts and charities
Trusts and charities can offer financial assistance to some students. Organisations will usually have specific criteria which must be met before an application can be made. Assistance will rarely take the form of a full scholarship or award as most organisations will only be able to offer awards of a few hundred pounds due to the large number of applications received each year. The Student Finance Centre has information on a range of trusts and charities. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this further.
MSc Social Work students
UK students studying an MSc in Social Work are eligible for a bursary from the NHS Business Services Authority. The bursary consists of a non income-assessed basic grant, including a contribution towards practice learning opportunity related expenses, of £3,362.50. All full time UK students meeting the eligibility criteria will also be offered up to £3,732 towards their tuition fees. This support is paid as a grant and is non-repayable.
There is also an income-assessed maintenance grant of up to £2,608 and income-assessed allowances to assist with certain living costs depending on the student's individual circumstances. For further information please visit the NHS Business Services Authority. All awards are paid in three instalments.
Postgraduate Social Work students are not eligible for any loans or grants from Student Finance England.
Postgraduate Research Degrees
You will need to have access to sufficient funds to cover the relevant fees and maintenance in order to undertake a postgraduate research degree.
We may be able to assist with identifying potential funding sources and providing supporting letters and you may apply for a place before you are fully qualified or have secured funding for the research. Having an offer of a place may be of assistance if you need to apply to grant giving bodies. Please note, however, that an offer of a place is not a guarantee of funding.
Tuition Fees
Our Graduate School provides dedicated support to our postgraduate research students. They maintain a list of tuition fees by department on their web pages.
Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships from the University of Portsmouth and external sources may be available for new postgraduates to help cover tuition fees and living expenses. For more information about scholarships please contact the appropriate faculty postgraduate research office.
- Portsmouth Business School scholarships
- Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Science
- Faculty of Science
- Faculty of Technology
Funded PhD projects
PhD projects are available throughout the year, some of which are funded. Academic Departments list these on their webpages when funded opportunities are available.
Further Information
Visit www.PostgraduateStudentships.co.uk for more information about research and funding opportunities. This website is specifically designed for students interested in postgraduate study both at Masters and PhD level.
Use the database to search for funding available from trusts, charities and other general funding organisations as well as studentships and scholarships offered by University departments.
Other useful links are in the info box at the top of this page and our Student Finance Centre have lots of helpful advice on managing finances as a student.
PGCE courses
Tuition fees for all full-time PGCE courses starting in September 2013 will be £8,750. Students from England or the EU will be able to apply for a tuition fee loan to cover their fees from Student Finance England. Students from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland should contact their home government for details of any support available.
Loans and grants
English students can apply to Student Finance England for a tuition fee loan, maintenance loan and maintenance grant, and may also be eligible for the cash element only of the University of Portsmouth Bursary. For further information see our undergraduate funding page.
If you are an EU student studying a PGCE you will be able to apply for the tuition fee loan only.
If you are thinking about studying a part-time PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education or Cert Ed course you may be eligible to apply for a tuition fee loan, for further information see our undergraduate part-time students page.
PGCE Secondary subjects
Teaching Agency bursary amounts will vary depending the subject you are training to teach and the class of undergraduate degree that you attained. Trainees will need to have achieved at least a 2:2 to be eligible for a training bursary.
| Degree Class | Physics, Maths, Chemistry, Modern Languages | Other priority secondary specialisms and primary* | General science and non-priority secondary specialisms** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trainee with first | £20,000 | £9,000 | £0 |
| 2.1 | £15,000 | £4,000 | £0 |
| 2.2 | £12,000 | £0 | £0 |
* Art and design, design and technology, economics, engineering, English, dance, drama, geography, history, information and communications technology (ICT), computer science, classics, music, biology, physical education, primary, and religious education mainstream post-graduate PGCE courses attract £9,000 bursaries for trainees with a first and £5,000 for trainees with a 2:1.
** General science, business studies, citizenship, applied science, health and social care, leisure and tourism, media studies, psychology, social sciences (except economics) PGCE courses attract no bursary.
For further information visit the Teaching Agency website.
PGCE Post-compulsory Education and Training (full-time)
This course does not attract any Teaching Agency training bursaries however full-time students from England will be able to apply for the cash element only (not fee waiver) of the University of Portsmouth Bursary alongside the statutory support from Student Finance England.
