UK postgraduate funding

Fund your postgraduate studies

Postgraduate students can get government funding for their studies, which may include loans, bursaries, and grants.

Hero Carousel

Fund your postgraduate studies

Postgraduate students can get government funding for their studies, which may include loans, bursaries, and grants.

UK postgraduate funding

A postgraduate degree is a great investment in your future. You could potentially earn an extra £200,000 in your lifetime compared to someone with just a bachelor's degree. The advanced knowledge and skills you'll gain will help you stand out in a competitive job market, either to launch your career or change its direction.

We know that paying for your education is a big concern. It's completely normal to have questions about how to cover tuition, living expenses, and other costs that come with postgraduate study.

Try our Funding Calculator

Government funding

There are several government funding options available to help finance your postgraduate studies, including loans, studentships, bursaries, and grants. It's important to note that each option has its own specific eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and terms and conditions.

Here is a breakdown of government funding details:

PGCE funding

General funding information for PGCE Students

If you're a UK student pursuing a tuition-based Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) that leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you might be eligible for two types of funding. Depending on your circumstances, you could receive both.

Department for Education (DfE) Bursaries or Scholarships

These are tax-free payments available for trainees in specific subjects.

  • For Languages and Physics: If you're starting a course in the 2025/26 academic year, you don't need to be eligible for Student Finance to receive a bursary or scholarship.
  • For all other subjects, you must be eligible for Student Finance to receive this funding.

For more details, please visit the Get Into Teaching website.

Student Finance funding

As a UK student on a tuition-based PGCE with QTS, you can apply for the same Student Finance funding as undergraduate students. This includes a Tuition Fee Loan, a Maintenance Loan, and Discretionary Grants.

International trainees

In July 2024, the Department for Education (DfE) announced a change to funding for international teacher trainees. The International Relocation Payment (IRP) will no longer be available.

International trainees beginning their PGCE course in September 2024 will now only be eligible for a PGCE bursary or scholarship if they are training in Physics or a modern language (German, French, or Spanish) and meet all other eligibility criteria.

Applying for a PGCE Bursary or Scholarship

  • For September 2025 trainees: To apply for a PGCE bursary, please complete and sign the PGCE Bursary Application Form 2025/26, then email it to ittfunding@uel.ac.uk. If your application is successful, the bursary will be paid directly into your UK bank account in ten equal monthly instalments, beginning in October 2025.
  • For September 2026 trainees: The updated application form and guidance notes for the PGCE bursary will be available starting in May 2026.
  • Scholarship applicants: If you are applying for a scholarship, you must apply directly to the specific awarding body. You can find details about these organisations on the Get Into Teaching website. If you are awarded a scholarship, please email a copy of your award confirmation letter to ittfunding@uel.ac.uk. You should also include the PGCE bursary application form, as some eligibility criteria must still be verified. For more information on eligibility, payment schedules, and what happens if you leave the programme early, please refer to the PGCE Guidance Notes 2025/26.

Withdrawals and deferrals

If you decide to withdraw or defer from your PGCE programme, you must notify ittfunding@uel.ac.uk immediately. This is crucial to prevent any overpayment of your bursary or scholarship. 

If an overpayment occurs, an invoice for the full amount will be issued. Our Credit Control team will then contact you to arrange repayment, which you are required to make promptly.

Further information

For further information and advice on PGCE bursaries, you can email ittfunding@uel.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)20 8223 4444 and ask to speak with a SMART Advisor (Monday–Friday, 10am-1pm).

Postgraduate loans

You could be eligible for a Postgraduate Master's Loan of up to £12,858 to help fund your Master's programme for the 2025/26 academic year. This loan is a non-means-tested payment from Student Finance England, designed to help cover tuition fees, living expenses, and other course-related costs for both taught and research Master's students.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted directly through Student Finance England.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the loan, you must generally be a UK national or have settled status in the UK. You must also:

  • have lived in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man for the three years leading up to the start of your course.
  • be currently living in England.
  • not have moved to England from elsewhere in the UK or the Islands specifically to take the course.

Students who are EU nationals or hold other residency statuses may also be eligible. For complete details on eligibility, please visit Student Finance England.

Brexit and Postgraduate Loan eligibility

Beginning in August 2021, if you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss national starting a Master's programme in England, you must have either EU settled or pre-settled status to be eligible for a postgraduate loan.

To apply for EU settled status, you must have been living in the UK before December 31, 2020.

If you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss national who began a Master's programme in the 2020/21 academic year, you will remain eligible for UK student finance for the entire duration of your course.

For further details, please visit Student Finance England.

 

Postgraduate loans for two-year Master's courses

If your Master's programme is two years in length, your loan will be split evenly between the two academic years. Please be aware that you are responsible for paying your tuition fees according to the University of East London's (UEL)  Fees Policy.

NHS bursaries for social work courses

Award Summary

If you have been accepted into one of our postgraduate social work programmes, you may be eligible to apply for a bursary from the NHS.  This bursary helps with both tuition and living costs. You may also be able to receive additional allowances if you have specific circumstances, such as caring for a dependent adult, being a parent, or having a disability.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a social work bursary, you must meet the following criteria: 

  • You must be enrolled in a college-based social work course that is on the official NHS-approved list. 

  • You cannot already hold a higher education social work qualification, such as a Diploma in Social Work (DipSW). 

  • You must have lived in the UK for the past three years and have settled status. 

  • You are not eligible if you are already receiving financial support from a social care employer, such as paid time off for your studies or payment of your tuition fees.

How do I apply?

You can apply for the bursary at the NHSBSA website.

Doctoral loan

You can get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan to help pay for course fees and living expenses while you pursue a PhD or other doctoral degree. 

You can apply for funding for the 2025/26 academic year starting in the summer of 2025. 

You will repay this loan at the same time as any other student loans you may have, and interest will be charged from the very first payment. 

Additional support is also available if you have a disability. 

Further information about eligibility visit gov.uk/doctoral-loan

External funding

A variety of external organisations and research councils provide financial support for postgraduate students. Below is a list of potential funding sources for additional support:

Please note: The University of East London (UEL) is not responsible for the content of these external websites and is not involved with their funding schemes or application processes..

Sponsorship from an employer and self-funding

Some employers may sponsor you for a postgraduate course. Under this arrangement, your employer agrees to pay for, or contribute towards, your tuition fees for a course that is directly relevant and beneficial to their business. This is common for roles in fields like accountancy, planning, or engineering. 

However, most postgraduate students are self-funding, balancing their studies with paid work to cover their qualification costs.

UEL funding and scholarships

At the University of East London (UEL), we offer various scholarships, bursaries, and discounts to help UK students with the cost of their studies. You may be eligible to apply for one or more of the following:

Early payment discount

If you are a postgraduate research student starting in the 2025/26 academic year, you can get a 5 per cent discount on your course fees by paying the full amount early. The deadline for this discount is two weeks before your course's start date.

Alumni discount

If you completed your undergraduate degree at UEL, you could be eligible for an alumni discount on your postgraduate course. You will receive a 25 per cent discount if you progress directly to your postgraduate course without a gap year. If there is a gap between your undergraduate and postgraduate studies, you will receive a 10 per cent discount.

Postgraduate funding FAQs

Who can I talk to about student finance?

The Student Money, Advice and Rights Team (SMART) at the University of East London (UEL) is here to help. They offer dedicated advice and information on all things student finance, including funding, bursaries, scholarships, and managing your money.

If you are unsure about your eligibility for funding, need help with an application, or have any other questions about student finance, please get in touch.

You can contact the team by calling +44 (0)20 8223 4444 or by logging in to My Portal with your email and password.

Is there help for postgraduate students with disabilities?

If you've been accepted to a postgraduate course at UEL, you can contact our Disability and Dyslexia Service to find out if you are eligible for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA).

Can I pay my fees in instalments?

Yes, subject to our credit control procedures.  For further information, please contact our Credit Control team at creditcontrol@uel.ac.uk or call +44 (0)20 8223 4444.

My employer is sponsoring me. How do I notify you of this?

When you enrol at the University of East London (UEL), you'll need to let us know how your tuition fees will be paid. If your employer is sponsoring you, here's what you need to do: 

On UEL Direct, select the option "I expect to receive support from a commercial sponsor." 

Next, you and your sponsor must either: 

  • Complete the Sponsorship Form and send it to our Credit Control team.
  • Ask your sponsor to send a letter on their company's letterhead directly to Credit Control. This letter must clearly state the amount they will be sponsoring. 

Once Credit Control receives one of these documents, your enrolment will be fully completed.

I am an international postgraduate student. Can I receive any financial support?

Check out what financial support is available on our  International Fees and Funding page or speak to one of our international advisors.

Quick links

Fees
Funding for part time students
Funding for international students
UK undergraduate funding
Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries

Contact us

For more information or for advice and guidance, contact our Student Money and Advice Team (SMART), who will be happy to help.

Phone: +44 (0)20 8223 4444
Web: log in to My Portal, ensuring you have your login details (email and password) to hand.

Find out what UEL has to offer you

  • Cost of Living Support

    Regardless of your financial situation, we’re committed to make studying in London possible for everyone and providing our students with support throughout their university experience.

  • Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries

    Explore UEL postgraduate funding: 50% Scholarship, 5% Early Payment, 100% fee waiver for asylum seekers, Alumni up to 25%, and Sports up to £6,000. Check eligibility and apply.

  • Advice and Guidance

    Our Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) is on hand to help you with any questions you may have before and during your time as a student.

  • Funding calculator

    Answer a few quick questions to find out how much financial support you could get for your studies and living costs.