How to Fund Your Masters

Our next Virtual Postgraduate Open Day will be on Wednesday 26 October 2022, 2-4pm (BST). Register now to secure your place.

OK, so you’ve decided you want to pursue a postgraduate degree. Achieving your Masters is a fantastic way to explore new passions and boost your career.

But chances are, you’re also wondering how you’re going to fund your postgraduate studies. Fortunately, there are plenty of funding opportunities available.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a handy list of funding options that can help to make your dream a reality.

Scholarship opportunities

At the University of Stirling, we have a range of scholarships to help students from all backgrounds make the most of their time here. There are a range of scholarships on offer for postgraduate taught students and postgraduate research students.

Many of these scholarships have a broad and inclusive set of eligibility requirements. But some are designed specifically for students joining us from certain countries or those who are interested in a particular career.

You can use our scholarship search can help you to find the right option. Simply filter by nationality, subject and type of degree (taught or research).

For international students joining us from overseas, our Postgraduate International Excellence Scholarship offers a £4,000 tuition fee waiver.

Likewise, international students who have previously studied with us through a study abroad programme or attended our International Summer School should qualify for a £4,000 tuition fee waiver for the first year of a full-time Master’s degree.

The University of Stirling is also a part of Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships programme. Saltire Scholarships represent an award of up to £8,000 towards the cost of tuition for postgraduate students pursuing a Masters degree at a Scottish university.

To be eligible for a Saltire Scholarship, you must hold an offer for a place on a postgraduate course at a Scottish university like Stirling, and you must be from either:

  • Canada
  • China (including Hong Kong)
  • India
  • Pakistan
  • United States of America
  • Japan

Want to learn more about the Saltire Scholarships programme? Check out our website.

Apply for a Government Loan

There are a number of loan options for students depending on their nationality and residence status.

You can find a quick breakdown below. Full details and helpful links can be found on our website.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish students: The Student Awards Agency (SAAS) can provide a loan to help both full-time and part-time students cover tuition fees and living costs.

These loans are available to eligible Scottish students taking eligible full-time and part-time postgraduate courses. This also includes eligible online courses.

Contact the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for further information and eligibility criteria, or check out our website to find out more about a postgraduate SAAS loan.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 English students: The UK Government has a new postgraduate loan scheme providing up to £11,570 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2021, to help you cover your the cost of your studies.

PhD students could get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan to help with course fees and living costs of up to £27,265 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2021. These loans can be combined with funding from your university or other sources, but not with Research Council funding, NHS funding or other direct Government funding. 

The UK Government provides more information on funding for postgraduate study.

Northern Irish students: You could be eligible for a postgraduate loan of up to £5,500 from the Department of Economy.

Applications can be made directly through Student Finance Northern Ireland.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Welsh students: You may be eligible to receive up to £18,025 for 2021 to 2022 as a combination of grant and loan from the Welsh Government to cover the costs of your tuition fees and living costs.

PhD students can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £27,265 if your course starts between 1 August 2021 and 31 July 2022.

You can apply online through Student Finance Wales

🇪🇺 EU Students: If you’re an EU student, you may be entitled to our EU Postgraduate Scholarship – giving a 40% reduction in the cost of your annual tuition fees.

You can find out more about the EU Postgraduate Scholarship on our website.

🇺🇸 USA Students: Students joining us from the USA are eligible for a range of international scholarships. The University of Stirling can also certify loan applications for the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP).

More information can be found in our guide to Financial Aid for US Students.

Employer sponsorship

If you’re currently working, your employer may offer paid leave to complete your course, or even pay a portion of your fees if the course is in a relevant area to your work. Discuss the options with your employer as the further knowledge a postgraduate degree provides could benefit them too.

Fees for postgraduate degrees at the University of Stirling vary depending on your chosen course. You can find general information on our Fees and Funding page, but make sure to check each course page for specific information. 

We want to help you make the most of your postgraduate degree, so if you have any questions, please get in touch.

Thinking of studying at Stirling? Register for our next Virtual Postgraduate Open Day will be on Wednesday 26 October 2022, 2-4pm (BST). You can learn more about our Masters courses and PhD opportunities, live chat with staff and students, take a virtual campus tour and more.

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