Alternative sources of Postgraduate funding

Finding the funding that's right for you

If you're not eligible for a postgraduate loan from the Student Loans Company, or would prefer to continue your studies without further borrowing, there are other funding options to consider. The information on this page will help you to find alternative sources of postgraduate funding.

Charities, foundations and trusts

There are a large number of charities, foundations and trusts that offer funds to support postgraduate study. Comprehensive details of these organisations can be found in The Grants Register (published by Palgrave Macmillan) and The Directory of Grant Making Trusts (published by the Directory of Social Change), both of which should be available in your university careers service or local library.

The key is to find those organisations that are relevant to you and/or your subject area. During your search you may wish to consider the following examples:

• Some funds may be available to you on the basis of your parents’ or partner’s occupations. If, for example, one of your parents or partner is a chemist or grocer, you may be able to access funding from the Leverhulme Foundation. Similarly, if you have a close family connection to the rail freight industry, the EWS Educational Fund may be able to help.
• Other organisations fund those who live in certain geographical areas. For example, the John Moran Educational Trust funds Liverpool residents and the Bridge Educational Trust offers funding for students from Dorset.