Post graduate funding

In this section you can find useful information on how to get funding for post graduate study or research

Charitable organisations

Associate Professional Officers Programme
The APO provides tax-free maintenance grants of between £5,000 and £7,000 for various postgraduate courses, normally for one year.

The Elizabeth Nuffield Foundation
The advancement of education, in particular by the award of scholarships, grants or loans to women and girls who desire to take a course of instruction or training, and who require financial assistance to enable them to do so. Female applicants only.

The Family Welfare Association
To preserve and protect the good health of families, individuals and groups within the community and the relief of poverty.

Foulkes Foundation Fellowship
The Foulkes Foundation Fellowships were introduced in 1975. Their purpose is to promote medical research by providing financial support for science graduates who need a medical degree before they can undertake medical research, and similarly for medical graduates who need a science degree.

The George Drexler Foundation
To apply the income of the Foundation for charitable purposes in connection with the advancement of education, including higher commercial education and the relief of poverty of persons formerly employed on commerce or their dependants.

35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
London
WC2A 3PE
Tel: 020 7869 6083

Lord Wandsworth Foundation
To provide financial and other assistance towards the education of young people who have lost one or both parents or whose parents are divorced or separated.

The Sidney Perry Foundation
Assistance to those of great promise, under 35 at the start of their course, who would be unable to proceed with their studies through lack of means. Average grant in the region of £500. Application form available from Mrs L A Owens enclosing a SAE.

PO Box 2924
Faringdon
SN7 7YJ

Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust
Grants of £200 - £800 pa are given to people over the age of 24 to study for postgraduate courses (not including diplomas or professional training). You must hold a 1st or 2:1 degree and not have funding from a local authority, research council or the British Academy. Applications must be submitted by 31st March.

Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland
Helps women finance a course of study. Closing date for applications is 30th April. Please send an SAE for information to the address above. Female applicants only.

Top

Useful publications

Most of these are available at public reference or university careers libraries. Many of them will also be available for reference at the British Council

Charities Digest
Contains details of over 5000 organisations including; charities of national stature, voluntary organisations, sources of legal advice, hospices and Citizens Advice Bureaux

Directory of Social Change
Produce a number of extremely useful publications including

The Educational Grants Directory (ISBN 1 900360 70 5)
Guide to the Major Grant Making Trusts (ISBN 1 900360 80 2)
The Directory of Grant Making Trusts (ISBN 1 85934 078 4)
A Guide to the Local Trusts in Greater London (ISBN 1 900360 46 2)
A Guide to the Local Trusts in the North of England (ISBN 1 900360 43 8)

Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)
Offer guidance and advice to students who are over 16. EGAS is primarily concerned with helping disadvantaged students, giving priority to lone parents, people with disabilities, refugees, asylum seekers and people from low-income backgrounds.

Student advisers can provide information on grants, loans, benefits and bursaries to ensure that students are in receipt of all statutory grants and benefits for which they are eligible, before recommending possible charitable sources of funding.

The Grants Register
Published annually by Palgrave this publication gives details on the availability and eligibility for postgraduate and professional awards.

The Register of Charities
Also available in public libraries

Educational Charities & Grants Handbook
Published by the National Union of Students, 302 Pentonville Road, London, N1

The Awards Almanac
An international guide to career, research and education funds and published by St James’ Press.

The Directory of Graduate Studies & Postgrad: The Students’ Guide
Produced annually by Hobsons, this directory includes information about funding and should be available for reference at careers centres

Postgraduate Study & Research
A free booklet produced by the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) and available from most University Careers Offices.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Sponsorship but Were Afraid to Ask
Published by Amoeba Publications and written by Kirsteen White

Top

Study overseas

Awards for Postgraduate Study at Commonwealth Universities
Published by the Association of Commonwealth Universities, it outlines grants available for study at British and other Commonwealth universities; primarily intended for Commonwealth graduates, but the majority of awards are also open to graduates of non-Commonwealth countries.

Most Local Education Authorities require a student to find the necessary finance for the first two years of the course, and will then award a discretionary grant for the three clinical years.