Sources of Funding
On this page you can find information about possible funding sources that you can contact if you want some help with financing your course. If you are unsure about the cost of your course, please see our list of course tuition fees.
Several of the University's academic divisions can offer scholarships and financial assistance to postgraduate students. Selection is usually based on a candidate's academic performance and the quality of the application. For additional information please contact the relevant division directly.
Taught degree funding for UK/EU students
UK Research Councils
The UK Research Councils and the British Academy are the main sources of financial support for full-time postgraduate students. They provide funding for students working towards a PhD but they also provide funding for students on full and part-time study where the focus is on advanced study and research, with the intention of providing students with the research training they need for further research at Doctoral level.
The Research Council to which you should make an application will be determined partly by the subject you wish to study, and partly by the area of the United Kingdom in which you live. The UK Research Councils offer both one year and three year awards which can cover tuition fees and maintenance for UK students. EU students may apply, but are normally eligible only for payment of tuition fees and not a maintenance grant.
To find out if your course is eligible for funding, contact the relevant school. You can find out further information about the Research Councils at the following addresses:
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2AE
Tel: +44 (0) 117 987 6543
www.ahrc.ac.uk
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: +44 (0) 1793 413 000
www.esrc.ac.uk
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: +44 (0) 1793 411 500
www.nerc.ac.uk
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: +44 (0) 1793 413 200
www.bbsrc.ac.uk
The British Academy
10 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH
Tel: +44 (0) 207 969 5200
www.britac.ac.uk
Career Development Loans
British residents may be entitled to apply for a Career Development Loan. These are administered by the Department of Education and Skills, operating in partnership with three banks – the Co-operative Bank, Barclays Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland. Loans range from £300 - £8,000 and are available for funding up to 80 percent of course fees (or 100 percent if you have been unemployed for over three months prior to the start of your course) plus 100 percent of any other expenses. Only vocationally-based courses are eligible and they must not attract a local education authority award (including SAAS). For more information contact the Career Development Loan Information Line. Tel: 0800 585 505 or refer to: www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/cdl
Trusts and Charities
Organisations such as the Rotary Club and other trusts and charities can be a useful source of small grants, but very few will be able to meet the total amount needed for fees and maintenance. See: www.rotary.org.uk
There is a wide variety of trusts covering differing locations and professions. Consult the Grants Register and/or the Directory of Grant Making Trusts available from most libraries. The Association of Charitable Foundations provides links to charitable bodies that may have funding available: www.acf.org.uk
Employer Sponsorship
Your employer may give you paid leave for study, or pay for all or part of your tuition fees and other costs such as examination fees and books. This is only likely if the programme of study is directly relevant to your work but it may be worth considering if you feel that knowledge of a particular postgraduate programme will benefit your employer.
Taught degree funding for international students
Chevening Scholarships
Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), these scholarships are open to overseas applicants for almost any field of postgraduate study. Most awards are for one year Master’s programmes although awards may be given for shorter vocational programmes. Awards can cover all or part of the costs. Application is to the British Council, British Embassy or British High Commission in your home country and will include an interview. Candidates are selected on the basis of their intellectual ability and leadership potential, and preference is given to candidates already established in a career. Around 2,300 scholarships were awarded in 2006 to study in UK universities, and this number is expected to increase considerably over the next few years. For further details contact the British Embassy, British High Commission or British Council Office in your own country or visit the website: www.chevening.com
Marshall Scholarships
These are available to US citizens under 26 years of age who are graduates of a US university and wish to undertake study leading to a postgraduate degree at a UK university. Up to 40 awards are offered each year which cover fares, tuition fees, maintenance, and book, thesis and travel allowances. Awards are funded by the FCO and most are for two years. The scholarships are administered within the UK by the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
For further details contact:
The Association of Commonwealth Universities
John Foster House
36 Gordon Square
London, WC1H 0PF
www.marshallscholarship.org
Students resident in the United States should also note that the University is an approved foreign school for the Federal Family Education Loan Programme (FFEL)
Altajir Scholarship
A scholarship of £1,500 will be awarded to the best student applicant each year for the MSc in International Business. It will be awarded on the basis of academic merit. The student will be asked to provide a short report on completion of their studies and this will be made available to the Altajir Trust.
Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Programme (CSFP)
If you are from one of the Commonwealth countries (not the Commonwealth of Independent States) you may be eligible for this scheme. Awards are usually made for taught postgraduate programmes and research programmes. Scholarships normally cover tuition fees, travel and living expenses for up to three years.
For further information about the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, visit the website at www.csfp-online.org
For application enquiries, contact the The British Council in your country, or contact their information centre:
Tel: +44 (0)161 957 7755
Email: general.enquiries@britishcouncil.org
Scotland's Saltire Scholarships
This exciting scholarship opportunity is open to Canadian, Chinese, Indian and US nationals and is aimed at encouraging bright, talented and hard working individuals to live, work and study in Scotland.
Awards worth £2000 each are available towards the cost of tuition fees for full time Masters Programmes in a wide range of subject areas. You can choose to study at any of Scotland's universities and Higher Education Institutions.
For more information contact the British Council Office in your country or visit the website: www.scotlandscholarship.com
Trusts and Charities
Organisations such as the Rotary Club and other trusts and charities can be a useful source of small grants, but very few will be able to meet the total amount needed for fees and maintenance.
There is a wide variety of trusts covering differing locations and professions. Consult the Grants Register and/or the Directory of Grant Making Trusts available from most libraries. The Association of Charitable Foundations provides links to charitable bodies that may have funding available: www.acf.org.uk
Employer Sponsorship
Your employer may give you paid leave for study, or pay for all or part of your tuition fees and other costs such as examination fees and books.
This is only likely if the programme of study is directly relevant to your work but it may be worth considering if you feel that knowledge of a particular postgraduate programme will benefit your employer.
Research degree funding for UK/EU students
UK Research Councils
The UK Research Councils and the British Academy offer both one-year and three-year awards which can cover tuition fees and maintenance for UK students. EU students may apply, but are normally eligible only for payment of tuition fees and not a maintenance grant.
To find out if your programme is eligible for funding, contact the relevant School at the University of Stirling. You can also find out further information about the Research Councils at the following addresses:
The British Academy
10 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH
Tel: +44 (0) 207 969 5200
www.britac.ac.uk
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2AE
Tel: +44 (0) 117 987 6543
www.ahrc.ac.uk
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1UJ
Tel: +44 (0) 1793 413 000
www.esrc.ac.uk
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: +44 (0) 1793 411 500
www.nerc.ac.uk
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, SN2 1UH
Tel: +44 (0) 1793 413 200
www.bbsrc.ac.uk
The Carnegie Trust
Awards are typically made to graduates of a Scottish university with a first class Honours degree in any subject. Scholarships provide fees, maintenance and a research and travel allowance. Applicants, who must be nominated by a member of academic staff, must submit their application by 15th March.
Forms may be obtained from:
The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland
Cameron House, Abbey Park Place
Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 7PZ
Tel: 01383 622148
www.carnegie-trust.org
Trusts and Charities
Organisations such as the Rotary Club and other trusts and charities can be a useful source of small grants, but very few will be able to meet the total amount needed for fees and maintenance.
There are a wide variety of trusts covering differing locations and professions. Consult the Grants Register and/or the Directory of Grant Making Trusts available from most libraries. The Association of Charitable Foundations provides links to charitable bodies that may have funding available: www.acf.org.uk
Teaching Assistantships
Some schools at the University of Stirling may offer teaching assistantships for research students in return for undertaking part-time teaching duties and such students will receive a stipend to support them in their studies. The amount of teaching will not normally exceed six hours per week. More information can be found by contacting the relevant school directly.
Employer Sponsorship
Your employer may give you paid leave for study, or pay for all or part of your tuition fees and other costs such as examination fees and books. This is only likely if the programme of study is directly relevant to your work but it may be worth considering if you feel that in depth knowledge of a particular subject area will benefit your employer.
Research degree funding for international students
Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships Programme (CSFP)
If you are from one of the Commonwealth countries (not the Commonwealth of Independent States) you may be eligible for this scheme. Awards are usually made for taught postgraduate programmes and research programmes. Scholarships normally cover tuition fees, travel and living expenses for up to three years.
For further information about the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan, visit the website at www.csfp-online.org
For application enquiries, contact the The British Council in your country, or contact their information Centre:
Tel: +44 (0)161 957 7755
Email: general.enquiries@britishcouncil.org
Trusts and Charities
Organisations such as the Rotary Club and other trusts and charities can be a useful source of small grants, but very few will be able to meet the total amount needed for fees and maintenance.
There are a wide variety of trusts covering differing locations and professions.
Consult the Grants Register and/or The Directory of Grant Making Trusts available from most libraries. The Association of Charitable Foundations provides links to charitable bodies that may have funding available: www.acf.org.uk
Teaching Assistantships
Some schools may offer teaching assistantships for research students in return for undertaking part-time teaching duties and such students will receive a stipend to support them in their studies. The amount of teaching will not normally exceed six hours per week as recommended and more information can be found by contacting the relevant school directly.
Employer Sponsorship
Your employer may give you paid leave for study, or pay for all or part of your tuition fees and other costs such as examination fees and books.
This is only likely if the programme of study is directly relevant to your work but it may be worth considering if you feel that in-depth knowledge of a particular subject area will benefit your employer.