External funding
Government Research Councils
There are currently seven grant-awarding Research Councils. You can find out about them through Research Councils UK.
The Research Councils provide a variety of awards at both Master's and Doctoral level, although the number available each year to each School of the University is very small indeed.
To be eligible you must be an EU national and must hold or expect to receive a first or upper second-class honours degree from a UK higher education institution.
State funding
There is limited state funding for postgraduates.
Funding is available for teacher training in England and Wales.
(see the TDA website for more information).
If you are training to work in social work or certain areas of healthcare, you may be able to get an NHS bursary (see Directgov for details).
Charities, trusts and foundations
Many charities, foundations and trusts award funding for postgraduate study - you can find lists on the Prospects website and through www.scholarship-search.org.uk.
Some awards are dedicated to a particular cause while others have very general eligibility criteria. Most do not cover both tuition fees and living costs, and many amount to just a few hundred pounds a year.
Sponsorship and employer-funded study
Your employer may sponsor a postgraduate course if the qualification will improve your ability to do your job. You may have to sign an agreement tying you to the company for a specified period.
Some PhD studentships are sponsored by employers who have an involvement with the research you intend to undertake.
You may also wish to apply for a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). KTP projects usually last for two years, and involve a partnership between a commercial company and a university. Graduates work on projects central to the company’s development whilst continuing to train.
External funding for international students
There are many sources of funding available to international postgraduate students, depending on your nationality and the programme you wish to undertake. A list of scholarships is available on Brunel International's Finance and Fees pages.
Additional Funding
Looking for additional funding? Postgrad Solutions now offer 13 bursaries across a number of subject areas.
