Funding Postgraduate Study University of Glasgow Postgraduate Open Day 8 th November 2013

1. Funding Postgraduate Study University of Glasgow Postgraduate Open Day 8th November 2013 Matthew Williamson Graduate Prospects

2. www.prospects.ac.uk

3. Why do postgraduate study? Employability Recruiters love what postgraduates have to offer: • communication skills • work ethic • research methods • team working • self-management

4. Don’t do postgraduate study just because… • You want to retain a student lifestyle • Your partner/friends are in the same city • You don’t know what else to do with yourself

5. The bad news… No mandatory funding for postgraduate students

6. BUT… Postgraduate study is incredibly popular • More than half a million students • 55,000 postgraduate programmes

7. Funding is usually provided in specific areas You are not competing with everyone else for a single pot of money

8. The Research Councils - The biggest funding providers • Arts & Humanities • Biotechnology & Biological Sciences • Economic & Social • Engineering & Physical Sciences • Medical • Natural Environment • Science & Technology

9. Arts & Humanities Research Council www.ahrc.ac.uk Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council www.bbsrc.ac.uk Economic & Social Research Council www.ehrc.ac.uk Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council www.epsrc.ac.uk Medical Research Council www.mrc.ac.uk Natural Environment Research Council www.nerc.ac.uk Science & Technology Facilities Council www.scitech.ac.uk

10. Charities, foundations and trusts Significant but often overlooked

11. It doesn’t get more specific than this… Anglo-Danish Society For UK students studying at three universities in Denmark, especially in the built environment Dr Hadwen Trust Funding for life sciences students opposed to vivisection

12. “Potential postgraduates need patience while looking for funding. I have been awarded two small grants of £800 and £500 from the Sydney Perry Foundation and the Chelmsford Educational Fund. I found both bursaries by browsing the internet for grants that I was eligible for.” Gemma Reynolds, PhD Psychology, Swansea University

13. Universities are important funding providers • Studentships, scholarships, bursaries, prizes • Graduate teaching and research assistantships • Access to Learning Fund • Part-time campus work • Alumni discount, fee flexibility

14. “Scholarships are not always well advertised and it is worth investigating to see what information you can find. In my case it was my supervisor on the BSc course who made me aware of a university scholarship that was available only for students whose research related to brewing science and technology.” Fay Williams, PhD Molecular Cell Biology, University of Birmingham

15. Professional and Career Development Loans • Run by Barclays and Co-operative Bank with the Young People’s Learning Agency • You can borrow between £300 - £10,000 • Some courses cannot use a PCDL • Repayment begins one month after graduation • APRs are very high

16. “Overall, I feel that the loan is like a strategic play that allows you to get back to university before the window closes and you are back in the world of work for good – although in taking one you could be signing up to a couple of years of work that bears no relation to the course you’ve studied.” Rob Hurrell, MA Sociological Research, University of Sheffield

17. Most postgraduates have to work How is this possible? Flexible study modes: • part time • distance learning • online learning modules And a lot of hard work

18. Childminder Event securityLifeguard Belly dancer Fruit-picker Model TV/film extra Market researcher Receptionist Lab technician Teaching assistant Freelance journalist KARATE INSTRUCTORWaiter Sales Executive Planning Officer Shop Worker ProgrammerFUNDRAISERCleaner

19. “The night shifts are paid at time and a half, are twelve hours long and there’s often not much to do except read – great for catching up on study.” Nursing assistant “I got on an agency’s books. If I had a lot of work on, I said No, if I needed the money I said Yes.” TV extra

20. “I’m doing a Masters via distance learning, whilst looking after my two children and other people’s as a childminder to fund my course fees.” Childminder “I’ve worked in concert security, worked evenings in my local video store, worked as relief staff at my local sports centre, and as a lab technician for the university.” All-rounder

21. “I took up a postgraduate course so I could specialise in my career. I am lucky that my employers agreed to fund the course, which is an obvious advantage to me, but in return they will reap the rewards of my acquired skills and knowledge, resulting in a more strategic and experienced employee.” Marianne Pagett, part-time Masters in Human Resource Management, University of Sheffield

22. Portfolio funding Most PG students put together a funding package drawn from a variety of sources

23. More transferable skills • tenacity • imagination • commitment • perseverance • ingenuity • creativity Sorting out your finances may be the most demanding part of your PG experience

24. “You have to be realistic when taking on postgraduate study. If you really want it, you’ll work for it.” Postgraduate student at UCLAN

25. Talk to people • Current and former postgraduate students • Course leaders • Finance office • Make use of social media

26. ALWAYS ASK THE MONEY QUESTION