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Helping you meet the cost of learning: Postgraduate Students 2007 - 2008

Direct government support at postgraduate level is discretionary and limited. While most postgraduate students will have received student support during their undergraduate studies, the majority of postgraduate students finance their further studies by other means. As a large number of postgraduate students are in employment and/or study part-time many self-fund through loans from banks, sponsorship by their employer or receive help from educational trusts.

Postgraduate Students Allowances Scheme ( PSAS)

There is specific support available to Scottish students for taught postgraduate study through the Postgraduate Students Allowances Scheme ( PSAS). You should apply to your chosen institution for a PSAS-funded place. Once you have your place you should contact the Student Awards Agency for Scotland ( SAAS), who can provide application forms and further information. SAAS can be contacted at:

Phone: 0845 111 1711
Email: saas.geu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Web: www.saas.gov.uk

Courses

PSAS support applies only to full-time, vocational postgraduate courses, mostly at diploma level. Not all courses in the UK are included in the scheme. The scheme does not normally cover:

• Courses which are open to students who are not graduates
• Students taking diplomas which are not approved by a UK university or the Open University
• Certain courses outside Scotland where a similar course is available in Scotland

Funding

• Under PSAS, students are eligible for an award consisting of a means-tested maintenance grant, payment of tuition fees, plus other supplementary grants if these apply.
• Awards from PSAS are discretionary, so there is no guarantee of an award.
• Each year SAAS supports 120 places outside Scotland. This allocation is strictly limited.

The support available under PSAS is made up as follows:

How to apply

• Each year, SAAS gives the institution an allocation of funded places. The institutions decide how many places they wish to allocate to any eligible course.
• If your course is on the institution's list of eligible courses and you meet SAAS eligibility conditions, you should then contact your course leader to find out if they will nominate you for a funded place.
• If they are willing to nominate you, you should apply to SAAS for support.
• You can complete your application online at www.saas.gov.uk or download application form SAS 7 from the SAAS website. You can also obtain application forms from your institution.

The final closing date for studying a course in Scotland is one month before the end of your academic year (this is 30 June 2008 for courses starting in autumn 2007). For courses outside Scotland the closing date is 30 June 2007. Full details of academic sessions and closing dates are available on the SAAS website.

Support for other Postgraduate Study

Social Work Courses

Awards for social work courses are the responsibility of the Scottish Social Services Council ( SSSC). You can contact them direct for more information at:

Phone: 0845 6030891
Email: enquiries@sssc.uk.com
Web: www.sssc.uk.com

Teaching

The Professional Graduate Diploma of Education ( PGDE) course is not covered by the current PSAS funding mechanisms. Students may get the same support as undergraduate students and should apply on the appropriate undergraduate form. You can apply online or download a guide and application form - visit the SAAS website at www.saas.gov.uk . You can also get forms from your institution or direct from SAAS, using the contact details opposite.

Research Studies

The Scottish Executive does not currently support postgraduate research studies. This is, as in the rest of the UK, provided by the UK Research Councils. The Research Councils offer funding for both taught and research courses at masters and doctorate level. You can contact the Research Councils at:

Research Councils UK Secretariat

Tel: 01793 444420
Fax: 01793 444409
Email: info@rcuk@ac.uk

Information on each of the Research Councils and the type of work which they fund can be found on the Department of Trade and Industry website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/science/research-councils/index.html

More Information

"Prospects"

The "Prospects Postgraduate Funding Guide" is published annually and provides comprehensive information on all postgraduate funding available in the UK. Their website can be accessed at www.prospects.ac.uk .

Charities, Educational Trusts and Endowments

There are educational trusts and charities that make individual awards to students. Potentially useful publications include the Educational Grants Directory, the Charities Digest, the Grants Register and the Directory of Grant Making Trusts. All of these are available from larger public libraries.

SAAS Register

SAAS maintains a Register of Educational Trusts and Endowments containing details of all Scottish Trusts. SAAS will search the Register for you and tell you about any Trusts whose conditions you may satisfy, on completion of an enquiry form. A copy of the form can be obtained from SAAS by calling 0845 111 1711 or via their website at www.saas.gov.uk .

University Hardship Funds

Hardship Funds are discretionary funds intended to provide financial help to students who may be inhibited by financial considerations from accessing, or continuing in, further or higher education. These funds should not be used to pay for tuition fees that are not met from public funds. You should be able to obtain further information and advice from the student support or student services office of your chosen institution.

Career Development Loan ( CDL)

A Career Development Loan ( CDL) is a deferred payment bank loan to help pay for vocational training, leading to employment in the UK or the EU. Your course must be vocational and can be full time, part time or distance learning. You must be aged 18 or over and can be employed, self employed, unemployed or a student. The loan can cover up to two years of learning (or up to three years if the course includes work experience) and can be between £300 and £8000. Further information on CDLs is available via the national ( UK-wide) information line on 0800 585 505.

Institutions

You should be able to obtain further information and advice on postgraduate support from the student support or student services office of your institution. The institutions' websites also contain information for students seeking funding, including links to various funding websites.

Below is a list of institutions (and their website addresses). Each of these institutions offers PSAS-supported and other postgraduate courses.

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