How to fund your studies
For UK Home students
Postgraduate loans for Master's degrees are available for students who are resident in England and will provide a non means-tested loan in 2023/24 of up to £12,127. To be eligible for the Postgraduate Master's Loan you must be studying for a full Masters award, and must be completing at least 180 credits of study in total. Please note, you cannot use prior study or experience to exempt you from any of the modules that make up your 180 credits. You cannot receive Postgraduate Master's Loan funding for a repeat period of study on your Master's course (repeat periods of study where the student is required to repeat a module or similar unit of work and is not progressing on their course). Applications are made through Student Finance England (opens in new window) and more information on the regulations and eligibility criteria can be found at www.gov.uk/masters-loan (opens in new window).
The postgraduate loan is paid directly to the student and is intended to cover the fees and provide a contribution towards living costs. Students can set up a direct debit to pay the fees to the University in 3 instalments. For more information on payments dates and to complete a direct debit form go to www.wlv.ac.uk/howtopay. This should be completed as part of the enrolment process to avoid receiving an invoice for the full amount.
More information can also be found on the FindAMasters website (opens in new window) or you can contact our Gateway at gateway@wlv.ac.uk or (01902) 321032 for further details and eligibility criteria.
The government provides funding for selected postgraduate courses in teacher training, social work and some medical and healthcare courses. If you are applying for a postgraduate course in one of these subject areas contact the Gateway to discuss the funding available.
For information on funding for Wales go to Student Finance Wales (opens in new window), for Scotland go to Student Awards Agency Scotland (opens in new window) and for Northern Ireland go to Student Finance NI (opens in new window).
Many postgraduates finance their own studies from job earnings.
It may be possible to get support from your employer. Many of them are willing to contribute to fees or other expenses associated with postgraduate education as part of staff development - see what your firm offers. You can also have a look at:
- Charitable Trusts (opens in new window) - link to the Association of Charitable Foundations
- Postgrad Solutions Ltd bursaries (opens in new window) Postgrad Solutions have launched 20 bursaries for 2021. Bursaries worth £500 each towards your postgraduate studies for the upcoming academic year – and every postgraduate student is eligible to apply. Wherever you are from, or wherever you are planning to study, as long as you have been accepted onto a postgraduate program anywhere in the world
- UK Study Online can help you to find a recognised online courses from UK education providers. They offer a number of bursaries towards the cost of fees. More information can be found at https://www.ukstudyonline.com/scholarship/
Part-time work is also an option. Register with our online job database and view vacancies ranging from temporary, vacation and permanent work to full and part-time positions. Visit the Careers and Employment Centre to find out the opportunities available.
If you are a UK 'home' student and have completed an undergraduate degree from the University of Wolverhampton, you can enjoy a 20% discount on the fees for a taught on-site postgraduate programme. The discount applies to the first attempt at each year only (so does not apply if you have to retake any modules). 100% online courses are only eligible for a 10% discount on the fees.
The discount applies to new entrants only who are taking their first course at Postgraduate (Masters or Doctorate) level (excluding PGCE courses). Students who receive a loyalty discount are not entitled to combine with any other tuition fee discount, bursary or scholarship.
The discount does not apply to PGCE, pre-registration Nursing and Allied Health Professions courses, M.Arch, CIM qualifications, or integrated masters.
See Loyalty Discount webpage for details including full terms and conditions.
If you are an International student then more information on the discounts available can be found at Alumni Scholarship
The University of Wolverhampton has a long and successful history of providing outstanding teacher training at postgraduate level. We offer a wide variety of Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses. If you are applying for a PGCE course, you should also apply for government funding (opens new window) directly as early as possible to ensure you get a decision about funding before you accept any offer from the University. For some PGCE courses in secondary shortage subjects there is also a Bursary from the Department of Education. More information can be found at Teaching Bursaries (opens new window).
Social Work is another field in which the University of Wolverhampton has a strong track-record. Thousands of social workers across the Midlands and further afield trained with us. You may be eligible for a Social Work bursary (opens in new window) which could help with both tuition fees and the cost of living while you study. Eligibility for the bursary does not depend on your income and does not have to be paid back. You are advised to apply early once you have been offered a place on the course and been informed that you have been awarded a bursary. Students who are not awarded the bursary should apply for the Postgraduate Loan above.
Students who undertake a Master's course leading to registration as a Nurse, Midwife or other Allied Health Professional can apply for undergraduate student finance for their course. More information can be found at www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/funding-costs-fees-and-support/financial-support/full-time-undergraduate-study/.
In addition students can apply for the NHS Training Grant. This is a non-means tested bursary of £5,000 plus additional support for those with children or who are studying a degree in a shortage area. More information on the Training Grant can be found at www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund/training-grant (opens in new window).
The University of Wolverhampton and the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) is for candidates from culturally diverse backgrounds and/or with a disability, studying full-time on the university’s MSc Strength and Conditioning.
TASS is a government initiative funded by Sports England.
More information can be found at TASS strength and conditioning studentship.
The University's Sports Scholarship is open to postgraduate as well as undergraduate students. As a Sports Scholars, you will be expected to:
- represent WLV Sport in BUCS and student sports competitions
- attend mentor meetings, Sports Award Dinner, sport fairs and Open Days
- involve yourself in coaching and/or volunteering activities as required
- maintain your academic grades
For further details, visit the Sports Scholarship page.
The Dennis Turner Hardship Fund is open to UK students studying a minimum of 50% of a full-time course. It’s available if you have already made provision for your main study costs but still have expenses over and above those of the average student e.g. child care or high travel costs.
Visit our Dennis Turner Hardship Fund page for more information.
A number of Office for Students funded scholarships of £10,000 are available. Scholarships will be prioritised for under-represented groups but any applicant who has been offered a place on one of these courses can apply. More information can be found at postgraduate conversion courses in data science and artificial intelligence.
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Our Education Guidance Advisors offer friendly and professional advice to prospective students. They have a huge amount of experience answering enquiries on all aspects of coming to University including fees and finances, previous study rules and eligibility criteria. Call us on Tel: 01902 321032 or email gateway@wlv.ac.uk.