Funding options

Postgraduate Loan

A Postgraduate Loan of up to £12,471 for January 2025 entry, is available to eligible students under the age of 60 who are UK nationals or Irish citizens or have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and are studying a taught postgraduate degree. The figure for 2025/26 entry is not yet available.

Your employer

If you are currently in full-time employment, and the course you want to study will improve your knowledge of the field you work in, your employer may be happy to cover all or part of the cost of your course. You will need to speak directly to your employer about this possibility and agree how much funding (if any) they will provide. Find out more.

Students from Scotland or Northern Ireland

Students from Scotland can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for a loan to help cover their tuition fees. Students from Northern Ireland can apply to the Department of Education and Learning for a postgraduate award. This will provide payment for approved fees and financial support during your time at university.

Other postgraduate loans

We are aware that there are a number of companies that may offer student loans to postgraduate applicants. However, BU does not have any affiliation with any such companies.

We want to provide you with all the support you need to succeed in your postgraduate studies. A range of financial support will be available to you once you have enrolled.

There are three financial support funds available for postgraduate students.

BU Financial Support Fund – This fund provides non-repayable support if you are struggling financially during your studies. It is only available for UK students and the money you receive can be used to cover the cost of accommodation, travel, childcare, books or equipment, among other things.
Small emergency grant – These small grants are designed to provide very short-term assistance to students who are short of money. They are paid in denominations of £15, usually in the form of supermarket vouchers. Any BU student can apply for an emergency grant, but you will be asked to prove that you have very little or no money available.
Emergency funding – This is a short-term non-repayable advance on your mainstream student funding that is designed to last four weeks. To assist with essential day-to-day costs, like food, travel and toiletries, but cannot assist with rent/housing costs. It is only available to UK students and you’ll need to provide details that you have applied for the relevant student support.

Disabled Students' Allowances

If you have a disability, long-term health condition, mental health condition or a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia, you can receive further financial assistance in addition to the funding you have already received. This is provided by the UK government and is only available to UK students.

Any disability or impairment will be considered as long term if:

• it has lasted for at least 12 months
• it is likely to last for at least 12 months
• it is likely to last for the rest of the person's life.

The amount you are awarded will be based on your individual needs, not your household income.

You can find information about how much funding you are eligible for and how to apply on the gov.uk website.

Visit our dedicated page to find out more about funding for healthcare courses.

If you are studying the MA Social Work course, you may be eligible for a bursary specifically to support students taking this course. The Department of Health capped the number of bursaries available to full-time UK students. Find out more.

We offer non-repayable scholarships to postgraduate students. See the full list of scholarships. 

There are various bursaries and grants available to fund postgraduate taught study.

Bursaries and grants from charities, foundations and trusts

Many charities, foundations and trusts offer bursaries or grants to fund part or all of postgraduate study within their specialism.

The Grants Register, which is available in libraries, universities and at careers services, is the best place to begin your search. This book is updated every year and features all of the grants available in 49 countries - with information about 4,500 awards. Bursaries and grants for UK, EU and international students are all listed within this publication.

BU subscribes to a funding database specifically for those looking for funding to support postgraduate studies, called The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding Online. The guide contains a huge database of funding opportunities, comprehensive guidance, and tools to help you prepare a winning grant application, including:

• Funding database of 600+ charities
• Comprehensive guidance written by real students
• Grant application writing tools
• Personal statement and financial statement assistants.

​Prospective students can access this for free by using a personal email address and using the PIN: 6199.

Other external bursaries

There are several other external bursaries available to postgraduate students, including the following:

• Postgrad.com study bursaries – five bursaries available and each is worth £2,000. Students from anywhere in the world can apply via the postgrad.com website.