UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 04 DECEMBER 2015
We're urging more current students and graduates to consider undertaking Masters degrees after the government’s decision to make loans of up to £10,280 available for learners taking on postgraduate studies.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England announced the loans, which will be available for students taking on Masters degrees from next year (2016/17), as part of its Postgraduate Support Scheme.
The funding aims to boost the numbers of people signing up for Masters courses and make it easier for students from low income families to continue to study after completing undergraduate degrees.
Initially the loans will be run as a pilot scheme following details revealed during the Chancellor's Autumn statement last month.
Our Vice-Chancellor Professor Cliff Allan said:
"Research shows that finance can be a major barrier preventing people from taking on postgraduate studies, particularly for those from low income families, so hopefully these new loans will go some way in helping to make people’s ambitions a reality.”
Additional support will be provided through a new website called Steps to postgraduate study which is also being launched under the Postgraduate Support Scheme.
The website will hand UK, EU and international students, information on key questions like how to decide on which course to study, whether to take a break from education before starting a postgraduate course and how to apply for a visa.
It will be used alongside the new loans to help provide those considering starting a Master’s course, with a full package of support and information.