School of Historical Studies Scholarships 2012

The School of Historical Studies is pleased to announce a series of awards for both taught (MA) and research (PhD) postgraduate study at the University of Leicester available for 2012-13. View available scholarships.

Self-funding options

Bank loans

Career Development Loans are offered by a consortium of major banks for students on vocational courses only. You can borrow between £300 and £8,000 towards tuition and/or living expenses for a course over a period of up to two years study (three years if the course includes work experience). The interest on the loan is paid by the Learning and Skills Council during the course and you begin to pay back the loan a month after your course finishes.

Some banks are willing to loan money for specific courses at preferential rates of interest, for example, loans for CPE/LPC training for lawyers or for MBA courses. Check with individual banks for information on these. It is worth exploring options for loans with your own bank, however, as you might be able to negotiate a better deal.

Other loans

The Sir Thomas White Loan Charity offers education loans of up to £3,000 interest free for up to 9 years to people aged over 18 and under 35, living in Leicestershire or Rutland for five years (time spent studying away from Leicestershire or Rutland qualifies if the home address remains within the specified area) and studying for a postgraduate degree.

For further information telephone 0116 204 6620 or visit the Sir Thomas White Loan Charity website.

Funding for international students

The School offers a range of bursaries and scholarships for international students wishing to study for a postgraduate degree in history. The University also provides a number of open scholarships for international students and the Graduate School provides information and advice about external funding opportunities. The International Office provide information about the cost of living in the UK.

Part-time study

Some students who are not able to fund the cost of full-time study choose to study part-time. Studying part-time allows you to work while you are on your course and it spreads the cost of the course over a longer period. Whilst part-time work can be the most practical option for many students, it is important that you are realistic about how you are going to fit your study in around other commitments.

Further help

The Graduate School provide useful information about fees and funding. The Careers Service are also an essential source of information for all students seeking grants for further study, including student loans. They have copies of the Prospects Postgraduate Funding Guide which has details of trusts and charities with awards and the AGCAS booklet Postgraduate Study and Research. 

The following compendiums are also a useful guide:

John R. Davis (ed.), Grants for History: A Guide to Funding (Institute of Historical Research, 2004)

Grants Register (Palgrave). This register is published annually and is available for reference in the University Library REF 378.3 GRA [NON-CIRC].