Postgrad UK 2008/2009 - (Page 22) 22 Advice and Information www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK Sponsored by Funding postgraduate study The UK may be one of the most popular destinations for international students but it isn’t the cheapest. Don’t let that put you off though, funding is available to help with your studies. When it comes to funding postgraduate study in the UK, there are a few general rules. Firstly, there is usually more funding available for research degrees. Secondly, there are only a handful of full scholarships. And thirdly, there is no single database of funding sources. From the start then, it might seem like an uphill battle for prospective students. ‘Universities often offer far more than meets the eye,’ says Suzanne Alexander, Director of the International Office at the University of Leicester. ‘It is very important for students to look not only at institutions’ websites but also departmental websites too.’ HOME AND AWAY Yet while there are sources of funding in the UK, international students are encouraged to investigate what overseas study funding is available in their own country first, for example, through regional or national government initiatives. At the same time, students are also pointed in the direction of their nearest British Council office, if they have one. One of the most prominent schemes for international postgraduates is the British Chevening Scholarship, which is funded by the UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. It provides approximately 2,300 new scholarships per year for postgraduate studies or research, covering both fully funded and partfunded places. But with only one in every 25 applicants being successful, competition is extremely intense. For a very different reason, places on the British Council administered UK 9/11 Scholarship are also limited. ‘All the applicants are members of a very exclusive club; a club they do not want to be to be a member of,’ says Robin Vidler, a Scheme Manager at the British Council. The UK 9/11 Scholarship was set up after the attack on the twin towers, using money donated by UK financial institutions and individuals with strong links to New York. The funding is generally made available (on application) to people affected by the tragedy and who are considering an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the UK. So far, five postgraduate scholarships have been awarded. ‘Although not every applicant is related to the 9/11 tragedy itself, we do find a majority come from the US,’ explains Robin. ‘We did have one applicant who was the daughter of the only Ukrainian victim of the twin towers attack.’ • £1.5 million scholarship fund • World class research • State of the art college accommodation complex exclusively for graduates Tel: +44(0)1227 827994 www.kent.ac.uk/international http://www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK http://www.kent.ac.uk/international http://www.kent.ac.uk/international http://www.kent.ac.uk/international
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