In this guide
4. Postgraduate masters and doctoral students
Since August 2019, eligible postgraduate Master’s students have been able to receive support made up of a mixture of grants and loans as a contribution to costs, rather than allocated specifically to fees and maintenance. Disabled Students’ Grants are also available to support you during your postgraduate course. Find out more.
The figures in the table are for illustrative purposes.
| Income | Grant | Loan | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| £18,370 | £6,885 | £11,885 | £18,770 |
| £20,000 | £6,651 | £12,119 | £18,770 |
| £25,000 | £5,930 | £12,840 | £18,770 |
| £30,000 | £5,209 | £13,561 | £18,770 |
| £35,000 | £4,488 | £14,282 | £18,770 |
| £40,000 | £3,767 | £15,003 | £18,770 |
| £45,000 | £3,047 | £15,723 | £18,770 |
| £50,000 | £2,326 | £16,444 | £18,770 |
| £55,000 | £1,605 | £17,165 | £18,770 |
| £59,200 or over | £1,000 | £17,770 | £18,770 |
The amount of grant is reduced by £1 for every additional £6.937 of income above £18,370. Students who study part-time receive the same total amount of support as full-time students, but support is paid on a pro rata basis over the duration of the course.
Master’s bursaries have been available to graduates studying a Master’s degree in Wales since the 2019 to 2020 academic year. Master’s bursaries are available for the 2023 to 2024 academic year:
- A £4,000 bursary for people over the age of 60. The grant aims to provide additional support for students over 60, who are currently unable to access the same financial support as younger students due to HM Treasury restrictions.
- A £2,000 bursary for graduates of all ages studying a Master’s degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics or Medicine, often referred to as ‘STEMM’ subjects.
- A £1,000 bursary to study through the medium of Welsh. The bursary aims to support the continued development of the Welsh-speaking workforce and help achieve the target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050.
For further information on eligibility and how to apply for these bursaries contact your university in Wales.
If you’re starting a full-time or part-time postgraduate doctoral course (such as a PhD) you can apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan of up to £28,395. This can help with course fees and living costs while you study.
Further information about support is available on the Student Finance Wales website.
All figures are subject to regulations being made.