Charitable Funding Options for Postgraduates

Charitable funding is a way of getting some extra financial help with covering Masters study costs. These range in sizes from large charities like The Wellcome Trust, to smaller organisations like Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust.

Finding extra funding for a Masters can be extremely tough, but don't worry, I am here to help! In this guide, I'll introduce you to some valuable resources and tips for finding charitable support for your postgraduate studies in the UK.

It’s not always particularly easy to find Masters funding from charities if you don’t know where to look. Many sources of support often come from small organisations with a minimal online presence – if at all.

Luckily, there are several places to begin your search. We’ve listed a few useful resources below:

Turn2us

Turn2us is a national charity that runs a database of charitable grants across the country. They make it easy for you to search this database and to find out what funding you might be eligible for.

The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding

Co-written by two former PhD students with experience of self-funding, this guide offers a look at less well-trodden ways of funding your studies. Many universities subscribe to the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding, which provides practical advice and application tips, as well as a searchable database of over 1,000 grants.

The Grants Register

Published annually, the Grants Register is a directory of information on over 3,500 awarding bodies. Unfortunately, it’s only available in the form of a book, and isn’t online. However, universities and local libraries will often have a copy of the publication.

When you first think of charities, you might think of small-scale, cash-strapped organisations. And, while this may be the case for some of the associations you come across, it’s certainly not true for several major sources of charity funding for postgraduate students: trusts and foundations.

The Wellcome Trust

The Wellcome Trust is a global organisation with an endowment of over £20 billion. It focuses on biomedical research but also offers funding opportunities for humanities and social sciences projects that are related to health.

The Leverhulme Trust

Established in 1925, the Leverhulme Trust is another research-centric trust with a broad remit covering the Arts, Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. Most of its funding is aimed at relatively established researchers, but it’s always worth checking to see if there’s a scheme positioned for prospective Masters students.

The Nuffield Foundation

The Nuffield Foundation aims to fund research that will improve social policy in the areas of education, justice and welfare. The majority of its funding is set aside for research projects rather than Masters student grants, but it’s worth checking to see if you’re eligible for any support.

It’s important not to overlook the thousands of small charities that operate across the UK. Even though their educational grants might not be as substantial as those provided by larger bodies, they can be a valuable source of funding for postgrads hoping to top up their finances.

If you try really hard, you might even be able to fund your entire degree using small grants from charities.

Although it would be impossible to list all of them (after all, that’s the job of the Grants Register and Turn2us), we thought it would be useful to show you how diverse these organisations are. Who knows, maybe you’ll discover that you’re eligible for a Masters grant from a charity you didn’t know existed!

Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust

This charity offers postgraduate bursaries to students who are the child, spouse, widow or widower of a travelling sales representative, pharmacist or grocer (or employed as one themselves). Please note that this is a separate organisation to the Leverhulme Trust mentioned above (although both were established by the Will of the same man, William Hesketh Lever).

Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence

If you can prove that you’re descended from one of the signers of the American declaration of independence, you could receive a scholarship from this organisation.

The Vegetarian Charity

The Vegetarian Charity offers small grants to young vegetarians and vegans.

The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust

The Stapley Trust provides grants of between £550 and £1,250 for UK-based students taking higher postgraduate degrees, postgraduate certificates and postgraduate diplomas in any subject, or Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Medicine as a second degree.

The Leathersellers’ Company

You don’t have to be a leatherseller to receive a scholarship from the Leathersellers’ Company! Their educational awards are open to all UK students on full-time degrees (apart from postgraduate conversion courses).

Clan Forsyth Society

If you play your cards right (and happen to have Forsyth as a surname), you could apply for a small grant from the Clan Forsyth Society.

No two applications for charity funding will be the same. However, there are some general rules and tips that you should bear in mind when applying for a charitable grant for a postgraduate course.

Most charities will ask that you submit a short personal statement detailing your circumstances and describing a little about yourself. You should make sure to read their specifications very carefully for what they want this statement to cover, but these tips are a good place to start:

• Avoid jargon – Assume that you’re writing for a well-educated audience without a background in your discipline. Try not to use too many technical terms.
• Financial situation – Explain why you’re in need of support from a charity and what your funding deficit is.
• Other support – If you’ve already received an award from a charity, be sure to mention this – it’ll show that you’re committed to financing your studies. Charities often prefer to be part of a support network rather than the sole source of funding for a student.
• Tone of voice – Be humble but positive about your prospects.
• Societal benefits – If your programme will benefit the wider community, mention this in your statement.
• Career path – Explain what you want to do after you’ve finished your Masters, and how a postgraduate qualification will help you achieve this. Make sure that the charity knows that you’re not simply studying a Masters for the sake of it, but with a tangible destination in mind.

Before applying, if the charity lacks an online presence, don’t hesitate to reach out directly to clarify any questions about eligibility or the current application process. For more tailored insights and updates on postgraduate funding options, I recommend exploring resources like the educational grants directory and the charities digest.

Diving into the world of charity funding for a Masters degree can seem like navigating a maze. But don't worry, I've got your back with some insider tips to help you stand out and secure that much-needed funding. Here we go:

• Start Early: The early bird doesn't just get the worm; it also gets the funding! Many charities have specific deadlines, and these can be months in advance of when you'll actually need the money. So, mark your calendar and get started on your applications as soon as possible.
• Research Thoroughly: Not all charities are created equal, especially when it comes to what they're looking for in a candidate or project. Spend quality time researching charities that align with your academic interests, career goals, or personal values.
• Tailor Your Application: One size does not fit all when applying for charity funding. Tailor each application to reflect how your Master's journey aligns with the charity’s mission or objectives. Show them why you’re not just a great candidate but the right candidate.