Your Ultimate 2025 Guide to Masters Funding in Wales

In 2025, the Welsh government is also offering Masters bursaries of between £1,000 and £2,000 to people studying eligible courses, as well as £4,000 to those aged 60 or above.

On this page

Student Finance Wales could provide up to £19,255 in postgraduate funding towards your tuition fees and living costs. The amount for courses starting in 2026-27 will be announced in late spring next year. The Welsh postgraduate loan is non means-tested

How will I be paid?

The money is paid directly to you in regular instalments during your course. It’s up to you to decide how its used.

You decide how much you want to borrow through the loan element of the funding (up to the maximum of £19,255, including the grant). This money is divided evenly across your course and paid in three instalments per academic year.

The following table shows approximate instalments for the full funding amount of £19,255:

If your Masters is longer than one year, your postgraduate funding will be divided across each year of the course. The table below shows the size of the payments you’d receive on a longer programme, assuming that you claimed the full £19,255 through the loan and grant.

Masters bursaries in Wales

In addition to the postgraduate funding and loans offered by the Welsh government, it’s possible to apply for a Masters bursary in select subjects at Welsh universities.

There is a £2,000 Masters bursary for STEMM students on selected postgraduate taught courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine at Welsh universities. This funding is available to people who have been ordinarily resident in Wales for the past three years (haven’t moved there for the purposes of study).

It’s really easy to apply for this bursary – it’s awarded on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis to students who have accepted an offer on an eligible course. For more information, check your prospective university’s website to find out which programmes this bursary is available for.

There’s also a Masters bursary of £4,000 for students aged 60 or above to study a postgraduate course in Wales. This funding is intended to help those who aren’t eligible for the Welsh postgraduate loans and grants described elsewhere in this guide.

Students studying an approved social work Masters degree in Wales may be able to apply for a social work bursary. Each social work programme is allocated a set number of bursaries, and the university will nominate a selection of their students. Nominated students can then submit an official application via Social Work Wales.

Successful applicants will recieve £25,430 (£12,715 a year for two years). Please note that Masters students who recieve the social work bursary will not be eligible for a postgraduate loan.

Finally, if you’re studying a Welsh-language Masters, you could be eligible for a bursary of £1,000.

Postgraduate funding in Wales is available to UK students who have lived in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for the past three years and are ordinarily resident in Wales (not just living there to go to university).

In addition, you’ll need to:

• Be aged under 60 (59 or younger) on the first day of the first academic year of your course (this will normally be 1 September for courses beginning in the Autumn)
• Not hold a Masters degree (or higher qualification) regardless of how it was funded

Finally, you’ll need to be studying an eligible Masters degree.

Funding sometimes be available to international students if one of the following criteria applies:

• You are an Irish national
• You have EU settled status in the UK
• You are the child of a Turkish worker
• You or a family member have been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK

It’s best to check with Student Finance Wales if you think you may qualify for funding as a non-EU national, but aren’t sure.

You won’t normally be eligible for Welsh Masters funding if you’re a UK student who normally lives in another part of the UK. However, separate postgraduate loans are available for students from Northern Ireland, England and Scotland.

Welsh postgraduate funding is available for taught and research Masters degrees in all subjects, provided they meet the following criteria:

• Your course must award a Masters, not a shorter Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma or a doctorate (such as a PhD)
• Your course must be a postgraduate programme, not an integrated Masters or other undergraduate course
• Your course must be for a full 180 credit degree, not a short period of study to ‘top up’ an existing qualification to Masters level

Courses can be studied full time, part time or by distance learning:

• Full-time courses can last for 1-2 years
• Part-time courses can last for 2-4 years, but not for more than twice the length of an equivalent full-time course (or three years if no full-time equivalent exists)
• Distance learning courses can be full time or part time, but you must be living in Wales on the first day of your course and the rest of your Masters must be studied from within the UK (UK-resident students) or Wales (EU students)

UK-resident students can study at any UK university, but Irish students coming to the UK for their degree can only use Welsh postgraduate funding to study in Wales.

Applications for Welsh postgraduate finance are now open for Masters beginning in the 2025-26 academic year.

The quickest way to apply is online via your Student Finance Wales account, although it’s also possible to apply via post.

You’ll need to provide details of your identity and the course you plan to study, plus your National Insurance number (if you have one). You’ll also need to have a UK bank account.

If you already have an account with Student Finance Wales you should use it for your postgraduate funding application.

The deadline for applying is quite relaxed: you must submit your application no later than nine months from the beginning of your final year.

This will normally be:

You only need to apply once for a postgraduate funding but you can change the amount you wish to borrow later in your course.

You can find more information and advice in our postgraduate loan application guide.

Your repayments will begin in the April after you finish your programme, provided you’ve graduated (or left your course).

The amount you repay is linked to your income: you’ll only repay 6% of what you earn over £21,000 a year (£1,750 a month).

How you repay depends on your employment circumstances:

• If you are employed in the UK, your repayments will be taken automatically from your salary by HMRC (at the same time as your income tax and national insurance)
• If you are self-employed in the UK, HMRC will collect your repayments as part of your annual tax return
• If you work outside the UK you will need to contact the Student Loans Company to arrange your repayments
• If you are unemployed you won’t need to make repayments

If you also have an undergraduate loan you will make two concurrent repayments as follows:

• 6% of earnings over £21,000 a year for your postgraduate student loan
• 9% of earnings over £25,000 a year for your undergraduate student loan

You will also pay interest on your postgraduate loan and this will begin accumulating from the date of your first payment. The rate is linked to inflation using the Retail Prices Index (RPI) and changes each year. It is currently 4.5%, but this changes every year.

Any remaining loan (including interest) will be written off 30 years after you become eligible to make repayments.

When do repayments begin for Welsh postgraduate loans?

Repayments normally begin in the April after your course ends (provided you are earning over £21,000 a year).

Embarking on a Master’s degree is an exciting but sometimes overwhelming journey, especially when it comes to funding. Here are some key tips to help you navigate financial support while also looking after your wellbeing and making the most of available resources.

1. Consider all types of funding

Postgraduate loans are one option, but they may not cover all your costs. Look into university scholarships, employer sponsorships, and independent grants from charities or professional bodies. Some universities also offer bursaries for students from underrepresented backgrounds or those studying in specific fields.

2. Connect with other students and alumni

Talking to current or former Master’s students can provide valuable insights into funding options, study tips, and university life. Look for student forums, LinkedIn groups, or university events to build your network. You can also explore FindAMasters’ student stories and advice articles to hear real experiences from postgraduate students.

3. Stay up to date with policy changes

Funding rules and support schemes can change, so keep an eye on official websites like Student Finance Wales and university funding pages. FindAMasters regularly updates its funding guides, so checking back for new information can help you stay informed.