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Postgraduate Student Support Scholarships

Supporting low-income UK students who wish to undertake a Masters programme of study at Durham University

Postgraduate Scholarships
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Summary

Postgraduate Student Support Scholarships

The scholarships are intended to support UK students from low-and middle-income households who wish to enhance their skills and knowledge by undertaking a postgraduate programme of study.

We are delighted to confirm that 100 Postgraduate Scholarships will be available to applicants who are commencing their studies at Durham University in 2025.

The majority of taught master’s and MRes programmes are eligible, except postgraduate diplomas, postgraduate certificates, all PGCE programmes and integrated masters.  

 

Amount

Postgraduate Taught £3,000 for the academic year paid directly to recipients in termly instalments

 

MRes £2,000 for the academic year paid directly to recipients in termly instalments
Year of Entry Applicants for programmes commencing 2025
Number of awards available One hundred
Level of study Postgraduate
Mode of study Full-time, Part-time
Programmes All postgraduate programmes - with the exception of the programmes referenced above
Duration One year (full-time), two years (part-time pro-rata)

Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be able to meet the following criteria:

  • Studying a full or part-time eligible postgraduate programme at Durham University, excluding Intergrated Masters. Part time recipients will be paid pro-rata 50% per year for each of the two years of study.
  • Domiciled in the UK (Classified as Home for tuition fee purposes)
  • Do not already hold a masters level qualification
  • If you are studying a full time two year Masters programme, including MSW, the award is tenable during the first year only
  • In receipt of maintenance loan above the minimum loan i.e. have a household income level below £62,347 in the final year of their undergraduate study as assessed by Student Finance England or equivalent

Please see table below for details of yearly income and maintenance loan values which demonstrate a household income of £62,347 or below.

Final Year of Undergraduate Study Household Income Less than Maintenance Loan greater than
24/25 £62,347 £4,432
23/24 £62,343 £4,651
22/23 £62,311 £4,524
21/22 £62,286 £4,422
20/21 £62,249 £4,289
19/20 £62,212 £4,168

 

If your income was assessed by Student Finance Wales (SFW), Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFN) or Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS): your household income in the final year of undergraduate study must have been assessed to be less than the income threshold level for the relevant academic year above.

 

If the final year of your undergraduate programme of study is prior to 2019/20 please provide your loan paperwork and we will check the relevant yearly figures.

 

Not sure if you're eligible? Contact us for advice.

How to apply

  1. Apply for a course

    Submit an academic application to Durham University for an eligible programme of study by the scholarship deadline.

    Durham University Applicant Portal

  2. Complete a scholarship application

    Submit an online scholarship application form by 4th July 2025

     

    Notification of application outcome

     

    Within 6 weeks of receipt of your completed scholarship application form and the required undergraduate financial information.

  3. Required evidence

    Please send the following evidence in support of your application to scholarship.application@durham.ac.uk.

     

    Household Income - a copy of your Student Finance letter confirming the financial breakdown of your maintenance loan in the final year of your undergraduate degree programme.    

     

    Please note:  As a postgraduate loan is not based on household income assessed by Student Finance this is not classed as evidence of eligibility for the scholarship.

     

     

  4. Selection process

    • Scholarships will be awarded on a first come, first served basis to candidates who meet the eligibility criteria and provide all the relevant evidence to support their application within 1 week of submitting their scholarship application. 

     

    • Successful applicants who are alumni of Durham University (for their undergraduate degree) will also be eligible for the Alumni Fee Scholarship i.e. the Postgraduate Student Support Scholarship and the Alumni Discount can both be held at the same time.

     

    • Students who apply after all awards have been allocated will be notified of the option to be placed on the reserve list should a Postgraduate Student Support Scholarship become available.  Please note this may be late in the cycle and is subject to continued scholarship availability which is at the absolute discretion of the University

     

    • Any dispute concerning eligibility for the Postgraduate Student Scholarship will be determined by the Head of Student Immigration and Funding Service (or their deputy, if unavailable) whose decision shall be final

Guidance

Durham University makes every effort to ensure that the information published or contained on its website is accurate. However, the University cannot guarantee the information may not subsequently be altered owing to circumstances beyond the University's reasonable control. Such circumstances include (but are not limited to) changes in Government policy or change of law. Whilst any changes will be incorporated into the University's website any person wishing to clarify the details of a particular scholarship/s should contact scholarships.advice@durham.ac.uk.

 

 

Get in touch

If you have any questions about whether you are eligible for a scholarship or the application process, get in touch with our Scholarships and Student Funding Office:

Scholarships and Student Funding Office

Durham University

Palatine Centre

Stockton Road

DH1 3LE, UK

 

Telephone: 0191 3348997