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Postgraduate Funding Options

Hi there,

I'm a graduate who has had 3 years of student loan funding at undergraduate level and as part of a career change I'm considering an application to do a "conversion masters" which would last 2 years (I've listed the courses I'm considering below). I'm a UK citizen/resident/passport holder and was born and have lived here my whole life. How much funding would I be entitled to at Masters level? As I understand it the maximum amount of funding available to me (around £12,400) would only cover the course fees for the 1st year.

https://www.glos.ac.uk/courses/course/lc-ma-landscape-architecture/

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/2025/landscape-architecture-ma-pg-diploma#modules

https://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/landscape-architecture-mla-2024-25

This leaves me in a position where I'll need to raise additional funds to cover the remaining course fees and to do this I was considering going to work abroad temporarily and build up savings that way e.g. TEFL in Far East Asia or a FIFO role in Australia.

However, the Postgraduate loan eligibility criteria states that one must have lived in England for 3 continuous years prior to the course start date which in theory would rule me out of getting funding if I did the above, but I've also seen the below stated on an official Student Finance England page;

"Note 1: The term 'ordinarily and lawfully resident' means where you usually live for most of your time in the 3 years before your course is due to start. If you were away from the UK during all or part of the 3 year period because either you, or a specified family member (for example, a parent or grandparent) were temporarily employed abroad, we may treat you as having lived in the UK for the entire period you were away."

Can anyone clarify/offer advice on this?

Thanks in advance,
Will

Reply 1

Claire SFE

Official Rep

Original post by wwray

Hi there,
I'm a graduate who has had 3 years of student loan funding at undergraduate level and as part of a career change I'm considering an application to do a "conversion masters" which would last 2 years (I've listed the courses I'm considering below). I'm a UK citizen/resident/passport holder and was born and have lived here my whole life. How much funding would I be entitled to at Masters level? As I understand it the maximum amount of funding available to me (around £12,400) would only cover the course fees for the 1st year.
https://www.glos.ac.uk/courses/course/lc-ma-landscape-architecture/
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/courses/2025/landscape-architecture-ma-pg-diploma#modules
https://www.bcu.ac.uk/courses/landscape-architecture-mla-2024-25
This leaves me in a position where I'll need to raise additional funds to cover the remaining course fees and to do this I was considering going to work abroad temporarily and build up savings that way e.g. TEFL in Far East Asia or a FIFO role in Australia.
However, the Postgraduate loan eligibility criteria states that one must have lived in England for 3 continuous years prior to the course start date which in theory would rule me out of getting funding if I did the above, but I've also seen the below stated on an official Student Finance England page;
"Note 1: The term 'ordinarily and lawfully resident' means where you usually live for most of your time in the 3 years before your course is due to start. If you were away from the UK during all or part of the 3 year period because either you, or a specified family member (for example, a parent or grandparent) were temporarily employed abroad, we may treat you as having lived in the UK for the entire period you were away."
Can anyone clarify/offer advice on this?
Thanks in advance,
Will

Hi there,

We can't click on links. You would need to confirm the course and university details so we can check this for you.

The course needs to be a full Postgraduate Master's course level 7 to be eligible for finance with us. The funding we offer is maximum Postgraduate loan of £12,471. Paid over the duration of your course. We can't award anything else so you would need to pay the difference if your course is more to the university directly. You can find more information on the finance here https://www.gov.uk/funding-for-postgraduate-study

If you take time outside the UK you would need to show this was temporary break in residency when apply. You would need to show temporary contracts, visas, flight tickets etc. You may also be asked to show you have kept links to the UK i.e. UK bank accounts with regular activity, house etc.

Thanks,
Claire

(edited 3 months ago)