Scholarships, Bursaries and Finance

We know that finance is a big part of university life - that's why we've put together this section, to help you learn more about the costs of studying at the School of Education and the types of help available.

To help you find the most relevant information please use the quick links below.

The Basics

As a student there are two types of costs you need to know about - tuition fees and maintenance costs.

Tuition fees include teaching, supervision, examinations and Student Union membership, while maintenance costs cover accommodation, food, transport, leisure and other everyday expenses.  At Leeds, fees are being used to develop and improve a wide range of facilities, including a new theatre on campus, art and design studios, refurbished science labs, video editing suites, computer clusters and updated sports facilities to name a few.

Fees may differ by programme and will normally increase from year to year in line with inflation - programme-specific fee details are available on this website (please use the links on the left) or are included with offer letters.

Maintenance costs may also vary, depending on individual circumstances and lifestyle expectations, but don't worry - Leeds recently topped the Royal Bank of Scotland's Student Living Index 2007 as the most cost-effective place to study!

Most undergraduate students will qualify for some type of financial support, whether this is funded by the University, a local authority or other external body. For postgraduate study, there is a range of scholarships and bursaries you may be eligible to apply for. For those offered by the School of Education, please see further information below.

Undergraduate Finance

For entry in 2008/9, tuition fees are £3,145 per year for new full-time UK undergraduates and you can apply for a student maintenance loan from your local education authority (LEA). There are no upper age limits.

If it's your first degree you won't have to pay anything until:

  • you have left university
  • you are earning over £15,000 a year

Additionally, one in four students will qualify for support of up to £1,500 through the University of Leeds Bursary Scheme and may also be able to apply for a scholarship - these do not have to be repaid. See further information about undergraduate fees and financial support.

From September 2008 international undergraduates starting programmes of more than one year will pay the same fixed fee for each year of their programme. This is designed to help students and families plan finances for the full length of the programme.

Please see details of our BA (Hons) Childhood Studies programme.

Postgraduate Finance

Tuition fees for standard Postgraduate programmes in the School of Education for entry in 2008/9 are;

  • UK/EU students - £3,3,00 (full-time), £1,650 (part-time)
  • International (non-EU) full-time - new students £9,700
  • International (non-EU) full-time - returning students £9,200

These fees are typical rates for one year of study but some courses attract exceptional fees because of their specialist nature. Your tuition fee will be shown on your offer letter. You should budget carefully for the full length of your programme for both fees and living costs. Postgraduate fees normally rise each year with inflation (usually 3-4%).

International fees are higher than UK/EU fees because UK/EU students are subsidised by the British Government.

Fees must be paid in full before you can register unless you are to be a self-supporting student, in which case you may apply to pay your fees in two instalments. The first instalment is payable at registration. Students who are supported by their governments, employers or other sponsors should bring with them a letter from their sponsor, addressed to the University, confirming that the fees will be paid directly. Such sponsors cannot pay by instalments.

Depending on what type of postgraduate degree you choose, there are several funding and scholarship options available.

Masters Degree Study Scholarships - NEW for 2008/09

The following MA Study Scholarships will be available for those commencing a full-time MA programme in the School of Education in 2008-9:

For Full-Time International Students

  • Up to 6 x £2,000 study scholarships

For Full-Time UK/EU Students

  • Up to 6 x £500 study scholarships.

You will be automatically considered for a School of Education scholarship if:

  • you fulfil the entry requirements of the MA programme

Scholarships will be awarded:

  • on the basis of the strength of your application to the MA programme

Closing date to be considered for a Scholarship:

  • May 31st 2008
  • If you have not been contacted by the School of Education by June 30th, you may assume you have not been awarded a Study Scholarship.
  • If you are successful, you must confirm your offer of a place on the MA programme immediately after notification otherwise the scholarship will be awarded to another student
  • Please note: you may still apply for a place on an MA programme in the School of Education after this date although you will not be eligible to be considered for a scholarship.
See a list of the School of Education's taught postgraduate courses.

MA Study Bursaries - NEW for 2008/09

A reduction in the overseas fee rate is available for full-time international students who have been offered a place to start a School of Education MA programme in September 2008 and who pay their fees early:

How much is the reduction?

  • A 3% reduction of the standard MA international fee paid by the School of Education.

You are eligible for the reduction if:

  1. you are self-funding
  2. you are an international student starting a full-time MA programme in the School of Education and paying the full international MA tuition fee.
  3. you make a payment of at least half of your MA tuition fee by July 31st 2008. See below for details of payment methods.

Please note: The 3% will be deducted from the final balance of your tuition fee payment. This reduction in fees for early payment is only available for international students applying to the School of Education for entry in September 2008.

How to Pay Early

You can pay early in the following ways:

  • Through the website using a credit or debit card
  • By sending a bankers draft made payable to the University of Leeds (please make sure you quote your student number) to:
    The Fees Office, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
  • By bank transfer (please make sure you quote your student number)
    Barclays Bank, 77 Albion Street, Leeds, LS1 5LD
    Sort Code: 20-48-46
    Account No: 20821845
    Swift Code: BARCGB22
    IBAN: GB48 BARC 204846 20821845
See a list of the School of Education's taught postgraduate courses.

If you require any further information regarding fees please contact the University of Leeds at feequeries@adm.leeds.ac.uk

Research Degree Scholarships - NEW for 2008/09

The School of Education is offering up to 6 scholarship awards worth one half (50%) of the annual fee rate. All research students will be eligible for consideration, overseas and home/EU students, applying for full-time or part-time study. Awards will be made entirely on merit. For full-time students, awards will made each year for up to 3 years study and for part-time students for up to 6 years study.

You will be automatically considered for a School of Education scholarship if:

  • you have received an offer to do a full-time or part-time postgraduate doctoral research degree in the School of Education

Scholarships will be awarded:

  • on the basis of your academic record and the strength of your doctoral research proposal

Conditions of the award

  • Home/EU students awarded a School of Education Research Degree Scholarship will normally be expected to submit an application for an externally funded studentship (principally to ESRC or AHRC, though other funding bodies will be considered) which, if successful, will replace the School of Education's scholarship. Candidates will be given full support in preparing their application to external funding bodies.

Closing date for application:

  • May 31st 2008
  • If you have not been contacted by the School of Education by July 1st 2008, you may assume you have not been awarded a Research Degree Scholarship.
  • If you are successful, you must confirm your offer of a place on the doctoral programme immediately after notification otherwise the scholarship will be awarded to another student.

See a list of the School of Education's research degrees.

Initial Teacher Training (PGCE)

The standard UK/EU fees for PGCE courses for 2008/9 are £3,145 and you will receive a tax-free, non-repayable bursary of between £4,000 and £9,000 (dependant on subject area) during your training year.

Please contact pgce@education.leeds.ac.uk for information about International fees.

You may also qualify for a maintenance grant from your LEA and a ‘Golden Hello' of up to £5,000, dependent on subject and payable when your NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) year has been completed.

Special Circumstances

We understand that there are some circumstances which might mean you need extra financial help on top of any other funding you receive. You might have special educational needs or may experience financial hardship which means you cannot afford to finish your course. You may also have family obligations, like a child or other dependant.

Help is available through the Access to Learning Fund - please visit the Leeds University Union website for more information.

Further Information

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Last updated by Alison Moore on 8th March 2008