The Department of Continuing Education has produced a booklet detailing financial assistance available to help meet the costs of course fees, books and other expenses for students taking courses run by the Department, including those offered by the CPD centre.

The University of Oxford has a Student Funding Services page which provides information and advice to prospective and current students on fees and funding.

The UK's Department for Children, Schools and Families provides funding information, for Home students on low income undertaking part-time study. For further information visit the Education and Learning website.

Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust

The Trust provides financial assistance to graduates with a First or Upper Second class degree, over the age of 24, who register for a higher degree or equivalent academic qualification in any subject, or for a degree in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, at a university in the United Kingdom. The annual closing date for applications is 31st March. Awards are competitive and made on the basis of academic merit and financial need. All grants (normally from £300 - £1,000 in value) are awarded for a full year of academic study and for one year only.

British Federation of Women Graduates Charitable Foundation

The British Federation of Women Graduates Charitable Foundation offers grants to help women graduates with their living expenses (not fees) while registered for postgraduate study or research, in any subject or field, at an approved institution of higher education in Great Britain. Students reading for part-time postgraduate degrees will be eligible from their third year onwards. Grants will not normally exceed £4,000. The criteria are the proven needs of the applicant and their academic calibre and all grants are offered on a needs basis.

Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation: Scholarships

These scholarships provide funding for cross-disciplinary projects that might not fall comfortably into any of the conventional funding categories.

Funding is available for:

• Independent research projects in most subjects (this includes writing projects in biography, fiction and non-fiction, poetry, translation, etc);
• Doctoral and post-doctoral studies (doctoral candidates may apply at any stage of their degree);
• Field work associated with independent research, doctoral or post-doctoral projects.
• Funding is not provided for: medical research or for taught courses (undergraduate or Masters).

Wingate Scholarships are restricted to people over 24 years of age who are living in the British Isles. They must be citizens of the UK, the Commonwealth, Israel or Ireland, or citizens of the European Union (provided that they have been resident in the United Kingdom for at least 3 years). There is no upper age limit and the Scholarship Committee welcomes applications from mature students and those from non-traditional academic backgrounds. The Scholarships can be held for up to 3 years and have a maximum value of £10,000 a year, but they are usually given for shorter periods and smaller sums.

Thomas Wall Trust

The Awards to Individuals scheme considers applications from UK nationals only who are in financial need and who wish to undertake educational courses, especially courses which are vocational or are concerned with social service in a broad sense and which will lead to paid employment. They particularly support (up to £1,000) both full-time and part-time vocational courses and will look favourably at part-time courses which allow the applicant to continue with paid employment to help meet the costs.

The University of Oxford has a Student Funding Services page which provides information and advice to prospective and current students on fees and funding.

International students should contact their local British Council office about scholarships and other sources of funding. Please note that the scholarships administered by The British Council are allocated more than one academic year in advance of the start of the course, so you should start finding out about them at least 18 months in advance. For more information see the British Council website.

Clarendon Scholarship

The aim of the Clarendon Fund is to assist the very best overseas students who obtain places to study for postgraduate degrees in the University.

To be eligible for consideration for a Clarendon Scholarship, candidates must:

• Have applied by Application Deadline 2 (see website) and have indicated on their application that they wished to be considered for the Clarendon Fund;
• Be liable to pay fees at the overseas rate;
• Have been conditionally or unconditionally accepted for a new course of study at Oxford (awards are not available to students who have already begun their course).

For more information please see the Clarendon Fund website

Chevening Scholarships

These scholarships, funded by the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office and administered by the British Council, are prestigious awards which enable overseas students to study in the United Kingdom. Scholarships are offered in over 150 countries and enable talented graduates and young professionals to become familiar with the UK and gain skills which will benefit their countries.

The Chevening programme currently provides around 2,300 new scholarships each year for postgraduate studies or research at UK Institutions of Higher Education. Applicants should apply through the nearest local British Embassy / High Commission or British Council office. A list of British Council offices around the world can be found at the British Council website.

Newby Trust Ltd

The Trust make Education and Training Grants available to those taking second degrees, to mature students, and to students from abroad with a proven UK educational record whose circumstances have been affected by events beyond their control. If the first degree is from an overseas educational establishment you must have already commenced your postgraduate course in the United Kingdom. Grants will range between £250 and £1,000 per academic year. For application details and deadline please visit the Newby Trust web site. Please note that from 2008 the Newby trust will only be allocating funds to United Kingdom Educational Establishments and not to individuals.

Please note that many of the funding links under subject specific headings are available to international students also.

The Department of Health RDInfo website hosts a searchable database of health-related funding opportunities, which includes Training Fellowships and Scholarships.

Medical Research Council

The MRC funds a range of Fellowship Award Schemes for both clinical and non-clinical researchers. A full list of available awards can be found at the MRC website. Most of the schemes are open to applications for research across the MRC's remit and may, if appropriate, allow award holders to undertake a Master’s degree or specific modules of such a course, followed by a period of specialist research training.

The Wellcome Trust

The Wellcome Trust funds a range of Studentship and Fellowship Award Schemes for both clinical and non-clinical researchers. The Master’s Fellowship in Public Health and Tropical Medicine aims to strengthen scientific research capacity in developing countries, by providing support for junior researchers to gain research experience and high-quality research training at Master's degree level. Fellows must be based at an eligible host institution in a developing country for their research project. Master's training may be undertaken at a recognized centre of excellence in any location. Master's degrees by distance learning can be supported. Research projects must be in the area of public health or tropical medicine. Applications are accepted twice a year from eligible host institutions for the intended fellow.

The Training Fellowship in Public Health and Tropical Medicine seeks to provide researchers from developing countries, who are at an early stage in the establishment of their research careers, with opportunities for research experience and high-quality research training relevant to health in developing countries.

Research Training Fellowships for Medical, Dental and Veterinary Graduates are intended for medical, dental or veterinary graduates who have little or no research training, but who wish to develop a long-term career in academic medicine. The scheme therefore encourages applications from individuals who wish to undertake substantial training through high-quality research in an appropriate unit or clinical research facility, towards a PhD or MD qualification. Fellowships are for two to three years, providing support for research expenses and the fellow’s salary. In exceptional cases a fellowship may be for up to four years for those who wish to undertake a relevant Master's training or diploma course. Applications are invited three times per year in June, September and December.

Cancer Research UK

MSc/Diploma Bursaries are available for enrolment on full or part-time courses leading to a relevant MSc or Diploma in cancer relevant biology, chemistry and cancer care. Support will also be provided for transdisciplinary courses leading to qualifications in bioinformatics, computational biology and mathematical biology, where there is a clear indication that this training will be used in a cancer-relevant area. Applications are invited annually.

Short Training Course Bursaries are available to fund travel costs and registration fees for attending short training courses that fit within the remit of the research strategy of Cancer Research UK.

Social Workers' Educational Trust

The Trust aims to assist qualified social workers to develop their knowledge and skills, encourage research into social work practice and education. The Trust provides small grants to individuals (usually in the range of £100 - £300) who undertake post-qualifying training to improve their knowledge and skills for social work practice. In addition, the Trust manages funds bequeathed or subscribed in memory of colleagues. These funds provide more substantial scholarships which are awarded annually through competition.

Grants are available for qualified social workers who have completed at least two years of post-qualifying social work practice for assistance with training courses or projects (usually £100-£300). Scholarships of up to £1,500 are available for research/study. For additional details of grants and scholarships, please see Scholarship details.

Royal College of Nursing

A number of Scholarships and Awards are available for nurses, midwives and health visitors for study, research, travel and conferences.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

The Research Training Bursary Scheme is intended to support community pharmacists who have an interest in developing their skills in conducting research relating to everyday practice. Funding is available for non-pharmacy MSc research modules and small-scale projects.

Florence Nightingale Foundation

The Foundation provides scholarships for nurses and midwives (who have a current registration with the NMC and are working in the UK) to study at home and abroad, to promote innovation in practice and extend knowledge and skills to meet changing needs. Research Scholarships are available to enable scholars to undertake a course in research methods, an evidence-based practice module/research-based component of a graduate programme, or a research dissertation.

The Parkes Foundation

The Foundation has for a number of years provided limited funding through its Small Grants Fund to help Masters and PhD students conduct research into the biosocial sciences. Grants are directed particularly towards helping graduate research students meet their field work costs, but others may apply. Grants are small, usually not exceeding £600. See website for application details and deadlines.

The Worshipful Company of Curriers

The Millennium Bursary provides an opportunity for primary healthcare professionals to enhance the healthcare of families and children in Inner London who, through socio-economic deprivation or other adverse social factors, are at high risk of physical and psychological illness. The Bursary provides funding for training courses and for pilot research projects. See website for full details on how to apply and the latest deadlines.

Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke

The Research Training Scheme offers grants to support research training for nurses and Allied Health Professionals in Northern Ireland. Applicants may apply for support to attend individual courses/modules, e.g. research design and methodology including conducting clinical trials/focus groups, or for completing a research Masters Degree e.g. Master of Clinical Research. The value of the grant will range up to a maximum of £6,000. See website for full details on how to apply and the latest closing dates.

Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust

The Trust provides financial assistance to graduates with a First or Upper Second class degree, over the age of 24, who register for a higher degree or equivalent academic qualification in any subject, or for a degree in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, at a university in the United Kingdom. The annual closing date for applications is 31st March. Awards are competitive and made on the basis of academic merit and financial need. All grants (normally from £300 - £1,000 in value) are awarded for a full year of academic study and for one year only.

London Deanery Frontier Sponsorship Scheme

London Deanery Frontier sponsorship is available to Doctors who are employed by a London trust, and hold one of the following positions: Staff Grade, Associate Specialist, Specialty Doctor. HPA employees must be based in one of the London offices. Frontier exists to increase the amount of funding available to SASG doctors to access CPD.

The Association for Perioperative Practice Education and Research Fellowship Fund

The AfPP provides funding in order to advance the study of and to promote excellence in perioperative practice, to promote innovation in perioperative practice and extend knowledge and skills in order to meet changing needs, and to assist with fees and other financial requests as deemed appropriate by the Trustees in order to enhance the professional development of the AfPP membership. Funding is only available to AfPP members. Applicants can apply for up to a maximum of £5,000 over three years.

Departmental Bursaries

We have a limited number of means-tested bursaries for students taking either Undergraduate Diploma in Environmental Conservation and Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation, worth up to £250 each.

Please contact the student advisor for further details.

Departmental Student Scholarships

We have a limited number of Student Scholarships (up to £150) which may be awarded to full-time or part-time students from any country who are studying at a UK higher education institution for a postgraduate award while the course takes place. Application requires proof of student status (please visit the course web page for further details).

The British Ecological Society (BES)

The BES has, in the past, received many applications from ecologists, mainly postgraduate students, from around the world requesting funds to attend ecological conferences and workshops not directly sponsored by the BES.

The Student Conference and Meeting Support Grant (up to £300) aims to help students cover some of the costs of attending relevant ecological conferences and workshops that they may not otherwise have been able to afford.

Specialist Course Grants help students to meet the costs of specialist field courses. This grant is now open only to current BES members, who are an undergraduate, post-graduate or recent graduate not in full-time employment. However, where a specialist course forms part of a credit bearing programme e.g. Degree/Diploma/Certificate, the Society will only fund applicants provided they can demonstrate that: they do not work for an employer who might reasonably be expected to fund their course, or they are self-financing, and they have not previously received a BES Specialist Course Grant. Further details are available at the British Ecological Society website.

The Linnean Society of London

The Percy Sladen Memorial Fund gives grants for field work abroad (away from your usual country of residence) in the earth and life sciences. Grants are generally for sums of less than £750.

Funds are available for further education of any kind, for visits to conferences, for work in institutions or for field work undertaken as part of a dissertation or higher degree. Undergraduate expeditions are not supported.

Closing dates for applications are 30th January and 30th September annually. Application forms can be obtained on request from the Secretary to the Trustees of the Percy Sladen Memorial Fund. For further details visit the Awards section of their website.

The Royal Geographical Society

British Airways Bursaries Award provides return flights for postgraduates or individual researchers aged under 35 conducting conservation-related research or field work. Two bursaries are awarded each year, with each candidate receiving one free return flight. Further details are available at their website.

The Henrietta Hutton Memorial Fund offers research grants of £500 to female undergraduate or postgraduate students who are under 25 years of age and intend to undertake field research overseas as an individual or as part of a team. The field research must last longer than four weeks, but does not have to be connected to the student’s academic studies. For further details please visit their website.

The Monica Cole Research Grant offers £1,000 each year to a female physical geographer undertaking original fieldwork overseas. Both undergraduate and post-graduate students are eligible to apply. For further details please visit their website.

Botanical Society of the British Isles

Grants are available to those wishing to improve their plant identification skills in order to progress their career or recording activities. For further details visit their website.

Douglas Bomford Trust

The Trust provides funding to enable competent individuals and organizations to pursue:

• Education, training, research and knowledge transfer;
• Innovation and the application of science and technology with respect to the design, development, evaluation and construction of machines, systems and techniques;
• Travel to acquire or disseminate knowledge;
• The development and maintenance of professional competencies;
• The development or acquisition of new skills, techniques and capabilities;

in the application of engineering and physical science to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, amenity and allied land-based and biological activities for the sustainable benefit of the environment and mankind.

Applications for funding <£1,500 are accepted throughout the year, while applications for more than £1,500 should be submitted by 1st February and 1st July each year. For further details visit their website.

The British Herpetological Society (BHS): Student Grant Scheme

The British Herpetological Society welcomes applications to its Student Grant Scheme. Students can apply for small grants, principally aimed at supporting fieldwork and other costs associated with final-year undergraduate or Master's projects. The grant scheme is intended to promote interest in herpetology through well-defined short research projects. PhD projects will not normally be eligible. Priority will be given to BHS members. Grants will not normally exceed £300. The scientific scope of projects should be consistent with the aims of the Society. For further details visit their website.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

The Prince Bernhard Scholarships for Nature Conservation provide financial support to individuals wishing to pursue short-term professional training or formal studies that will help them contribute more effectively to conservation efforts in their country. Only nationals from Africa, Asia, Latin America/Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the Middle East will be considered. The maximum amount for any one scholarship under this award scheme is Swiss Francs CHF 10,000. Further details are available on their website.

IET: Postgraduate Scholarships

The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) offer a number of postgraduate scholarships:

• The IET Masters Degree Scholarships are available to assist IET members in undertaking advanced postgraduate research/studies for MRes or MSc degrees in electrical, electronic, manufacturing or information engineering.
• The Hudswell International Research Scholarships are available to assist members with advanced research work leading to the award of a Doctorate at an internationally recognised university or research establishment with a high reputation for research in the field of electrical, electronic, manufacturing or information engineering.
• The Robinson Research Scholarships are awarded to engineering graduates pursuing original research relevant to electrical, electronic, communications, information or manufacturing engineering or related disciplines leading to the award of a postgraduate or post-doctoral qualification.

For further details of all the Postgraduate Scholarships offered by the IET and the latest closing date for applications please visit their website

The Royal Academy of Engineering

The Sainsbury Management Fellowship Scheme in the Life Sciences, which is funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, supports scientists of high career potential to undertake activities related to their Personal Development Plans, which may include: full and part-time short courses and distance learning packages relating either to technology or management, such as an MBA.

Panasonic Trust Awards

Makes grants to assist with the fees for the study of suitable courses, particularly in new engineering developments and in new technologies, at higher education institutions in the UK. Preference will be given to part-time modular Master’s degree courses, although courses employing distance learning or internet-based techniques, as well as conventional teaching methods, are acceptable. The normal level of grant made by the Trust is 50% of the course fees. Further details are available on their website.

Daphne Jackson Fellowships

These Fellowships help graduates and postgraduates who have had careers in science, engineering or technology (SET) return to similar employment after a career break. A ‘break’ of at least 2 years is normally required, but this may include part-time work aimed at trying to keep up to date. Candidates who take their career break directly after completing a PhD will be eligible to apply for a Fellowship. The Fellowships are intended to allow award holders to undertake a research project, relevant to present day needs in industry and academia, and to acquire professional skills and knowledge that will make the Fellow more employable in the future. Further details are available on their website.

L'Oreal UK Fellowships for Women in Science

Open to female scientists in the UK who hold a PhD awarded within the last 10 years, the L’Oreal UK Fellowships for Women in Science are organized in partnership with the Royal Institution of Great Britain and UNESCO. Three Fellowships of £10,000 each are awarded each year, designed to celebrate and support the contribution of UK women researchers in the life- and physical sciences. Closing date: April annually. For more information please visit their website.

The Gen Foundation

The Gen Foundation invites applications for its scholarships for candidates based in or studying in the UK or Japan, although applicants from other countries may be considered. Candidates from the biological, chemical and botanical sciences, and exceptional candidates from language, music and art are invited to apply. Scholarships are worth approximately £3,000 each. Full details on how to apply and the latest deadline are on their website.

Douglas Bomford Trust

The Trust provides funding to enable competent individuals and organizations to pursue:

• Education, training, research and knowledge transfer;
• Innovation and the application of science and technology with respect to the design, development, evaluation and construction of machines, systems and techniques;
• Travel to acquire or disseminate knowledge;
• The development and maintenance of professional competencies;
• The development or acquisition of new skills, techniques and capabilities;

In the application of engineering and physical science to agriculture, horticulture, forestry, amenity and allied land-based and biological activities for the sustainable benefit of the environment and mankind.

Applications for funding <£1,500 are accepted throughout the year, while applications for more than £1,500 should be submitted by 1st February and 1st July each year. For further details visit their website.

The Google Europe Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship

Through the scholarship, Google aims to encourage women to excel in computing and technology, and become active role models and leaders.

Multiple scholarships are awarded annually based on the strength of candidates' academic background and demonstrated leadership. A group of female Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD student finalists will be chosen from the applicant pool. The scholarship recipients, selected from the finalists, will each receive a €5,000 (or equivalent) scholarship for the next academic year. Remaining finalists will receive €1,000 each.

Candidates must: be a female student entering her final year of a Bachelor’s degree, or enrolled on a Master’s or PhD programme (or equivalent), in the next academic year; be enrolled at a University in Europe; be studying Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Informatics, or a closely related technical field; maintain an excellent academic record (e.g. a First Class Honours degree). Full details on eligibility and how to apply are on their website.