Since a few people asked about responses to my initial question I thought
that I would copy and paste them onto a new message. Apologies if you're
not interested. It's interesting how diverse the replies are!
See the following:
Sorry to be negative but when I did my MA ('96 - '97) I didn't know anyone
who hadn't either funded it from savings (most people, like me, were people
working and who wanted to change career) or via a Career Development Loan
(I chose the latter as I was skint).
You may know this already, but have you tried the Arts and Humanities
Research Council? They funded all of my MA fees and provide me with a
maintenance grant - non of which had to be re-paid. There is a belief among
many that this funding is available to those who got a first in their
degree, however, I didn't but my practical work experience compensated for
that fact.
You could try the Museums Association Benevolent Fund, if you are a member
of the MA. I can't remember what the criteria are these days, but I have a
feeling that the Trevor Walden Trust, which is administered by the
Benevolent Fund, did grant-aid further study.
If you go to money supermarket.com there's a section on students and
education which leads you to a link that will search the grants directory
for your needs and come up with a list of people providing grants matching
your needs. Some of them are amazing - quite often there are trust funds
just because you live in a certain village etc.
There is a funded place available at the International Centre for Cultural
and Heritage Studies at Newcastle University which was advertised in May -
perhaps this is still available? You should email [log in to unmask]
if you want to find out more.
I got funding from the ahrc. They might only cover MAs though. Have a look
at their website. They're also very generous!
http://www.ahrb.ac.uk/
Your local library should have a directory of locally funded grants. I
hope that things have moved on in this regard since I was successful in
obtaining funds for a new pc from a trust fund in Birmingham. It was
amazing how much was still hanging around from the 19th century earmarked
for the sons of doctors of medicine!
I got around £700 of my fees paid by the ERDF in 2000 because I was based
in Ironbridge which was classed as an area lacking in job opportunities for
graduates. Not sure if this would be applicable for where you are based
but I moved to Ironbridge three months before the course started so I would
qualify (it's near where I'm from anyway. Might be worth checking with the
organisation you're hoping to study with to see what they can access. I
also looked into career development loans but a normal loan turned out to
be a cheaper bet.
From Leicester Uni: The AHRC only give funding for courses starting in
October. You do need to have been offered a place here, before you can
apply to the AHRC as the form has to have input from here.
Fees can be paid in six instalments, you would be invoiced for the first
instalment just before term starts, if you choose to pay by instalments.
You are not too late for April 2009, but as I say AHRC funding would not be
available for that start date.
I hope that this is helpful to some of you who are in a similar position.
Regards
Sarah
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