Student finance for postgraduate study

Understandably, you may be concerned about the cost of postgraduate study at a conservatoire. It may even make an impact on the decisions you make. There is, however, plenty of help and advice at hand about the opportunities and assistance available.

As a student, you will have to pay for two things: tuition fees for your course and living costs, such as rent (if you are not living at home), food, books, music, transport and entertainment. You will also need to budget for instrument-related costs, such as instrument insurance.

Tuition fees are set by individual conservatoires, so please contact them for more information. The amounts charged may vary between courses, as well as between different conservatoires. choir practice

If you're a UK student

Normally UK and EU students are charged less than the full-cost tuition fee, with the difference being made up by public funding received by the institution. However, if you are enrolling to take an equivalent or lower qualification (ELQ) to one that you already hold, you should expect to pay up to the full cost of your tuition (ie at the same rate as international students). You can find further general information on ELQs on the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) website at www.hefce.ac.uk/Learning/funding/elq/. Your chosen conservatoire(s) will be able to tell you what they charge students studying for ELQs.

If you're an EU student

If you are an EU student studying at an English conservatoire you will pay fees in the same way as UK/home students. Normally EU students are charged less than the full-cost tuition fee, with the difference being made up by public funding received by the institution. However, if you are enrolling to take an equivalent or lower qualification (ELQ) to one that you already hold, you should expect to pay up to the full cost of your tuition (ie at the same rate as international students). You can find further general information on ELQs on the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) website at www.hefce.ac.uk/Learning/funding/elq/. Your chosen conservatoire(s) will be able to tell you what they charge students studying for ELQs.

If you're an international student

You will be charged the full cost of your course, as set by the individual conservatoire. However, scholarships may be available - check with your chosen conservatoire(s).

Further information is available from UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs).

UNIAID provides a useful finance calculator for international students, which will help them to manage their money whilst studying in the UK.

Find out how much financial support is available for postgraduate study

Cost is a concern for most potential students, but there is a variety of financial support available. The important part is knowing what is available, what you are eligible for and whether or not you will have to pay it back. As a general rule, grants and scholarships do not have to be paid back, but loans do, so it is important to check what you are applying for so that you know what you will owe when you finish your course.

Grants and awards

Sometimes you can get financial support from the conservatoire at which you will be studying; sometimes you need to apply to an external organisation. The awards on offer can vary greatly, so you will need to check:

  • the duration
  • the amount
  • whether the award covers fees or living costs or both
  • whether it covers part-time or full-time study
  • whether it covers taught postgraduate degrees (Postgraduate Diplomas, Master's courses, etc) or research-based degrees (Doctorates).

There are usually strict eligibility rules, deadlines for application, and competition for funding is fierce.

Conservatoires
Individual conservatoires may offer scholarships or other forms of financial assistance, so you should contact them directly for further information.

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
The AHRC provides funding for students undertaking Master's-level courses and doctoral research in the arts and humanities (including the performing arts) within the UK's higher education institutions. For further details see their website at www.ahrc.ac.uk

Individual conservatoires may also be able to advise you of other potential sources of funding.

Loans
While conservatoires themselves do not generally offer loans, you may be able to apply for one from an external organisation or your local high street bank.