Tag Archives: postgrad

Postgraduate loans

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Last week the government announced a new postgraduate student loan system, with the aim of increasing access to postgraduate university courses.

Further details of the postgraduate scheme announced are below.

  • The loan scheme will come into effect for the 2016-17 academic year
  • Loans of up to £10,000 will be available for all postgraduate taught masters courses
  • Loans are income-contingent, meaning the amount to be paid back by the student depends on their income
  • The loan will be available to students under the age of 30
  • Interest rates will beat commercial rates
  • Graduates will pay back their PG loan alongside their UG loan. This could mean giving around 18% of their monthly income above £21,000 in student loan repayments.

To bridge the gap in 2015-16, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will allocate £50 million so universities can offer bursaries on a match funded basis. Bursaries will be £10,000 each and will benefit 10,000 students.

More information on the bursaries, including how students can apply, will be available as soon as details are confirmed.

Postgraduate support at BU featured in The i newspaper

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The wide variety of help and support available to postgraduate students at BU was featured in The i newspaper.

The feature, which appeared in the newspaper’s postgraduate supplement, looked at how postgraduate students can get support if they feel they are struggling with their studies or are under a lot of pressure.

It listed the wide-ranging services on offer at Bournemouth University – including study skills workshops, counselling and financial advice.

Mandi Barron, Head of Student Support Services at BU, was quoted in the article.

“We can provide practical advice and signpost more specialist services depending on the students’ need,” she said, adding that students should also look to their friends and family for support.

“Some students find that joining a club or society and meeting others with similar interests really helps.”

The article also featured advice from Kyle Michael Williamson, an MSc Enterprise Information Systems student at BU.

He suggested breaking tasks up and using technology to make work more manageable.

He said: “Having access to specialist software off campus helps the ability to work from anywhere and fit your studies around the rest of your life.”

The most important thing for any student who is struggling, Mandi added, was to remember that you are not alone.

“Talk to someone,” she said. “Your problems might seem insurmountable, but universities have a lot of experience and can offer a huge range of support.”