Funding for Current Postgraduate Researchers
There are several funding options in place to help support your research while at the University of Exeter.
Financial Support for PGRs
For any student who is experiencing financial difficulty, the Success for all fund is here to help.
You may be facing financial hardship; be struggling to pay for IT or a learning disability assessment; or have bills to pay while waiting for your first grant payment to arrive.
All registered undergraduate and postgraduate University of Exeter students in financial difficulty are eligible to apply, irrespective of fee-status. Priority will be given to students undertaking their first degree who are from low income households or without family support. The majority of funds are means-tested and you will be asked to provide evidence in support of your application. Please note, funding will not be given to pay your tuition fees.
Please read the Success for all fund webpage for further information and eligibility.
A new policy on Sickness Absence Stipend Payment is now in place. This policy makes provision for PGR students who are in receipt of University-funded studentships, for the continuation of stipend payments during a period of interruption of study on medical grounds. Eligible students will be entitled to continue to receive studentship stipend payments whilst interrupted on medical grounds, for up to 13 weeks within any 12-month period, and may do so on more than one occasion (with the total period of studentship funding available to the student extended accordingly). To check to see if you are eligible please read the documents below:
The Alternative Funding Guide can help you find alternative sources of funding-especially charities - which can make awards to any student regardless of subject, or nationality.
UK nationals or those with settled status are eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Loan (government led). The loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate programme. The type of loan you can request will depend on the programme that you are enrolled on: the Postgraduate Masters Loan is available for students registering on a Masters by Research (MByRes) programme and the Doctoral Loan is available for students undertaking an MPhil/PhD or other Doctorate.
Please read through the PGR Student Loans page for more information and for the PGR Loan FAQs
Please refer to the PGR Student Loans page for the full list of FAQs.
Queries about student loans should be directed to your PGR Support Team in the first instance.
Support for PGRs experiencing financial difficulty
Below is a list of support for PGRs who might be experiencing financial difficulty.
The Guild Advice Unit (part of the Students Guild) is here to help any student based in Exeter (Streatham and St Lukes) if you experience financial difficulties during your course. They can offer information and advice on a variety of financial issues.
The SU advice team (part of the The SU) has a wide range of advice for PGRs on Penryn and Truro on what to do, should a student face financial hardship.
They can provide information and advice on student loans, bursaries, grants, tuition fees, welfare benefits, income tax, council tax, financial hardship, debt problems, debt management and budgeting.
We realise that when financial difficulties occur that this can have a series impacts on a student's wellbeing. Therefore we want to remind you of all the wellbeing support available to you should you find yourself in financial difficulity.
Wellbeing - PGR Education Welfare Advisor
If you have any concerns about your mental health or wellbeing, you can speak to the PGR Education Welfare Advisor confidentially and they can give advice and signpost to further support.
Spectrum.Life
Spectrum.Life is a employee assistance programme which is also open to PGRs. They provide confidential telephone, video and live chat counselling service to help with things like stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, bereavement and more. It is easy to access through the online portal, is flexible and provides you with choice and clinically approved resources to help you to manage your health and wellbeing at work and at home.
This is a confidential service and information about who has used it, will not be fed back to the University.
Full list of all the wellbeing support available to PGRs can be found on the PGRs Health and Wellbeing webpage.