Postgraduate studies are a big investment. Bath Spa University has a wide range of funding possibilities to explore.
This booklet will help you understand the financial support available to you whilst at university. It covers everything from important dates, Bath Spa funding and some top tips.
A Postgraduate Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study. For information on how to apply and you student finance entitlement, please visit:
The loan is not means tested and is paid directly into your bank account in three instalments during the academic year.
If you study part-time, you can be considered for a loan provided your study is no more than twice the length of the equivalent full-time course (up to a maximum of four years).
You can get student finance for the following postgraduate teacher training courses:
If you study part-time, the Initial Teacher Training course needs to be at least 25% intensity in order for students to be eligible for a part-time loan for tuition fees and maintenance.
If you'd like to find out more about available funding, please visit our PGCE funding webpages.
The University Access Fund provides limited discretionary financial support for students who are experiencing financial difficulty and are unable to meet basic or unexpected additional costs from other sources of support.
The fund can also offer limited support to students who have experienced a change in financial circumstances due to unforeseen events.
Bath Spa University offers a range of scholarship opportunities to help you fund your postgraduate study with us.
More information on Scholarships is available on our webpages.
The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding is a searchable database of funding from the voluntary sector which is available to Bath Spa students.
To use this resource, choose option 1 to ‘register for a username and password’ using your Bath Spa email address.
Bath Spa University is eligible to certify loan applications for William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans (Direct Loans) including Direct subsidized loans, Direct Unsubsidized Loans, Parent PLUS loans and Graduate PLUS loans.
The Bath Spa University school code is: G35333.
More information about US Federal Direct Loans is available on the Federal Student Aid website via the following link www.ed.gov.
For information on Federal Aid, fee payments and general financial information, please see the US federal loans webpage.
The only private loan currently available to students at foreign schools is the Sallie Mae Student Loan.
Please review the Direct Lending programme before you progress with a private loan as this may be a more favourable option
For information on private loans, fee payments and general financial information, please see the US private loans webpage.
Bath Spa University participates in the US Veterans Affairs Educational Benefits Program and is approved to process Veterans Affairs Benefits under various GI Bill programmes.
The University is unable to process Yellow Ribbon Benefits Programme.
US Veterans or their dependants can use funding to contribute towards tuition fees and living expenses whilst studying at Bath Spa University.
Bath Spa University will need to confirm your attendance before your benefits will be released. This confirmation is sent via VA 22-1999 form.
For information on Veterans Affairs Benefits, fee payments and general financial information, please see the Veterans Affairs Benefits webpages.
The Government of Canada offers full and part-time loans to students with demonstrated financial need in all provinces and territories across Canada, with the exception of Quebec, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
The purpose of a Canadian Student Loan is to supplement, not replace, the financial resources that you (and your family, where applicable) are expected to contribute.
For information on Canadian Loans, fee payments and general financial information, please see our funding for Canadian students webpage.
Bath Spa University offers a range of scholarship opportunities for high-achieving international students who would gain from studying in the UK. The scholarship programme includes opportunities at undergraduate level.
For information on Scholarships, please see the Scholarships webpages.
Living costs, sometimes called maintenance, includes; accommodation, food, clothing, books, entertainment and travel in the UK. As per UK Visas and Immigration, estimated living costs for an international student on a degree course are estimated to be £9,135 per 9-month academic year (£1,015 per month), or £12,180 for a full year. These figures are approximate and vary with different lifestyles.
For help with budgeting, the UK Council of International Students support the International Student Calculator.
The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding is a searchable database of funding from the voluntary sector which is available to Bath Spa students.
To use this resource, choose option 1 to ‘register for a username and password’ using your Bath Spa email address.
Each academic year, the SWDTP funds places for doctoral students across the social sciences. For Bath Spa studentships, our eligible subject areas are:
The SWDTP supports doctoral students by developing not only their research skills, but by offering a wide range of training, placements, activities, and events as well. They work in a collaborative way across nine institutions and have SWDTP students that will also form part of your cohort.
Applications for funding are now open and close in January 2026.
See the SWDTP website for further information and for eligibility. Students applying for ESRC funded studentships are encouraged to speak to their chosen supervisor at Bath Spa prior to application to discuss their research ideas with a suitable supervisor. Here's where you can find details of the Bath Spa PhD application process.
Students are encouraged to look at ways of incorporating collaboration with external partners into their research proposal. Collaboration does not always have to be a financial arrangement and could take the form of a placement, voluntary work, data sharing or other payment in kind opportunities. Students considering overseas fieldwork, overseas institutional visits or difficult language training should also mention this in their application.
Once you've identified a suitable supervisor, you should submit your application through the Bath Spa University admissions portal.
The deadline for submitting your funding application to the ESRC is 12 noon (GMT) Friday 9 January 2026, and the deadline for submitting your PhD application to Bath Spa University is Monday 19 January 2026.
If you need additional assistance, you are welcome to contact the Graduate College at pgradmissions@bathspa.ac.uk.
As of August 2018, loans are now available from the UK government for those wishing to undertake doctoral research – further information can be found on the UK government website.
A large online database of funding opportunities, FindAPhD is a helpful tool for those looking to fund their Postgraduate Research Degree.
The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding is a web resource for current and prospective postgraduate students (any subject, any nationality) who are looking to fund PhD, Masters and PGCE study in the UK through grants from charities, trusts and foundations.
Jobs.ac.uk is an online searchable portal, showing hundreds of funded PhD opportunities from across the UK.
We can help you manage your finances and check that you’re getting all the funding you’re entitled to. We have a number of bursaries and scholarships, and our Student Finance team can offer support and advice if you’re having financial problems.
Cost of living