Page content

When you have decided to study at Ulster, you will need to identify how much it will cost and what funding options are available to you.

With the many different courses available, it is important to ensure that you have chosen a course that is going to get you the qualifications you need to progress into your chosen career.

Before commencing your graduate or postgraduate study, ensure you have sufficient funds available to cover your daily living costs for the duration of your course as maintenance support is not available for all courses.

Select the area of study you are interested in, for further details on funding available.

Postgraduate Funding

  • PGCE / Integrated Master's degrees

    Students completing a full-time PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate of Education), or an Integrated Master's degree are funded through the undergraduate student funding system. If completing any of the above on a part-time basis, please see 'Other Postgraduate Study' for more information.

    Tuition Fee Funding

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland can apply to Student Finance NI (Tuition Fee Loan) for a Tuition Fee loan.
    • GB students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Tuition Fee support. SAAS, SFE, SFW.
    • ROI & EU students can apply to Student Finance EU for a Tuition Fee loan.
    • International students must arrange payment of Tuition Fees with the Finance Department.
    • The Student Funding bodies will pay Tuition Fees directly to Ulster University.

    Maintenance Funding

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland can apply to Student Finance NI for a maintenance loan and grant. Calculations are based on household income and as such, not all students who apply will be eligible for a maintenance grant.
    • Those with dependents may be eligible to Special Support Grant and Extra Help through Childcare Grant, Adult Dependents' Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance. Calculations are based on household income and not all students who apply will receive a grant. Please refer to SFNI website for full details of available support.
    • GB students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Maintenance support. SAAS, SFE, SFW.
    • ROI Students can apply to SUSI for a means-test grant.
    • Maintenance support is not available for EU or International students, therefore you must be able to meet your own daily living costs whilst completing your course.

    Maintenance funding is to help with essential daily living costs whilst completing your course. Payments are made in three instalments during the academic year. Please refer to the payment schedule found on your Student Finance Notification of Entitlement letter.

    SFNI maintenance funding awards for the academic year 2024/25:

    • Students coming from a household with an income of £19,203 or less will be in receipt of a maximum maintenance grant of £3,475. This grant will replace some of the maintenance loan available to them, meaning there is less funding to be repaid:
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum award of £6,610 (£3,135 loan & £3,475 grant)
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £8,136 (£4,661 loan & £3,475 grant)
    • Students coming from a household with an income over £19,203 & under £41,540 will be in receipt of a mixture of a maintenance loan and a maintenance grant. This grant will replace some of the maintenance loan available to them, meaning there is less funding to be repaid. For example, those coming from a household with an income of £30,000:
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum award of £5,250 (£4,035 loan & £1,215 grant)
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £6,776 (£5,561 loan & £1,215 grant)
    • Students coming from a household with an income over £41,540 are not eligible for a maintenance grant, and their funding award will be a maintenance loan only.
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum loan of  £3,938
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £5,082

    Please note that students in Final year will receive reduced funding to that listed above as they do not complete a full year of study, full details of this can be provided by contacting SNFI directly.

    Funding Exceptions

    Students can avail of ONE additional year's funding (for both Tuition fees and Maintenance support) through the 'plus one' rule, should they be required to repeat all or part of an academic year. Should a second repeat year (full or partial) be required, students will have to fully fund any fees incurred.

    Students who already hold a degree or equivalent are not eligible for any of the funding listed above. As such, students will need to meet these costs themselves. Please see the Self-Funded Study section below.

    Additional Mandatory Costs

    Due to the nature of these courses, additional mandatory costs can be expected, please ensure you are aware of these and have made sufficient provisions to cover these before commencing your course. For further information on such costs, please view course specific information at Ulster University.

    Additional Funding Information

    Students who complete an integrated Masters cannot access further 'Postgraduate Funding'.

    Students who complete a PGCE can avail of an SFNI Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan (see 'Other Postgraduate Study' section below.

  • Graduate Entry Medicine

    Tuition Fee Funding

    • NI & ROI students can apply for a Medical Education Scholarship to cover the cost of their Tuition Fees.
    • GB students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Tuition Fee support. SAAS, SFE, SFW.
    • UK Students can apply for Bank of Ireland Graduate Medical School borrowing to cover the cost of tuition fees each year of the course.
    • EU/International students or those who are not successful in obtaining a scholarship, will need to arrange Tuition Fee Payment directly with the Fees office. If you have studied at Ulster university before, you may be eligible for a discount.

    Maintenance Funding

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland can apply to Student Finance NI for a maintenance loan only. Calculations are based on household income and as such, not all students who apply will be eligible for the maximum amount. Maintenance grants are not available.
    • Due to the nature of this course, students may also be eligible to receive a Travel Grant to alleviate the cost of travel to practical education placements.
    • Those with dependents may be eligible to received an Adult Dependents' Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance. Calculations are based on household income and not all students who apply will receive a grant. Please refer to SFNI website for full details of available support.
    • GB students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Maintenance support. SAAS, SFE, SFW.
    • ROI, EU and International students will need to ensure they are able to meet their own daily living costs for the duration of their study.

    Maintenance funding is to help with essential daily living costs whilst completing your course. Payments are made in three instalments during the academic year. Please refer to the payment schedule found on your Student Finance Notification of Entitlement letter.

    Additional Mandatory Costs

    Due to the nature of this course, additional mandatory costs can be expected, please ensure you are aware of these and have made sufficient provisions to cover these before commencing your course. For further information on such costs, please view course specific information at Ulster University.

  • Other Postgraduate Study

    Tuition Fee Funding

    Postgraduate Tuition Fees loans are available to students completing a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, and taught or research Masters. The course must be completed within three years or less, whether on a full-time or part-time basis.

    The maximum SFNI tuition fee loan available is £6,500. Maintenance support is not available through SFNI, therefore an alternative source of funding should be arranged, such as part-time work or savings.

    PhD Research

    PhD researchers should visit The Doctoral College for course specific information. You may be eligible to apply for a Studentship.

    Funding Exceptions

    The Postgraduate Tuition Fee loan is available to students who already hold a postgraduate qualification of any level providing that you have not already availed of this loan in previous years. If you have already taken a loan, you will need to arrange Tuition Fees Payment. If you have studied at Ulster university before, you may be eligible for a discount.

    Additional Mandatory Costs

    Due to the nature of these courses, additional mandatory costs can be expected, please ensure you are aware of these and have made sufficient provisions to cover these before commencing your course. For further information on such costs, please view course specific information at Ulster University.

  • Self-funded Study / Additional sources of Funding

    University Funding

    Scholarships and Prizes are available through various schools, courses and external organisations. Each has its own eligibility criteria. Please take your time to read through the information provided to ensure you are eligible before applying.

    External Funding

    Commonwealth Scholarships Commission provides support to International Students studying in the UK. Scholarships provide talented and motivated individuals with the opportunity to enhance knowledge and skills in their given sector, in order to contribute to sustainable development in their home countries.

    Students completing Graduate Entry Medicine can apply for Bank of Ireland Graduate Medical School borrowing to cover the cost of tuition fees each year of the course.

    Student bank accounts off access to interest free overdrafts for the duration of your course. Graduate accounts are available through some high street banks. They are the cheapest and most flexible way to borrow money, if managed wisely.

    Personal Loans can sourced online or through local high street branches. Shop around for the most affordable deals with the lowest interest rate.

    Credit Union loans can be sourced through your local branch both in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. You will need to be a member and will require some savings first. Credit Unions offer loans without any hidden charges or fees for early repayment.

    NI & ROI students may be eligible to apply for a North/South Postgraduate Scholarship should they choose to study a Master’s Degree or are entering the first year of a PhD programme at a university in the island of Ireland that is not in the same jurisdiction as the university where they have previously studied

    Part-time work

    If you are currently employed, speak to your employer about sponsorship to help fully or part-fund your course.

    Self-fund your course by working whilst studying part-time.

    Visit Employability and Graduate Futures for support with CV writing and employability skills.

    Search for available placements and jobs through Handshake.

    You can search Job Apply NI and NI Job Finder for current vacancies.

    Don't forget to check local recruitment agencies and in-store advertisements for local vacancies.