Scholarships, bursaries, awards, and funding for entry 2008
Introduction
This page is designed to provide you with comprehensive information about the range of ways in which you can fund your postgraduate study. Please read the eligibility requirements for all awards carefully as some may have restrictions about who can apply, for example with regards to age or residency. Note that School of Informatics scholarships are open to all well-qualified full time postgraduate applicants, without restrictions.
Scholarships, bursaries, awards
School of Informatics Scholarships
The School of Informatics offers a number of scholarships of £2,000 for both home and overseas well-qualified postgraduate students on the following one year full-time master's courses:
Scholarships will be offered to both home and overseas well-qualified applicants wishing to take up a place on any of the above courses in September 2008. The scholarships, each valued at £2,000, are intended to assist students to pay the fees for their chosen course of study. They will be awarded on a competitive basis to the most promising applicants.
How to apply
Complete an application form for your chosen programme of study, attaching a letter stating that you also wish to be considered for an Informatics Scholarship. Exceptionally well qualified applicants will be offered a scholarship at the time we make an offer of a place on the programme.
Deadlines for application
We will consider applications at three points in the year. If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, please make sure we receive your COMPLETE application form (ie complete references, transcripts etc) and letter by one of these dates.
Terms and conditions
1. Scholarships are awarded at the sole discretion of the Course Director. Course Directors may require applicants to submit an assignment or an essay, for example, as part of the selection process.
2. Scholarships are only available to students paying the full fee on one of the participating courses.
3. The scholarship is intended to assist the student meet the cost of the fee payable in respect of the course and will be deducted from the fees charged to the student or the student's sponsor.
4. The scholarship will not be recorded on the degree certificate from the University. However, references for students who have successfully completed the course may refer to the scholarship.
5. Applicants may only apply for a scholarship once, but if a deadline is missed it will automatically be considered for the next round.
Note that anyone who applied for the scholarships under previous rules will automatically be considered under the new rules.
Tel: 020 7040 0248
Email: pginfo@soi.city.ac.uk
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Sir John Cass Foundation Scholarships
The Sir John Cass's Foundation has up to £40,000 of postgraduate scholarships to award to students from inner London studying at City University. The maximum value of an award will be £10,000 depending on circumstances. The awards will go towards living expenses and tuition fees and are intended to relieve financial hardship.
Applications are invited from students who meet the following criteria: a permanent resident of inner London for at least 1 year; under the age of 25; achieved at least a 2:1 undergraduate degree; from a low income background; studying on a full time or part time taught Masters programme and not already in possession of a postgraduate qualification. Priority will be given to students with a disability.
More details can be obtained from the Student Funds Service at City University. Deadline: 31 October 2008.Tel: 020 7040 8033
Email: fundsservice@city.ac.uk
Web: www.city.ac.uk/studentcentre/support/scholarships/postgrad.html
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AHRC Professional Preparation Master’s Scheme Awards
Well-qualified applicants on the following programmes of study may be eligible for a full maintenance and fees award or a fees-only award, depending on which criteria of residency etc they meet.
For a full award, applicants must have been resident in the UK for three years or more prior to start of the award. For EU nationals this can include time spent in the UK for education, but for non-EU nationals residency must have been for purposes other than education. Fees-only awards are available for EU nationals who have been resident in the EU for more than three years prior to the start of the award. Non-EU nationals cannot apply for fees-only awards. Applicants holding 'time-limited visas' are not eligible. Deadline: first Friday in April 2008.
Tel: 0117 987 6543
Web: www.ahrc.ac.uk
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The Alex McVitty Memorial Award
The Memorial Award provides financial assistance of £1,500 towards living expenses. One award each year is offered to a full time home or overseas applicant on the following programmes of study who wishes to develop a career in law librarianship and can demonstrate financial need. All prospective students for the two programmes of study below are interviewed by Admissions Tutors, and applications for the award can be discussed at that point.
History of the award: Alex McVitty studied for an MSc in Information Science at City University in 1997-98. Tragically Alex died in a road accident whilst cycling to her work as a law librarian. As Alex had to fund herself through the course, combining study with part-time library jobs, her family and friends chose to establish a memorial fund to provide an annual award to help a student wishing to pursue a career in law librarianship. The memorial award fund is administered by The British and Irish Association of Law Librarians.
Tel: 020 7040 0248
Email: pginfo@soi.city.ac.uk
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The Stationers’ and Newspaper Makers’ Company Bursary
The Educational Charity of the above company provide an annual bursary worth £6,000 to support an applicant on the following programme of study at City University. The award is open to persons under 25 years of age on 1st May. Residency requirements apply.
Patrick Shorten, Chairman of the Trustees of the Educational Charity said "The world wide web is a world apart from the manuscript books produced by the booksellers and limners of the original Guild in 1403. But The Stationers' Company seeks to remain as relevant and representative to its members as it ever has. E-publishing is clearly here to stay and at City we know that the education and skills our bursary holder will gain will be the best to equip them in their new media career."
The School of Informatics will select candidates for the award from applicants who are made an offer of a place on the programme before the summer. Candidates for the award will be invited to an interview with staff from the School of Informatics and the Educational Charity of the Stationers' and Newspaper Makers' Company.
Web: www.stationers.org/
Note that The School of Informatics administers this award. The above web address is for information only.
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Scholarships for students from Iraq
The Iraqi Higher Education Organising Committee in the United Kingdom are offering 10 scholarships through the MBI AL JABER FOUNDATION to study for a postgraduate degree. The applications are open to all Iraqi nationals who have the necessary qualifications for admission and who have an offer from one of four London universities.
Web: www.soi.city.ac.uk/pgcourses/iraqischolarships.html
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The government gives the University money, known as the Access to Learning Fund, to distribute to students who are experiencing financial hardship. These funds are administered by the Student Funds Service, part of the Accommodation and Welfare Service at City University.
Tel: 020 7040 8033 Email: fundsservice@city.ac.uk
Web: www.city.ac.uk/studentfunds/alf.html
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Applicants requiring information about charities and trusts are advised to consult the following publications:
The Charity Commission has a register containing information about all UK charities, grant-making trusts and foundations.
Web: www.charity-commission.gov.uk
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Schools Competition Act Settlement Trust
New opportunities for student funding for postgraduate degrees.
Web: www.scast.org.uk
Financial assistance to support your learning
For information on financial assistance to support your learning, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning or contact 0800 585505.
Freefone: 0800 585505
Web: www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning
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Your own bank may offer loans. Banks sometimes prefer to finance vocational courses and you may be required to demonstrate that the programme of study will improve your long-term career prospects (and ability to pay back the loan).
Working whilst studying
Some employers may offer financial support for part time study, but usually only where employees have proved their value and for study that relates to their work. It is not usual for companies to sponsor students who are not their current employees._________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Some of our programmes are available on a part time or flexible study basis enabling students to combine work and study.
Web: www.soi.city.ac.uk/pgcourses/
Web:www.soi.city.ac.uk/pgcourses/flexiblestudy.html
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The City University Student Employment Service, part of the Centre for Career and Skills Development, can help with information on part time and temporary work.
Tel: 020 7040 8093
Email: ses@city.ac.uk
Web: www.city.ac.uk/ses/
Benefits
Part-time students may be eligible for housing, council tax and other benefits. As the rules are complex, we advise checking with your local benefit agency. Full time students do not normally receive benefits, but may be eligible for exemption from Council Tax.
Web: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/cms.asp?Page=/Home/AboutUs/OurOffices
City student fee reductions
Fee reductions for City University students and alumni
Current City University undergraduate students or alumni who progress to a School of Informatics postgraduate degree are automatically entitled to either a 20% or 10%* fee reduction. * first class degree = 20% reduction. 2.1 degree = 10% reduction
Extra information for EU and international students
Notes for EU and international students
You may be eligible for some of the funding sources listed, eg for School of Informatics scholarships, but may find you do not meet the residency requirements of others.
Generally, you will need to explore sources of funding in your own country and the scholarships and bursaries available from the British government (via other governments). These sources of funding are usually applied for through your own government, not from within the UK and will have closing dates for application. For information, contact:
Web: http://www.britishcouncil.org.uk/learning-funding-your-studies.htm?mtklink=funding-your-studies-corporate-hompage-link
International students: note that it important that aim to submit your application to us by the end of July in order for you to obtain your visa before the start of the programme.
Prizes for excellence in study
The Catherine D Hamilton Prize
This prize, for the most outstanding Master's dissertation in the broad area of information retrieval or electronic text management, is awarded annually in memory of Catherine D. Hamilton, a distinguished former student of the Department of Information Science at City University and a senior figure within the information science community. Students on the following degrees are eligible:
The prize is awarded each year by the Board of Examiners in Information Science who will be looking for work which by virtue of its originality and academic distinction makes a substantial contribution to knowledge in this area. The Board reserves the right not to award the prize in a particular year if these criteria are not met.
The prize is worth £250 and is administered on City's behalf by CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals.
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Awarded each year to the best part-time student on one of the following programmes:
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Awarded each year for a student on one of the following programmes for the best dissertation contributing to professional practice:
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Awarded each year to the best student on the following programme:
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Dept of Computing Best Student Prize
Awarded each year to the best student on one of the following programmes:
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Dept of Computing Outstanding Project Prize
Awarded each year to the student with the best project on one of the following programmes: