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Postgraduate Study

Fees & Funding

How fees are calculated

Postgraduate taught programmes for UK and EU students typically cost £3,670 for entry 2011/12 unless otherwise stated. The majority of our postgraduate tuition fees (full-time and part-time) are charged on a credit point basis.

If a fee amount is detailed as a ‘cost per credit’ the cost of the course can be calculated by multiplying this rate (£xx) x the number of credit points (e.g.180 for Master’s level).

The price per credit point is different for EU students and non-EU students. Fees are reviewed annually, and increases should be expected. Current fees information can be found here.

What is a credit and how does this make up a full qualification?

A credit is a unit of academic measurement. Our postgraduate programmes are made up of a series of modules. Each module has a number of credits and when the following numbers of credit points have been accumulated the following awards are achieved:

  • Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) = 60 credit points
  • Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) = 120 credit points
  • Masters (e.g MSc, MA, MBA, MBS, MFA, MEd) =  normally 180 credit points

The credit point weighting per module for your chosen course can be found here

Payment Options

In addition the tuition fee includes charges for registration, supervision and examination and is payable for each year, or part of the year for which the student is registered. There are a number of flexible options which can help you pay for your course:

  • Pay all at once at registration. This can be either online or using by contacting the fees office on 028 7012 4252 and paying over the telephone.
  • Spread the cost in 5 monthly instalments by direct debit. This option is available providing the balance owing is more than £100.
  • You can send us an employee sponsorship letter, if your employer is to finance your course.

The Fees payment policy document outlines the options available in detail.

Contact us

Guidance notes are available here.

Should you have any queries about the costs, payment methods, etc of our course please contact us.

Postgraduate Funding

Postgraduate students typically fund their own tuition fees and living costs. Some students may receive support from their employers. Grants and loans for postgraduate study are limited but might be available depending on your circumstances. Useful advice and links to assist you in the process of researching funding your studies is available from Student Support.

Appointments with Ulster`s Student Support advisers can be booked at our four campuses.

Applicants from Northern Ireland to the PGCE should contact the appropriate Education and Library Board for details of financial support.

Useful information guides for funding and applications can be downloaded here:

Republic of Ireland Students

New Grant Applications for 2012-13

In autumn 2011 a single Student Grant Scheme replaced the 4 main support schemes for students. They were:

  • Higher Education Grants Scheme
  • Vocational Education Committees` Scholarship Scheme
  • Third Level Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees
  • Maintenance Grants Scheme for Students Attending Post-Leaving Certificate Courses

A new ONLINE ONLY grant applications system is being introduced for 2012. All new applications will be made online to a single awarding authority, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) through Student Finance.

No maintenance grants will be paid for new entrants on postgraduate courses from the 2012-13 academic year.

Fee grants will continue to be paid for those postgraduate students who would previously have qualified for the special rate of grant. In addition, based on their means, a further 4,000 postgraduate students will get a €2,000 fee contribution grant. The income threshold for this payment (which will be lower than the standard grant threshold) has not yet been determined.

The 2012-2013 updates to the Student Grant Scheme are due to be published in May 2012.

Further information is available from Student Finance and Citizens Information. An overview guide can be downloaded here

North-South Postgraduate Scholarships 2012

Universities Ireland, which promotes collaboration between universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), the largest energy company on the island of Ireland, are offering five scholarships to students undertaking a recognised Masters or the first year of a PhD programme (taught or research) in the other Irish jurisdiction.

These scholarships are worth €15,000 (approx. £12,500) each. This year, three of the scholarships will be in the areas of energy and engineering, and will be co-sponsored by Universities Ireland and ESB. Two more will be in another area, such as arts, business, science or social science, and will be funded by Universities Ireland alone. These scholarships must be taken up for the academic year 2012-2013. Further details on the scholarships can be found here. A copy of the brochure can be downloaded here. The closing date for applications for this scholarship scheme will be Friday 25th May 2012 (5 pm). The winning applicants will be selected by a high level panel comprising two university presidents (one from the North, one from the South) and a senior executive from ESB. Shortlisting will take place in early-mid June.

International Students

If you are an international student please click here.