Funding set to remove barriers to postgraduate study

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Photo credit: Jack Western

Disadvantaged students interested in a postgraduate degree at York are set to secure extra support, due to a grant award of nearly £3m from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).

The extra funding, hoping to attract and support disadvantaged students into postgraduate education, follows a successful consortium bid led by the University of Sheffield, which includes the universities of York, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Warwick.

The grant will be used to boost take-up of students studying taught postgraduate programmes, particularly among under-represented groups, such as those from disadvantaged backgrounds, mature students and people with caring responsibilities.

Dr Jane Grenville, Acting Vice-Chancellor, said: “We are very pleased to be part of this important initiative. It will enable institutions to develop a better understanding of the constraints and barriers to progression to postgraduate studies, particularly for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as providing financial support for their studies.”

“As a world leader in the generation and transmission of knowledge, we attach great importance to social inclusion and it is one of the major objectives of the University Plan.”

The extra cash will also help fund targeted interventions including information, advice and guidance to promote and facilitate entry to postgraduate study.

The six institutions will match fund the award to create a total of over £5m, which will be spent this on a number of initiatives such as new financial support packages for postgraduates. Packages will include scholarships and career development loans, as well as new academic products designed to encourage and enable graduates to enter postgraduate study with a focus on higher-level skills and their post-study professions.

Following the outcome of the scheme in 2015, the Government has also pledged to invest an additional £50m in removing financial or cultural barriers to participation in postgraduate education.

Completing a postgraduate degree has been shown to increase social mobility and play a crucial part in creating a skilled workforce.