Wise councils aim to ease the problem of debt

Government-backed research agencies are the engines of postgraduate student funding. Chris Brown outlines the options available to help finance a range of further studies

In a school near you, pupils are coming face to face with men and women in white coats. Don't worry; the pupils are perfectly safe. These creatures from the laboratory have become "Researchers in Resååidence" ­ postgraduate engineering and science students visiting schools to open the eyes of boys and girls to the wonders of science.

In a school near you, pupils are coming face to face with men and women in white coats. Don't worry; the pupils are perfectly safe. These creatures from the laboratory have become "Researchers in Resååidence" ­ postgraduate engineering and science students visiting schools to open the eyes of boys and girls to the wonders of science.

The aim is to promote the study of science and engineering ­ an area whose popularity has declined. The schools get "real" scientists to bring a fresh perspective. The researchers get the chance to get out of the labs and learn communication skills. What's more, the students' costs are borne solely by their research funding council.

The Researchers in Residence scheme is just one way in which future students are being tempted into universities' science and engineering departments. And it helps existing students improve their employment chances after gaining the elusive PhD, demonstrating an increased flexibility to funding.

The engines of postgraduate funding are the government-funded research councils, which support research in a variety of disciplines. Postgrad funding is part of a range of responsibilities.

There are seven councils: Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB); Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC); Medical Research Council (MRC); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); and the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC). Each offers studentships to individual students, but competition is intense and a place on a postgrad course does not automatically entitle the recipient to an award.

The ESRC invests more than £46m a year in social science research, supporting up to 2,000 researchers in universities and higher education colleges. A variety of funding schemes is available to allow a flexible approach to postgraduate study. Examples include the "Programmes and Priority Networks", which brings together individual studies to co-ordinate scientific effort on selected topics. Meanwhile, the "Virtual Society" programme examines the role of technology in work and social relationships.

Grants are awarded to individual researchers and teams in response to proposals, while fellowships are awarded to social scientists after studying to conduct individual research under the ESRC's remit.

The EPSRC has allowed universities more control over PhD student funding. From October, new Doctoral Training Accounts (DTAs) will give EPSRC funding for PhD training to the universities rather than direct to students. It is hoped that DTAs will allow universities to attract students by offering higher stipends ­ above the EPSRC's minimum of £7,500 from October ­ or to offer support for longer than the usual three years. The aim is to balance universities' desire to gain more students ­ and the resulting finance they gain from fees ­ with the need for high-quality training.

The PPARC is considering a similar move. Its version would determine a department's allocation of studentships. The quota would be turned into a sum of money for a department, which it would use to manage all its postgraduate-level training. The council estimates that departments will get an average of £13,500 per student per year.

All this is vital for the debt-ridden student. Access to funding for postgraduate study is essential. Fees for one-year MA courses in the social sciences at Liverpool University are £2,740, while a one-year course in the Faculty of Engineering costs £9,200 for the full academic year. Add living costs, and postgrad students can be looking at £10,000 or higher ­ more if they are in London.

A decade ago there were about 100,000 postgraduates in the UK. Today there are 360,000, with more than 15,500 programmes available. Too many students are chasing too little cash, and many end up footing the bill themselves. Competition for awards is fierce ­ there are only 8,000 or so. So it is worth reminding yourself that if you plan to go on to further study, you will have to provide some or all of your financing, whether that be from savings, sponsorships, loans or part-time work.

Scholarships are offered by universities and by independent bodies, such as the Wingate Scholarships. The prestigious schemes are fiercely competitive and require well-thought-out applications. Adverts appear in academic departments, scholarship offices, careers services and the education and specialist press. Inquire in good time as awards may be made as much as a year in advance. Academic departments seek commercial sponsorship for postgraduate study, especially in science and engineering. Such links with business can significantly enhance your employment prospects. Many part-time postgraduate students receive support from their employers, once they have shown commitment and potential.

The demands of combining work and study should not be underestimated. Local authorities may fund future employees through courses such as social work, and Training and Enterprise Councils may help the unemployed. Be realistic about what you can undertake without your studies suffering.

Finally, you could try for a career development loan. Designed to fund training to improve career prospects, this scheme levies no interest for the length of the course and up to a month afterwards. You can borrow between £200 and £8,000 to cover 80 per cent of fees, study-related costs and living costs.

Useful information can be found at the following websites, www.prospects.csu.ac.uk and www.postgrad.hobsons.com

c.brown@independent.co.uk