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Posted July 23, 2025

The charities, foundations and trusts offering grants for masters programs in the UK

Applying for grants offers a lifeline for students looking to expand their knowledge and strengthen their skillsets with postgraduate study. Postgraduate education can after all be very expensive indeed; yet with a grant, you can find financial help to cover tuition fees, living costs, research expenses and course materials, meaning less reliance on loans or part-time work, and more focus on your studies.

For many others, grants make postgraduate education accessible, with those from lower-income backgrounds or underrepresented groups afforded the opportunities they deserve. 

The fact that, unlike loans, grants don’t need to be repaid can also have a hugely positive impact on a postgrad’s future prospects. Grants ease the long -erm financial pressure that often goes hand-in-hand with traditional postgraduate loan repayments, and you’ll feel a lot lighter for it.

But, enough about the benefits of grants, you’ll want to know how and where to apply to secure that all-important financial support. We recommend starting with the charities, foundations and trusts below…

The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust

Assisting students in the fields of medicine, dentistry and veterinary science with their postgraduate studies, the Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust has long been a valuable source of support. 

The Trust was established back in 1919. Despite its founder – businessman and philanthropist Sir Richard Stapley – passing away the following year, the Trust has continued to help some of the greatest minds continue their academic journeys and pursue postgraduate study with the right financial backing.

The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust runs grant rounds annually, with the award amount ranging from £550 to £1,250. While the grant round for 2025/26 has now closed, you can sign up now to be alerted about the next grant round for academic year 2026/27, which is due to open on Monday 5th January 2026.

The Leverhulme Trust

The Leverhulme Trust has proudly awarded over 600 grants to date and funded 163 institutions as well as many more individuals. They spent £120.3 million in 2024 alone, providing the funding students from all walks of life need to progress.

Their grants for postgraduate study provide bursaries of up to £5,000. Successful applicants can use the funds to cover everything from postgraduate accommodation and living expenses to tuition fees and equipment costs. Find out more about the eligibility criteria for the Leverhulme Trust’s postgraduate grants here.

The Wellcome Trust

As a charitable foundation focused on health research, the Wellcome Trust is committed to achieving “extraordinary improvements in health by supporting the brightest minds”. So, it should come as no surprise that they provide a long list of funding opportunities. The Trust has been making a difference since 1936, with the legacy of one man being the start of it all as Wellcome explains:

“We were founded in 1936 after the death of Sir Henry Wellcome, a pharmaceutical entrepreneur, with a pioneering approach to drug design. In his will, he left us three important things: his wealth; his collection of historical medical items; and our mission to improve health through research. Since our formation, we have supported breakthroughs in scientific discoveries and advocated for policies to improve health for everyone.”

The Wellcome Trust has four key strategic programmes, namely in the areas of discovery research, climate and health, infectious disease, and mental health. They aim to spend £16 billion in the next decade to support tomorrow’s most advanced solutions and make vital discoveries that help society overcome the urgent health challenges of today. Find a funding opportunity with Wellcome to get started.

The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851

The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 awards numerous postgraduate fellowships and scholarships up to the value of nearly £4 million annually.

The charity aims to support advanced study and research in the realms of science, engineering, the built environment and design, as well as raise awareness amongst young people about the opportunities available within these areas. Its alumni offer a who’s who of award winners and industry leaders, including 13 Nobel Laureates.

Apply for a Postgrad Solutions Study Bursary

Getting the funding to fulfil your dream of studying postgraduate is just a click away. Apply for a Postgrad Solutions Study Bursary right now, every postgraduate student is eligible! We have five bursaries available, worth £2,000 each, so don’t miss out!

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