Postgraduate study

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) have announced that are providing up to £125million of extra funding to students from disadvantaged backgrounds into postgraduate study, which has been identified as a potential barrier to social mobility.

An initial £25million fund will distribute grants of between £300,000 and £3million to universities and colleges to attract and support disadvantaged students into postgraduate education.

After studying its success, the government will then invest an additional £50million in removing financial or cultural barriers to participation in postgraduate education.

For further information visit www.gov.uk/government/news/75-million-investment-in-removing-barriers-to-postgraduate-study.

HEFCE has also published a review showing students' economic background, school history and undergraduate institution all play a role in determining levels of enrolment at postgraduate level.

The review also notes that the English postgraduate sector is globally successful, and postgraduates gain considerable benefits from their study, including increased employability and earnings.

To download the review visit www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/year/2013/201314/#d.en.82615.