Funding opportunities for masters students
Loan and scholarship funding is available for some students taking taught postgraduate degrees at Sheffield. Read on to find out more.
The School of Information, Journalism and Communication is deeply committed to ensuring that students from a wide range of backgrounds have the opportunity to study with us.
We work with our faculty and community to promote higher education to groups where participation is lower, and we strongly support the funding opportunities below which address this imperative.
Funding sources for all masters courses
Alumni Rewards
Degree course: all
Students: University of Sheffield graduates
Value: up to 20% of tuition fee, capped at £2500
Deadline: no need to apply - tick 'studied at Sheffield' box on application
The University of Sheffield offers a fee reduction to postgraduate students who have taken an undergraduate degree at the University.
International Merit Postgraduate Scholarship
Degree course: all
Students: International
Value: £10,000 towards original tuition fee
Deadline: 1:00pm (UK time) Monday 12 May 2025
Each scholarship is a competitive award worth £10,000 towards the original tuition fee for a postgraduate taught programme starting in September 2025. The scholarships are available to all new international students who meet the eligibility criteria.
You must hold an offer to study at the University of Sheffield.
International Merit Postgraduate Scholarships
International Postgraduate Taught Scholarship
Degree course: all
Students: Selected regions (see webpage for full list of countries)
Value: £2,000
Deadline: 8 July 2025 (to accept your offer of a place on a course)
Discounts of £2,000 will be applied by the University of Sheffield to all postgraduate tuition fees for international students applying for courses in the Faculty of Social Sciences, as long as they meet the criteria. See the website for more information.
International Postgraduate Taught Scholarships
Postgraduate student loans
Degree course: all
Students: home fee paying
Repayable loans similar to those available for undergraduate study are available for taught postgraduate study. Terms and values differ for students from the UK's four constituent nations – check the website for more information.
Funding for masters degrees in journalism
The Dan Walker journalism scholarship
Degree course: MA Journalism or MA Broadcast Journalism
Students: UK
Value: £10,000 to be used towards tuition fees or living expenses
Deadline: 1:00pm, 24th June 2025
The Dan Walker journalism scholarship
Scott Trust bursaries
Degree course: MA Journalism
Students: UK
Value: At least £6741 living expenses + tuition fees, work experience at The Guardian (expenses paid), a professional mentor and possible work opportunity after graduation.
Deadline: 5:00pm, 24 March 2025
The Guardian Foundation offers bursaries at the University of Sheffield each year for an aspiring journalist to study for a postgraduate qualification in journalism. These awards actively seek applicants from groups who are underrepresented in the profession.
BAFTA Scholarship Programme
Degree course: MA Broadcast Journalism
Students: UK
Value: up to £12,000
Deadline: Applications are now closed and will open again in Spring 2025.
This award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) also offers mentoring support from a BAFTA member and free access to BAFTA events around the UK.
Journalism Diversity Fund
Degree course: MA Journalism
Students: UK
Value: course costs and some living expenses
Deadline: several cohorts through the year; check website for details
The Journalism Diversity Fund seeks to widen the social make-up of professional journalism. The fund offers financial support to students who may be unable to pay for NCTJ training courses.
The George Viner Memorial Fund
Degree course: MA Journalism, MA Broadcast Journalism, BA Journalism Studies
Students: Black and Asian students from the UK or Ireland, who have an offer for MA Journalism, MA Broadcast Journalism and BA Journalism Studies.
Value: Accommodation, books, course fees, travel expenses and other expenditure.
Deadline: TBC
The George Viner Memorial Fund was set up by the National Union of Journalists specifically to help broaden the ethnic diversity of journalists working in the media in the UK and Ireland. To apply, download the application form from the website and send it to georgeviner@nuj.org.uk.
The Aziz Foundation Scholarship
Degree course: all
Students: British Muslims
Value: 100% of tuition fees
Deadline: first cycle deadline 12:00 noon 4 April 2025. Second cycle 12:00 noon 20 June 2025.
This scholarship offers financial and professional support to British Muslims who are dedicated to bringing positive change to society. The postgraduate scholarships are for students with career aspirations in law, media, journalism or policy.
Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust masters scholarships
Degree course: MA Global Journalism, MA International Public and Political Communication
Students: International
Value: tuition fee waiver and maintenance stipend.
Deadline: 1pm (UK TIME) 2 June 2025.
The Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust and the Sheffield Institute for International Development have teamed up to offer scholarships for international students from developing countries, for a number of courses that are affiliated with the Sheffield Institute for International Development.
There are three scholarships available in 2025 to academically strong individuals from developing countries.