In 2010/11, the overall number of PGT enrolments in the UK reached a peak (see Table 1). UK domiciled enrolments were across all PGT offerings (i.e. masters, PGCE, other PG) whereas for EU and Non-EU, it was almost entirely for masters.
The increase in the number of PGT enrolments was, in part, due to the rise in full-time Non-EU student participation (see Table 1). For UK domiciled students, part-time study continued to be the dominant mode. The percentage growth year on year of all UK domiciled enrolments had started to reduce in the late 2000s and this was especially pronounced with part-time enrolments.
With the continuing decline in participation across all domiciled groups from 2011 onwards, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) launched Phase 1 and 2 of their Postgraduate Support Schemes (PSS) between 2013-2015 to fund projects and initiatives to look at ways of increasing and sustaining postgraduate participation. The main finding was that the lack of available funding was the primary barrier. The Professional and Career Development loans offered by a couple of banks were not sufficient and were difficult to obtain.
The outcome of the PSS schemes in the UK was the introduction of the Postgraduate Loan Scheme in 2016/17 but the scheme was adopted in varying forms across the four countries comprising the UK for students domiciled in their country. EU students were entitled to access the loan until August 2021 when it would stop due to the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. In England, which has the majority of PGT students in the UK, the loan, was and remains, only available to those undertaking master’s level study. Scotland, and Northern Ireland introduced schemes which covered postgraduate certificates and diplomas. Although Wales only provides funding for masters, their scheme is the most generous with funding made up of loans and grants. The postgraduate loan of up to £10,000 was designed to cover fees and provide some maintenance.
