The University has today (23 January) announced the launch of two new scholarship schemes for postgraduate study at Sussex.

The first of these awards, the Sussex Graduate Scholarship, is aimed at Sussex undergraduates. All Sussex students who achieve a first-class or upper second-class honours degree in 2013, and who are offered a full-time place on an eligible Masters course, will receive a scholarship worth up to £3,000 to help towards tuition fees.

Students with a first-class degree will be eligible for a £3,000 award and students with an upper second-class degree for a £2,000 award, in the form of a fee waiver. There is an unlimited number of awards on offer.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, said: “We are committed to maintaining our position as a world-leading research-intensive university. We are not aware of any other centralised scholarships offered by UK research-intensives outside Oxbridge that support existing students on the same scale as this scheme.”

Announcing the second major scheme, the Chancellor’s Masters Scholarship, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Clare Mackie, said: “We are acutely aware of the difficult funding climate and the current lack of a coherent national support system for talented postgraduate students.

“The Chancellor’s Masters Scholarship scheme makes strides to address the challenges of taking on Masters level study and firmly demonstrates our commitment to excellence.”

The scheme welcomes applications from UK and EU students who have or expect to achieve a first-class honours degree from a UK university and who are offered a full-time place on an eligible Masters course at Sussex. There are more than 100 scholarships available in the form of a fee waiver, each worth £3,000 to help towards tuition fees.

Both schemes will be publicised at the Postgraduate Open Day running from 1–4pm today (23 January) in Bramber House and the Fulton building.

The Vice-Chancellor said: “These award schemes make clear our commitment not only to our own student body but also to continuing to attract the very best future researchers, irrespective of background.

“We believe this puts Sussex firmly at the forefront of our peer group and sends out a clear message that we want to continue to attract the very best students to stay on to a postgraduate degree with us.”

Further details, frequently asked questions and application deadlines will be available online in due course. Check the Student Funding database pages for updates.