Employer sponsorship for postgraduate courses
If your Masters course will develop your skillset as well as improve your performance at work, your employer may consider postgraduate sponsorship
Will my employer sponsor my Masters degree?
This all depends on your employer, but you're most likely to receive sponsorship for postgraduate study if the course is relevant to your job and benefits the company in some way, without adversely impacting your work.
Some of the professions where employer sponsorship is more common include:
What postgraduate courses will employers sponsor?
In most of the fields above, professional qualifications are essential for staying current with the skills and regulations required by the industry's professional bodies.
Therefore, you're more likely to succeed in securing employer sponsorship for professional-level postgraduate courses, including:
These qualifications can aid an individual's career progression into leadership positions, and the knowledge, skills, and contacts gained can enhance an organisation's success.
If you didn't study the subject at undergraduate level, all hope is not lost, as conversion courses are a popular way to formalise and accredit your skills in a particular field.
For example, aspiring teachers can consider the鈥�Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE), while solicitors will be assessed through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).
However, even if you're entering a profession where a qualification is a necessity, you'll still need to convince your employer that sponsoring you is worth their money and your time.
Your hours and workload will likely need to be rearranged to accommodate your studies, so this is not a decision to be taken lightly.
What about CPD courses?
Employers are often more willing to sponsor CPD (continuing professional development) courses for their employees to progress into more senior positions or to remain up-to-date in fast-moving professions.
These opportunities are often shorter, may involve distance or online learning and are typically cheaper than studying a full Masters degree.
Therefore, if the proposed course is vocational and involves learning new skills, you'll have a better chance of being sponsored.
How long do I have to work at a company before they will sponsor me?
It depends on a number of factors, including:
- the needs of the business and the demand for the skills gained through study
- your level of seniority and experience/qualifications
- your potential and how your employer views your career.
For example, as a recent graduate who has completed Part 1 of an architecture degree, you may have only worked for the company for a year to build up your practical experience. However, you still need to study Parts 2 and 3 to qualify as a chartered architect.
So, in this situation, if your architectural firm agrees that studying the qualification and gaining accreditation is worth the investment, you may be able to secure funding early in your career. Read more about how to become an architect.
Alternatively, the company may expect you to show commitment over a few years before agreeing to pay for your further education.
Which employers offer Masters sponsorship?
If you work in one of the following job sectors, your employer will be more likely to sponsor you:
Explore Masters scholarships and bursaries, which are often linked to specific areas of research and development.
What does the sponsorship cover?
In most cases, your employer will cover the tuition fees associated with your postgraduate course and potentially your living expenses.
On the other hand, your employer may decide to:
- contribute to your fees - paying an agreed portion of your tuition fees while you cover the rest
- offer salary support - you would continue receiving your salary while studying, possibly with a smaller workload or working part-time hours.
To discover how much these postgraduate courses cost, see what is a Masters degree?
What should I include in a sponsorship proposal to my employer?
Not all employers have a dedicated funding programme, so if this is the case, you'll need to approach your human resources (HR) department or line manager with a proposal. This should serve as evidence of why sponsoring your studies or training would be a valuable move for them.
If you're seeking sponsorship to train for entry into a specific career, the focus of your proposal should be on you. What makes you different to everyone else applying? Try to answer the following questions:
- What unique skills or attributes can I bring to the role?
- What steps have I taken to prepare for this opportunity?
- What are my future goals? How do they align with those of my employer?
This last question is particularly important, as it gives you the chance to demonstrate your commitment to your employer. If you can show that you see a future with them, they'll be more likely to sponsor you.
How can I get sponsorship for a CPD course?
If your employer will pay for CPD study, your proposal should focus on its benefits for your role and the company. Your employer has already hired you and should know you well, so there's no need to sell yourself.
Discuss the practical benefits of your training and consider the following questions:
- Will additional training help me to overcome any obstacles in my role?
- Will the training help my employer gain an advantage over its competitors?
- If I've agreed on a promotion into a senior role, how will the CPD training equip me?
- Are there aspects of my job that this training will bring me up-to-date with?
Talking in detail about the modules on your course and how you'll apply them to specific aspects of your job will prove that you've given the proposal serious consideration.
What can I expect from a sponsorship agreement?
Signing a written agreement before beginning your course is important to establish how much of your tuition your employer will sponsor and the terms of your leave, such as changes in office hours or study breaks. So, you can be sure that the agreement will detail what they expect from you in the workplace.
Before signing the agreement, make sure that you're happy with it from your side and that you are comfortable balancing work and study. For instance, if you studied for a Masters degree full time, it would be difficult for you to commit to working more than 10 to 15 hours per week.
It's important to ensure that accepting the terms won't negatively impact your health and wellbeing. Read more about looking after your mental health at university.
Do I need to stay with the employer after my course?
Your employer is unlikely to sponsor you without expecting something in return. Because of this, you may be asked to sign an agreement that commits you to working for the company for a minimum amount of time once you've achieved your qualification. This could possibly be for a period of one to three years.
What happens if I leave the company before completing the degree?
The agreement you sign will state the terms of the contract, including breaking the terms early.
If you fail to uphold your end of the contract, you'll likely be held accountable for repaying the money your employer has invested in your sponsorship.
Can I get partial sponsorship and pay the rest myself?
Yes, if your employer agrees to pay for some of your course costs, there are various ways for you to make up the difference. Other sources of postgraduate funding include:
- postgraduate loans
- Masters degree scholarships
- crowdfunding your Masters.
Can I be sponsored if I study part time or online?
Yes, studying part time may even prove to be more acceptable to your employer in terms of upholding your job responsibilities.
In addition to balancing the practicalities of working while studying part time, you'll need to be sure that this is the course you want to commit to. You'll still need to commit to around 20 hours of study time a week, including attending lectures and seminars.
Also, you're likely to be tied to your employer for at least two years during the study period, while they'll typically expect you to stay with the organisation for one or two years afterwards.
Distance learning or online courses are other viable options for your employer to consider. Without the need to travel to the university campus each day, you'll have more time for work and self-study. However, with this form of learning, you'll require plenty of motivation and discipline.
Will I be given time off work to attend lectures or study?
If you aren't taking a study break, you'll need to discuss how attending lectures, completing coursework, and sitting exams will affect your working hours.
You may have to take study days as part of your annual leave, although some employers may be more generous. This can be discussed as part of your sponsorship agreement.
Find out more
- Search for postgraduate courses.
- Explore which Masters degree would be right for you.
- Get the lowdown on applying for a Masters degree.