How do you afford it??

Hello!

I'm looking into the option of getting a Master's degree in Scotland. The program is a year long and approx 14,000 pound (holy cow, so $28,000???) 

I'm looking to apply for the year 2013 but there is no way, even if I work all of 2012, that I can save that sort of money! If I were going to grad school in the US I'd simply take out loans, but how on earth does that work going to the UK?

Also have two more questions if anyone can answer:

1. Do you need to submit GRE scores to UK universities, or any other standardized test scores? Or is it just proof of a BA, recommendation letters and a personal statement?

2. When does the academic year begin, fall or spring? If I wanted to apply to be in the school for 2013, when normally is the deadline?

Well it's more like $22,000 now, but who's counting?  You can take out loans, the process is a wee bit different than what you would do when taking out loans to go to a US school, but not much. There are a ton of recent posts about taking out loans that are probably worth a look for you. Also, many of the schools you are looking at will likely detail the process on their webpages.

1) There may be some schools that would like to see a GRE score, but in my experience I didn't submit one. I submitted my transcripts and reccomendations, must of done a statement of some sort, but I don't remember that now.

2) The year will likely begin in September/October, you can apply up until late spring. Again, depending on the program.

Have you checked out http://www.ucas.com/  ?

Is the university you are planning on attending accept FAFSA {US Financial Aid?} If I remember correctly, as a Grad student you are able to receive federal loans up to $20,000 apx.

Plug in the school code into FAFSA & see if your uni participates. Make sure to check their deadline dates as they may differ from your Scottish uni app deadlines.
https://fafsa.ed.gov/FAFSA/app/schoolSearch?locale=en_EN

I went to a uni in England that did NOT accept US Financial Aid in 2003; took out a personal loan and am sadly still paying it back today {and for many years to come.} Do not get a bank loan to pay for your education; its *so* not worth it.

Here is some interesting information from the U of Aberdeen regarding direct loans to American students {Word doc within web link.}

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/direct-loans/

Also note that some uni's offer Master Programs that start in Jan, as well as Sept/Oct.

Thanks very much for the info, I'll check it all out later!

I'm not sure this is a question anybody can really answer, but do Master's degrees from UK universities translate to the US? I'm not sure if I'm going to be living in the UK for the rest of my life and I'd hate to get a degree that I couldn't use if I moved back to the US!

I'm specifically looking into either social work or a Master's in some sort of psychology program - I know if I move back to the US I will most likely have to become certified but would I need to also go back to an American school and get a Master's degree all over again (or am I being stupid? Lol)

I'm not sure this is a question anybody can really answer, but do Master's degrees from UK universities translate to the US? I'm not sure if I'm going to be living in the UK for the rest of my life and I'd hate to get a degree that I couldn't use if I moved back to the US!

Yes, they should do - a masters degree is a masters degree. I got into a US PhD program with two UK masters degrees: an undergraduate MPhys degree and a postgraduate MSc by Research degree (in fact, because my undergrad degree was technically a masters, I was even allowed to use 30 credits of it towards the PhD!). The only issue you might have is if your field requires a specific type of US qualification in order to get a job there (for example, a UK law degree won't be much help in the US because of the different legal systems). 

I'm specifically looking into either social work or a Master's in some sort of psychology program - I know if I move back to the US I will most likely have to become certified but would I need to also go back to an American school and get a Master's degree all over again (or am I being stupid? Lol)

You would have to look into the qualification requirements needed in order to be a psychologist in the US.

A UK masters degree in psychology should be recognised in the US as a masters, but you would need to find out if you could work as a psychologist in the US with just that degree or if you would need to get another certification as well.

You'd have to get a Ph.D in the States to qualify to become a psychologist. There's a newer thing called a "Psy.D" (Doctorate in Psychology) that would work to but from what I heard from people who work in the field the former is preferable in the academic world. But clinically they hold the same weight.

Boy, I'm an expert on this topic!  I did a master's in Scotland in 2005.  Mine was approximately the same price as yours.  I just recently (a week ago) finished another master's in the states at a cost of over $30k.  So all it all, it's not a bad price, considering.  GRE isn't required in the UK, as I've gotten away without ever having taken it.  I've just been accepted (November) for a PhD at the University of Edinburgh (start in September, to give you a time frame) and my tuition will be about $55k for 3 years.  Not bad again, considering it's a doctorate (Scottish ethnology).  I funded my first master's with loans from the government.  I'm hoping to fund this PhD with scholarships. Look closely, there may be available funding for your degree!  If scholarships fail, it'll be loans again.  I'm not giving up the opportunity to live and study in a country I love because of lack of funds.  I WILL find a way, and I'm sure you will too!  Good luck to you!

Also, my friend it applying for vet school here in the US.  She's looking at having to take out about $200k in loans!  Boy, do I feel lucky!

Hello!

I'm looking into the option of getting a Master's degree in Scotland. The program is a year long and approx 14,000 pound (holy cow, so $28,000???) 

I'm looking to apply for the year 2013 but there is no way, even if I work all of 2012, that I can save that sort of money! If I were going to grad school in the US I'd simply take out loans, but how on earth does that work going to the UK?

Also have two more questions if anyone can answer:

1. Do you need to submit GRE scores to UK universities, or any other standardized test scores? Or is it just proof of a BA, recommendation letters and a personal statement?

2. When does the academic year begin, fall or spring? If I wanted to apply to be in the school for 2013, when normally is the deadline?

I managed to pay for my Master's (Tuition = £14,280) through a combination of scholarships, loans, and personal savings.  I worked for about a year between my Undergrad/Master's, and saved up a nice amount of money.  I got a $6,000  (approx £4,000 at the time) scholarship from the University's US Alumni Group, which went towards my tuition fees.  I took the maximum of US loans ($20,500) which the University received directly, and paid me whatever was left over in GBP.  Many US students also seem to take Grad PLUS loans, but I'm not entirely sure what they're all about. 

As far as living expenses go....I've spent a lot more than I expected to.  For the visa application, I showed about $3,000 over what was required...but over the course of the year, I spent all that, plus the money I received from selling my car ($7,500). I don't feel like I've done a lot of shopping, or going out really (maybe two nice meals out/month?, and £20/month on clothes)...so I'm not sure if the requirements truly reflect what's actually needed to survive.  So if your heart is definitely 100% set on studying in Scotland, start saving yesterday!

1. I never had to submit GRE scores, but the University did have certain Entry requirements for its programs (for example, courses requiring a British 2:1 or 2:2 would be equivalent to a GPA of 3.2 or 2.8, respectively.

2. The majority of courses start in the Fall (Late September/Early October), though a few courses start in January, so check with the department.

Good luck!!

Boy, I'm an expert on this topic!  I did a master's in Scotland in 2005.  Mine was approximately the same price as yours.  I just recently (a week ago) finished another master's in the states at a cost of over $30k.  So all it all, it's not a bad price, considering.  GRE isn't required in the UK, as I've gotten away without ever having taken it.  I've just been accepted (November) for a PhD at the University of Edinburgh (start in September, to give you a time frame) and my tuition will be about $55k for 3 years.  Not bad again, considering it's a doctorate (Scottish ethnology).  I funded my first master's with loans from the government.  I'm hoping to fund this PhD with scholarships. Look closely, there may be available funding for your degree!  If scholarships fail, it'll be loans again.  I'm not giving up the opportunity to live and study in a country I love because of lack of funds.  I WILL find a way, and I'm sure you will too!  Good luck to you!

Also, my friend it applying for vet school here in the US.  She's looking at having to take out about $200k in loans!  Boy, do I feel lucky!

Wow! That's pretty inspirational. I wonder if I can do a Master's in Nursing in Scotland, since my school in Oklahoma doesn't have the program (I'd have to go to the University of Oklahoma, which I don't really want to do because of housing costs)...  That's a lot of loans though, what is it that you want to do as a career? I thought if I got my Master's to be a Nurse Practictioner I'd be able to pay them off faster than working as an RN.