1. The Guide to Major Grant-Making Trusts - published by Director of Social Change provides information on over 200 of the largest grant-making organisations in Britain.

2. Education Trusts and Charities. There are various educational trusts and charities who are sometimes prepared to help students without other means of funding, by way of small grants or loans. Standard lists may be found at main public reference libraries within the United Kingdom, and in particular you should consult the "Charities Digest" published by the "Family Welfare Association"; "Directory of Grant-Making Trusts" published by the Charities Aid Foundation and "The Grant Register" published by Macmillan Press.

3. Some educational trust funds and charities give small grants for specific reasons. They may help with fees, books or equipment.

4. Access/Hardship Funds: Some colleges receive Access funds, or have their own small hardship funds so that they can provide help at their discretion to students who have serious financial difficulties. Please request information from your college/university.

5. Educational Grants Advisory Service (EGAS)

The Educational Grants Advisory Service is an independent advice agency for people wanting to get funding for further or higher education. It is mainly concerned with helping students who are not eligible for statutory funding (mandatory awards, discretionary awards, bursaries for the preregistration nursing and midwifery diploma course and other Government grants and bursaries). It can only help those who receive statutory funding if they have explored all alternative sources in extreme financial difficulties. EGAS finds it extremely difficult to help postgraduate students find funding and can only do so if they apply in the academic year before the start of their course.

EGAS can also give detailed advice about the statutory system to those who are considering entering further or higher education.

To apply you must first send a stamped addressed envelope to EGAS, 501-505 Kingsland Road, Dalston, London E8 4AU or telephone the information line on 0171 249 6636