This is one of the problems with people being the first or new to the uni system, those 'in the know' register for an 'undergraduate masters' and get funded through the student loans company.
There is little your daughter can do, but there is something. And I know it will sound like begging and to someone from a working class background it can be incredibly hard to ask for things. Put your pride in your pocket for now and ask.
OK here's the plan.
Your daughter needs to go to a library (well she doesn't have to but I recommend it ) and get the 'directory of grant making trusts', it will probably be reference only and it is often available in Uni libraries.
www.amazon.co.uk/Directory-Grant-Making-Trusts-2012-2013/dp/1906294569
I used this to fund some of my uni costs, the smallest amount I got was £10, the largest £2500. As they are one off grants they don't affect benefits or tax (or they didn't, do check).
I used to treat getting funding as a full time job for the first week after term finished.
The way I did this was to sit in the library and type up a data base of all the trusts / charities that I may be eligible to get funding from. Then I would send out a standard letter to the trustees (hence the data base, much easier to do this with mail merge) asking for their application form.
Most didn't reply, I would get about 10 replies, some saying the money was no longer available and others with application forms or instructions on how to apply.
OK stage 2 - actually apply. Fill in the application form and sell yourself. How do you fit the criteria? What work have your parents done? Where were you born? Where do you live? Why should you have this funding? What are you going to do after your course?
Stage 3 cheques arrive. Some came to me, one for course funding was sent to the uni directly.
It can take some time, can your dd defer for a semester or even a year?
You can also apply to some through
www.dsc.org.uk/Publications/Fundraisingsources
Be warned, many of these trusts were set up in the 1880s so the language is often about persons 'who become impotent', or 'ladies with no means to support themselves in danger of becoming fallen women', or 'to train in a particular trade'.
All the eligibility criteria change, I got £250 for being born female in Yorkshire and attending a 'place of formal education'.
Many are for orphans where the parents (often just the father) was in the army or a particular trade such as a butcher or tailor.
There are other lists of trusts available. Oh and all trusts ask where else you have applied, they are more willing to give a grant if you have applied to several places.
And if you are thinking there is no money available, I did my degree part time and it took seven years. I was open about the funding I applied for and encouraged others to also apply. One fellow student went as far as filling in a form for what was then EGAS and they sent her a list of trusts she fulfilled the eligibility criteria for, but she 'couldn't be bothered' to fill in any more paperwork.
The initial letter should be something like this
Dear Sirs,
I am writing to ask about the possibility of obtaining funding from the 'XYZ' trust.
My name is bigoldbird'd daughter. I am a (isert age) old woman. I am looking to fund my postgraduate studies. Please could you send me your application form? Or if you do not use application forms then please contact me with your preferred method of application.
Thank you in anticipation
bigoldbird's daughter
If there is not a form then the application letter should be along the lines of
Dear Sirs (unless you have a name)
My name is bigoldbird's daughter I am a (insert age) old woman. My family background is working class, my parents have worked all their lives as an X and Y.
I am the first in my family (if this is the case, if not then perhaps 'one of the first' or one of the few) to attend university. (can also mention the only one to take up further education if this is the case)
I have/did have - anything that makes study difficult goes here, it could be dyslexia, disability, a close relative who dies during the course, anything that gives an extra claim for funding. I had to leave one career through becoming disabled so this gave me brownie points.
I have obtained a (first or 2:1) Bc(Hons) in X and I have been offered a place at Y university to study for a masters in Z.
I have spent the summer working away from home to finance my studies, but I have not been able to earn enough money for both my fees and to live on for a year.
As Y uni is Xmiles from home living with my parents is not an option.
My experience of higher education has been life altering, I value the opportunity I was given to study at this level and wish my parents / family / previous generations had had the opportunity.
I am passionate about continuing my studies and gaining a career, this would be the best reward I could give my parents for supporting me throughout my studies to date. They are not in a position to help financially but have always been there to support me in any way they could.
I am applying to your trust and also to
Trust A
Trust B
Trust C
Trust D
My total funding goal is X course fees and Y living expenses. I will obviously continue to work part time whist undertaking my masters. (list anything else such as bench fees, subscribing to a professional body, travel to conferences, books, a new computer- but break it down. If any funding has already been received then add that in here too)
Thank you for considering me.
yours sincerely / faithfully
bigoldbird's daughter
Depending on her field of study she could also try businesses in her chosen field and ask them for support/sponsorship and that their name will be on any academic publications and on her thesis. Also she should be prepared to be in the local paper if it is a local company. Something along the lines of 'bigoldbird's daughter's dream comes true due to the generosity of local company....'
Companies may not have spare money but may be able to supply goods that are relevant to your dd's study or just practical things.
Here are a couple of options which are probably totally unsuitable
www.dialog-semiconductor.com/careers/graduates/student-sponsorship
Also their may be sponsorship and bursaries through the uni.