Studentships for masters courses are rare and competition is strong. However a quick internet search for "studentships "civil engineering" masters" will give you some leads. For a research council studentship you need to have been resident in the UK for 3 or more years, for reasons other than full time education in order to qualify.

Try searching this site

Nothing more to add to Nancy's advice, try applying for PhDs first, you can always apply for an MSc at the last minute, if you don't get any offers. Funding for MSc courses is much harder to obtain than for PhD's, so be prepared to pay.

Unlike many undergraduate degrees MSc courses tend to run throughout the year, with limited numbers of holidays and full time tables. So if a full time student works 35-40 hours per week, you can expect to do a proportion of this depending on how many years you take the course over.

This is possible, but it will be the decision of your host university.

Yes - for most people the reason to start an MPhil is to progress to a PhD. Some universities may require you to complete an MA before beginning a research degree.

Funding is always dificult to get for international students wishing to study in the UK. You should try to find an academic in the UK working in your area of interest. Write to them for their opinion - it will be far more informed than the one we can give.

DRH, you need to ask your supervisor these questions. If you are doing a PhD in the UK system then the people paying your scholarship are paying for your education and you are not in a position to negotiate with them.

Whilst it is inevitable that this kind of problem occurs for some people it is probably far less common than you think and really depends on the kind of career you wish to pursue after you graduate. Job prospects are subject specific and you should ask around academics in your subject area, current postgraduates and careers advisers for a proper answer.

An ORS does not provide any funding direct to students, it mearly reduces the cost of international students fees to the same as those paid by home/EU students. See our Funding and PhDs Explained sections for links and information.

London is more expensive than the rest of the UK (particulalrly accomodation).

Whilst £6000 is not a large stipend and will not leave you enough money for many return trips home, you should be able to get by. If this is the best offer you have then it may be worth taking. Remember most international students in the UK receive no stipend and have to pay very large amounts in course fees - funding is hard to come by.

Speak to the university about accommodation costs - are there any low cost options available for people in your situation. Also find out if you will be able to do any demonstrating or tutorial work whilst studying.

As Kiwi has stated you need to have been ordinarilly resident in the UK for purposes other than full time education.

It's not possible to comment on whether this is like a PhD (you'd need to give far more details than this forum has room for). However learning to write scientific reports will stand you in very good stead, there's an art to scientific writing, but once you've mastered it you're laughing.

Pippo has obviously had problems in the past, but don't let this put you off. You can't really negotiate, but your grant will probably rise each year. Simply ask you professor what your grant will be per month for the first year.