The tuition fees for Masters courses are usually a little higher then for an undergraduate degree. However, funding and loans are available.
EU Students are able to apply for the following:
The ESRC (Economics and Social Research Council) is the most well known Economics funding council. The council do not fund standalone Master's programmes, only those wishing to continue to study for a PhD. The ESRC has two types of funding: the ‘1+3' scheme which covers up to £3000 worth of fees of a one year Master's and three years of a PhD, and a ‘+3' scheme, which covers three years of a PhD.
If you attended a particular school (the list is on the site) you may be eligible for a SCAT (Schools Competition Act Settlement) research bursary.
Other bursaries are available to all EU postgraduate students through the British Academy and UK Research Council. Generally they will only cover the cost of tuition fees.
The US-UK Fulbright Commission covers tuition fees, a maintenance stipend as well as accident and sickness insurance for one academic year. The Fullbright Commission offers a selection of awards for UK citizens looking to study in the US and for US citizens coming to the UK.
If you're considering doing a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) you can apply for a full-time PGCE loan as well as a non means-tested Training Bursary, a Maintenance Grant and a Maintenance Loan from the Training and Development Agency for Schools.
The Department of Employment, along with 3 high street banks, offer a Career Development Loan. The loan is given to help you pay for work-related earning.
Non EU Students can apply for the following:
Students for Commonwealth countries or British dependant territories can apply for the Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowship Plan (CSFP). Whether awards are offered, who can receive them and where they can be used differ from year to year as it is up to each Country to decide, but scholarships are available.
If you are from America you be may eligible for the Marshall Scholarship. The Marshall Scholarship enables high ability students from America to study for a postgraduate (and occasionally an undergraduate) degree in the UK.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Council fund the Chevening Programme. The programme enables overseas students to study in the UK, providing around 2,300 scholarships each year for postgraduate studies or research in the UK. 11 awards are available for US citizens, funding the first year of a masters or doctorate degree.
The US-UK Fulbright Commission covers tuition fees, a maintenance stipend as well as accident and sickness insurance for one academic year. The Fullbright Commission offers a selection of awards for UK citizens looking to study in the US and for US citizens coming to the UK.
Or...
If all of this looks a little daunting, two other options are available. Firstly, ask the Institution you will be studying in what bursaries are available. You may find that they target specific subjects, social backgrounds, interests etc. At postgraduate level different scholarships and bursaries will be accessible, you may find these are means tested.
Secondly, look into industrial sponsorship. Firms sometimes agree to fund postgraduate studies or research. They may do this for two main reasons a) the research or area of your postgraduate degree will help them as a firm to develop or b) they are investing in you to work within their firm once you've completed your postgraduate degree.