Gateway To Work Experience Bursary

Level of study
Any Undergraduate
Subject area
Arts and Law, Engineering and Physical Sciences, Life and Environmental Sciences, Medicine and Health, Social Sciences
Nationality
UK
Type of Award
University
Deadline for applying
Closes 31/05/2025

Award Description

The Gateway to Work Experience Bursary team are working on finalising information for our 24/25 cycle; please revisit in January 2025.

The Gateway to Work Experience Bursary is designed to enable certain undergraduate students on the Birmingham Scholar programme and from under-represented groups at the University access to work experience which they may otherwise be unable to afford.     

Students may apply for The Gateway to Work Experience Bursary if they have secured a work experience placement which is low paid, or unpaid between January to May 2025 in the United Kingdom.  

We will not be offering bursaries for international work experience, nor for retrospective applications.   

The bursary can cover reasonable travel costs, required clothing if necessary (i.e. formal wear) and reasonable accommodation expenses, depending on your location.  

Bursary funds are not substitutes for wages but top-ups for essential expenses (accommodation, clothing and travel). Formal attire may be requested with evidence if required for opportunities.  

The maximum you can request from the Gateway to Work Experience Bursary is £1,000. Anything above £1,000 will be dealt with a case-by-case basis for us to understand what the costs you have requested are for.  The amount you apply for will depend on the individual circumstances of your proposed work experience up to the maximum amount. 

Value of Award

The Bursary is designed to support students in covering the costs associated with unpaid or low-paid work experience. It is not designed to be a wage substitute. Eligible students can apply for up to a maximum of £1,000. The amount you apply for will depend on the individual circumstances of your proposed work experience up to the maximum amount. 

The bursary can cover necessary and reasonable accommodation, travel and formal clothing costs.

Eligibility Criteria

Based on the University’s review of recent Graduate Outcomes Survey data, the Gateway to Work Experience Bursary is open to the following categories of home fee status students in the current academic year:

  • You must be an internally registered, undergraduate student at the University of Birmingham. External students or those on a Leave of Absence are not eligible for Gateway funds.  
  • You must have little to no formal work experience 
  • You must not have received Gateway and or Turing/Go Global, College or Student Development Funding prior to 24/25 (August 2024 and prior) 
  • You must have secured a UK-work experience opportunity which is low, or unpaid. Or, have evidence you will be attending an insight into day/experience which you have applied for. 

    AND applicants must fall into one of the following criteria:

  • Birmingham Scholar student;
  • Pathways to Birmingham student: students in receipt of a Pathways to Birmingham - (P2B) or Access to Birmingham (A2B) offer  
  • Care experienced students. 
  • Realising opportunities backgrounds. 
  • Students In receipt of a Sanctuary Scholarship
  • And/or undergraduate students who have a home address in an IMD Quintile 1 (indices of multiple deprivation, IMD Deciles 1 and 2, lowest 20%) neighbourhood * 
    *If your home address is in Northern Ireland you will need to contact us with your home postcode so that we can check your eligibility to apply

How to Apply

To apply for the Bursary, students will be required to submit one application form which primarily asks for the following:

  • Your personal details (e.g. name, ID number, email address, etc)
  • Your work experience opportunity details (e.g. organisation name, location, etc)
  • Summary of your work experience opportunity 
  • Understanding of how the proposed work experience will contribute towards your personal and professional development, as well as your future career aspirations

To find out more detailed information and all the documents you need to apply, please click here:  Gateway To Work Experience Bursary 

Contact

Careers Network
workexperience@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Website
https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/employability/careers/internships-and-work-experience/funding/bursary-schemes/gateway-bursary-scheme.aspx