Bursary schemes

If you have secured (or are in the process of securing) work experience however are concerned about finances, the Careers Network work experience bursaries could help you cover expenses to undertake your perfect opportunity. 

Follow the links below to find out about our bursary schemes, additional sources of funding and read some of our work experience success stories.

Please note that, due to restrictions in place as a result of COVID-19, the Work Experience and Gateway Bursaries cannot currently be used towards funding work experience outside of the UK. This is in accordance with guidance issued across the University of Birmingham. This webpage will be updated as and when the guidance develops or changes.

If you have any queries or concerns, please email the team at internships@contacts.bham.ac.uk 

Bursary strands available

Important information before applying

  • If you have been awarded a bursary previously, you can apply again, however, you must strongly demonstrate how this experience is different, and builds upon the previous opportunity for which you received an award.
  • Students can only apply for one bursary scheme, not both.
  • The bursaries are designed to act as a contribution towards the cost of your work experience. Depending on the performance of your overall application, you may receive all, part of, or none of the funds you have requested. Therefore as part of your application you must demonstrate and identify alternative funding options as a contingency should you not be awarded all of your requested funds; you should not fully rely on the bursary to fund your experience.

  • The bursaries can primarily cover costs associated with travel (including vaccinations and visas), accommodation and living. For physical opportunities where students must pay to undertake the experience, the bursaries cannot be used to cover registration/administrative fees. However students may be able to apply for a bursary if part of the fee is used toward tangible aspects of the experience (such as covering accommodation and travel expense). Applicants are required to obtain a breakdown of these costs from their employer and identify this within their application. If your work experience is virtual/remote and requires a fee to be paid, you can apply for a bursary up to the value of £300 (suitable evidence of these costs must be provided within your application). 

Students who have received a bursary reported they had developed valuable career-specific skills they could not have developed elsewhere as a result of their work experience. Even those who were unsuccessful in receiving a bursary, reported feeling better equipped to deal with other work experience applications, interviews and presentations.

Additional funding opportunities

In addition to the University of Birmingham bursaries, you may be eligible to apply to external organisations for funding to help with your work experience or internship. We will add these to the Careers Network database, where you can find details by searching for 'funding opportunities'.

There are also some national funding schemes available for doctoral students. Additionally, we have put together a guide to some other schemes and organisations that may be able to provide you with funding for work experience.

Previous bursary winners

In the past we have funded work experience in field archaeology, the Poetry Society in London, advertising and buying positions, health care (both in the UK and overseas), community development placements, scientific and biological research, international development opportunities and many more.

Fundraising

Coming soon.

Enhanced Transcripts

The University of Birmingham will be introducing an enhanced transcript system with a view to these being available from July 2016. In addition to academic achievement, the enhanced transcript will provide information about verifiable extracurricular activities such work experience bursaries.

Verification of this activity will be made available to the University’s central records system and it will automatically appear on the transcript. As part of the bursary process, you will be asked know if you do not want the activity to appear on your transcript.

Colleges

Professional Services