UGS Scholarships (PGT) 2023-24

We are delighted to announce ten University Graduate School (UGS) Scholarships to support our postgraduate taught community until the end of July 2024. If you are passionate about delivering student events, building supportive communities, and you want to boost your experience base and CV, then you might just have what it takes to be a UGS Scholar.

Applications for the 2023-2024 Scholarships are closed.
Find out more about your 2023-2024 UGS Scholars (PGT) here!

Who can be a UGS Scholar (PGT)?

The University Graduate School recruit ten postgraduate taught students (PGTs) across all five Colleges who can engage with postgraduate communities, initiate and deliver community building activities, and support our flagship events.

UGS Scholarships (PGT) are open to any University of Birmingham postgraduate taught student.

The scheme confers a £1,000 bursary. To take full advantage of the opportunity and make a valuable contribution to the scheme, the successful Scholars will need to regularly commit a meaningful amount of their time. This commitment will vary throughout the year but should average to be approximately one day a month, or 2-3 hours per week. However, the role is flexible and every effort will be made to accommodate a Scholar’s academic and significant personal commitments.

We are looking for PGTs who can think more broadly than their own discipline and show an understanding of postgraduate issues. Experience of organising and promoting events would be an advantage, but we are also looking for organised, motivated, sociable people who would make a great addition to our community team.

You can read the detailed Terms and Conditions (Word - 450 KB) to ensure you are eligible and read the full shortlisting criteria in our Supporting Information (Word - 452 KB) document.

We welcome applications from across the PGT Community. PGT is defined as students on the following courses: MA, MSc, MBA, MEd, LLM, MPH, Maths SKE, MPA, PG Affiliate, PG Certificate, PG Dip Ed, PG Diploma, and PGCE.

What is the University Graduate School?

The University Graduate School works with postgraduate students from across the University, and our calendar of in-person and online events enables PGTs from all disciplines to integrate and cooperate, intellectually and socially. The UGS supports PGT-led interdisciplinary workshops, social events, training, and networking.

What does a UGS Scholar (PGT) do?

UGS Scholars (PGT) are required to work remotely and provide on campus event support. This means taking part in our events where appropriate, but also designing and delivering your own.

Your events could be socials, reading groups, craft workshops, film nights – anything that brings the PGT community together either in-person or online. They can be open to all PGTs, or serving a particular community like international, mature, or commuter students. We’ll ask each Scholar to lead at least one event over the course of the year, and to co-lead at least one event per month with other Scholars.

You’ll be able to design, promote and deliver your events with guidance from the UGS team.

How to apply

Applications are completed online and will need to include:

Your full name, student ID number and College.
A short (500-750 word) supporting statement showing your potential to support the key aims of the UGS Scholarship Scheme, as outlined in the Supporting Document.
A short CV showing education and employment history.

The closing date for applications is 23:59pm on Sunday 8^th October 2023.

If shortlisted, you will be invited to an online 1hr group task followed by an individual ‘get to know you’ chat.

You must be available remotely on the 18th or 19th October to be shortlisted. You’ll be invited to let us know your availability on those dates in the application form.

If successful, you will be invited to start the scholarship in the week commencing 30th October.

Supporting UGS Scholar (PGT) Applications

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Mr Liam Knight, Postgraduate Community Engagement Officer, on L.J.L.Knight@bham.ac.uk.

Please read the detailed Terms and Conditions to ensure you are eligible and read the full shortlisting criteria in our Supporting Information document before making an application.

To support you through the application process, our colleagues in Careers Network have arranged a dedicated virtual workshop, and we have a campus drop-in for any remaining questions you have.

UGS Scholarships (PGT) Application Workshop (Online)

Tuesday 26 September, 14:30 – 16:00
Online: Zoom

Get top tips on how to put together a UGS Scholarship application that will attract the short-listers’ attention at this application workshop.

The event will cover:

Information about the UGS Scholarships (PGT);
How to identify the 'hiring needs' of the UGS PGT scholarship;
How to demonstrate that you meet these needs through your skills and experience;
How to perfect your CV;
How to structure and write your personal statement;
How to use language most effectively and persuasively.

The tips covered will also be useful for you when you come to writing future applications for jobs, PhDs and other opportunities. To register to attend the workshop, please use the link below to our EventBrite page.

UGS Scholarships (PGT) Q+A Drop-In Session (In-Person)

Monday 2 October, 14:00 – 17:00
On Campus: venue to be announced

Come along anytime between 2pm and 5pm for an informal conversation with our UGS Scholars (PGT) Lead, Liam Knight, plus one of last year's scholars! Questions about the application process or the scholarship itself are welcome, but we will not be able to read over your application itself.

Can’t make this date or studying off-campus? We welcome any questions sent by email instead. Send them to Liam Knight, using L.J.L.Knight@bham.ac.uk.