Employability Bursary

The Employability Bursary helps you complete work-related activity. You can get up to £1200, or £2000 if you meet certain criteria.

The Careers Centre reviews applications in the order they are submitted. The form will close to new applications when all funding is awarded. This may happen before all submitted applications are reviewed, so you should apply as soon as you can.

You can ask a question about the Employability Bursary through CareerConnect.

Eligibility

All students can get up to £1200 per application.

Other students can get up to £2000 per application. Other students must be at least one of the following:

  • completing, or have completed, a supported pathway programme at St Andrews
  • a current  Sanctuary Scholar
  • care-experienced (meaning you have been in care at any stage of your life, or are currently in care), a carer (meaning caring for a relative, but not a dependant), or estranged (meaning living without the financial and/or emotional support of a family network)
  • someone who has attended one of these widening access programmes:
    • Sutton Trust Summer School
    • LEAPS
    • Focus West
    • Lift Off
    • Aspire North
    • Reach
    • Fife First Chances Programme
    • Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP)
    • Robertson Trust Scholarship.

What's covered

The Employability Bursary covers things that help you complete or gain work experience, like internships or volunteering. It does not cover core academic activities.

Examples of what's covered include:

  • travel to an interview or work
  • professional clothing
  • accommodation
  • professional development courses
  • childcare
  • a PVG or DBS check.

This isn't a complete list, and all requests to help you improve your employability will be considered. 

Applications are only accepted for confirmed opportunities, such as a secured internship or scheduled interview.

Application advice

Explain where you are on your career journey and how you think the bursary will help you. Give as much detail as you can.

You can read blog posts from recipients of the Employability Bursary for examples of how it can be used and what impact it can have. 

After you apply

  1. You will receive a decision within 20 working days.
  2. If successful, you receive an email explaining what to do next, including updating your bank details on MySaint.
  3. Money is paid to your MySaint-nominated account within 15 working days of confirmation of the award.

After completing your work-related activity

When you have completed your work-related activity, you must provide a short report (up to 400 words) describing the impact of the bursary on your employability.