Experience and employability

Student Employability Award

A specific fund to help you develop your employability skills through training, attendance at events or conferences, to support extra-curricular placements or whatever you need to  build your career skills.

We want to help you seize opportunities and enjoy the fullest university experience. Simply tell us what you need to fund, and how it will help grow your employability skills. 

Is this fund for me?

To apply, you must be studying on an undergraduate or postgraduate course at the University of Brighton. See the full terms and conditions here.

What does it provide?

Grants of up to £250.

How many grants are available?

Up to 20 awards are available this funding round.

When and how can I apply?

Applications will open again in December 2023. Applicants will need to complete an online application. If you need any support in completing your application please contact your Personal Academic Tutor or Student Support and Guidance Tutors. Awards will be made in February 2024.

The funding has allowed me to get access to the course I need in order to teach trampolining in schools. Giving me the opportunity to offer more students a wider education and hopefully find a sport they love! This has allowed me to widen my knowledge and capabilities of teach within secondary schools. I can deliver a wider curriculum of sports to my future students, and do so safely. I can’t wait to start teaching trampolining in schools.

Samuel Price, Physical Education with QTS

Guy's and St Thomas' is internationally renowned, so that was huge for me. I never thought I'd get to such a prestigious organisation at such an early stage of my career. I spend my summers working because that’s the only way I can afford university. Whilst I was grateful for the opportunity, I was thinking ‘How am I going to fund this? What about work? What about money?’ And the funding took some of that stress away, so it was an amazing opportunity.

Eva Martin, MPharm, was awarded funding to support travel to London for a four-week hospital pharmacy placement at the world Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals, one of the best teaching hospitals in the world.

Student Experience Fund

A specific fund to help you make the most of your time at the University of Brighton. You simply need to tell us what will help you advance your studies or how you’d like to participate more in Sport Brighton teams and/or societies.

Please look carefully at the terms and conditions before applying, particularly what you are not able to apply for. See the full terms and conditions.

Is this fund for me?

To apply, you must be studying on an undergraduate or postgraduate course at the University of Brighton. 

What does it provide?

Grants of up to £250.

How many grants are available?

Up to 14 awards are available this funding round.

When and how can I apply?

Applications are now open and will close Midnight 22 January 2024. Applicants will need to complete an online application. If you need any support in completing your application please contact your Personal Academic Tutor or Student Support and Guidance Tutors. Awards will be made in February 2024.

Balancing study and part-time work during my master's has been a challenge, particularly during the coronavirus crisis. This grant has removed a bit of weight from my shoulders, not only because I can spend more time focusing on my studies, but also because I now have the freedom to conduct more field work and create an even better final project which I hope will kick-start my career in academia. Funds like this one allow students with financial constraints to pursue their passions and demonstrate their full capabilities.

Beth Evans, Ecology and Conservation MRes

International experience

Taking part in an international experience has many advantages. It can enhance life experiences, help you build a global network of contacts, broaden your horizons and increase intercultural competence, as well as giving you a competitive edge with regards future careers and employability skills.

This year the university is participating in the Turing Scheme that aims to support overseas mobility for students. The programme can provide living costs for students taking up a work or study opportunity of four weeks or longer. 

Find out more about the scheme and how you can apply.

School of Business and Law placement scholarships

Are you interested in undertaking a year-long placement in industry as part of your undergraduate business or law degree? Are you finding it difficult to fund a year-long placement in industry? Would some funding help you kick-start a placement year whether you need help for clothes for an interview, travel to an interview or to support your relocation for the year? You must be enrolled to study an undergraduate business course at the University of Brighton. Please see the full terms and conditions (pdf).

What does it provide?

Up to £2,000 towards your placement year.

How many scholarships are available?

There are up to ten scholarships available this year.

When and how can I apply?

Applications will reopen in February 2024.

I am very grateful for this scholarship as it will mean I can expand my search to find a placement that suits my needs for my long-term development in my career, which would not be possible without the scholarship.

Jeslica Fernandes, Law with Criminology LLB(Hons), second year.

The Sally Adams' Fund (Nursing)

Sally Adams was a valued and loved member of the nursing administration team based at Falmer. She sadly died in 2017 and is much missed by all of her colleagues and friends. Due to Sally’s commitment to her role and to those nursing students she supported, Sally’s family have generously funded a scholarship to honour her memory.

This scholarship will allow selected student nurses to undertake a two to four week practice learning experience. This can be undertaken either in the UK or internationally and will be a placement which they would not normally be able to consider due to cost or other circumstances. The placement should take place in Year 2 placement 1 or 2, or Year 3 placement 1.

Successful student nurses will be able to utilise the funding to pay for accommodation, travel costs or to fund care for children/dependents to allow them to undertake this experience.

Is this fund for me?

The opportunity is open to pre-registration student nurses from their second year of undergraduate study from courses in adult nursing, child nursing and mental health nursing. See terms and conditions here.

What does it provide?

Grants of up to £300.

How many grants are available?

They are up to eight awards available this funding round.

When and how can I apply?

The selection process will be in two parts. Firstly, a shortlisting process and then interviews for shortlisted students. Applications will are now open and will close Midnight 25 February 2024.  Applicants will need to fill out an online application form.

Fiona Walker received funding in 2022–23. Read her blog to find out more about the placement the funding enabled her to undertake.

Dowse Art Award

Is this fund for you?

If you are a Black or Black-Mixed heritage student in your first year of 3D Design and Craft BA, Fine Art BA, Fine Art Painting BA, or Printmaking BA at the University of Brighton, then you are eligible to apply. See the full terms and conditions.

What does it provide?

£500 in your first year of study to support the purchasing of materials and a further £500 in your final year of study to support the production of work for the final degree show.

How many awards are available?

Dowse Art are currently funding one award a year.

When and how can I apply?

Applications are now open will close Midnight 22 January 2024.  Applicants will need to fill out an online application form.

The award doesn't just help me cover the necessary costs of resources for 3D Design and Craft, it also relieves the burden of stretching out my limited funds, being a student.

Simon Carr, 3D Design and Craft BA(Hons), second year.

Bridge Awards

Is this fund for you?

If you are a second-year student studying an undergraduate BA(Hons) in: Fine Art, Fine Art Painting, Fine Art Printmaking, 3D Design and Craft, or Illustration at the University of Brighton. All students on these courses are eligible to apply, preference is given to students from widening participation backgrounds.

See the full terms and conditions here.

What does it provide?

Up to £500 to support you in developing your work for your end of year assessment and final degree show.

How many awards are available?

The Bridge Awards this year offers four awards of £500 and two awards of £250.

When and how can I apply?

Applications are now open and will close Midnight 22 January 2024. Applicants will need to fill out an online application form.

I feel honoured and excited to receive this award... My practice aims to address the division I faced growing up in two different ethnic communities and the impact it had when reflecting upon my own identity. With this award not only am I able to further understand my heritage, but also reach out to other BAME artists who share these experiences. This award will further develop my practice by supplying the materials needed to evolve my ideas and understandings.

Imogen Patel, Fine Art Painting BA(Hons), 2022

The David Thomas Award

David Thomas graduated from the University in 2010 with a BA (Hons) English Language and Media. David developed a keen interest in filmmaking during his time at University. After graduating he worked with the Progress Film company in Brighton completing several projects with them. However, in 2013 David tragically died. In 2014, his family established the David Thomas Award to support undergraduate students who demonstrated a passion for filmmaking. These awards continue to support students through a package of professional mentoring alongside a cash award.

Students can apply to make a short film or any other moving image format that supports them in their studies and is aligned to the university’s global challenges.

Is this fund for me?

To be eligible to apply students need to be in their second or third year of undergraduate study on a course within the School of Humanities and Social Science covering:

• Counselling and psychotherapy
• Creative writing
• Criminology and sociology
• History of art and design
• Humanities
• English Language
• Literature
• Media
• Politics
• Psychology
• Social work

See the full terms and conditions.

What does it provide?

The award is worth £500. Successful applicants will be awarded £200 towards the making of their short film or moving image piece, and will be provided with three mentoring sessions with a professional filmmaker.

How many grants are available?

They are two awards available this funding round.

When and how can I apply?

Applications are now open will close Midnight 31 March 2024. The applicants will be asked to fill out an online application form, give a summary of the film or moving image format that they’d like to make, how it responds to the global challenges, and how it will support them with their studies and/or future ambitions.