The Horizon Fund receives donations from alumni, staff, former staff, and friends of University of Staffordshire to provide income which can be utilised to meet key University of Staffordshire employability priorities. Our funding is designed to help remove financial barriers so you can take part in opportunities that develop your skills, build your experience and improve your future career prospects. The fund is designed to help you access work-related opportunities that will enhance your employability and future career prospects.
We know university can be expensive, and we also know that it is not just about the lectures and degree obtained. It is everything in between. The experiences, the trips, the networking, the industry connections and all the extra elements that make our students more employable - not to mention a step ahead of the competition!
These are just a few of the examples of how the Horizon Fund – Careers Placements and Employability Award can help students achieve more than they thought possible:
- Are you looking to or have you secured an unpaid internship or work experience opportunity, but are concerned the cost of taking part will hold you back?
- Are you completing a placement year but finding it difficult to take advantage of the opportunity due to the associated costs?
- Are you taking part in a volunteering opportunity to gain experience and transferable skills but have additional travel and subsistence costs?
- Are you taking part in a research project to develop your skills, knowledge or experience?
- Does your course offer opportunities for field trips, cultural visits or travel that will enhance your future employability but are cost prohibitive to you?
- Do you need professional clothing to attend an interview, assessment centre, networking event or other career-related activity?
Eligibility criteria
Please read the full guidance document (which can be downloaded from the Blackbullion application link below) before applying.
Key dates
Applications for this bursary are open.
- Application deadline
- 30 June 2027
- Applicants notified by
- 30 November 2026
How to apply
If you are successful in your application, our donors will want to see examples of what the Employability Award has helped towards, so we will ask that you share a post evaluation write up of your experience as well as images/video or something visual that represents what this has meant to you.
We wish you the best of luck, and hope you put your all into the application.
Spell check your application
Highlight your goals and ambitions
Explain why you chose us for your degree
We hope you take the time complete the application to the best of your ability and if you encounter any issues or require additional support during the application process, please contact the Student Life Team via Solve - Student related query, Student general query.
Applications close on 30 June 2027.
Apply now
Bursary payment exemptions
Projects that will not be funded:
- Applications which are believed to be eligible for Research Council grants or other existing research funding sources. Applicants are advised to seek further advice from their Head of Department before submitting any applications with a research focus.
- Retrospective funding will not be considered.
- Applications from individuals (academic or student) seeking support for tuition, maintenance or other course fees or for replacement staff costs for sabbatical or other leave will not be considered.
- Projects requiring recurrent funding (including salaries and subscriptions).
- Projects requiring part-funding will only be considered if it is demonstrated that the rest of the project funds are available.
- Applications from individuals’ academic or student to cover living costs or social funding.
- Students will need to fund their own subsistence costs and any personal spending.