About the fund

The great thing is you decide! The possibilities are endless, and you’re only limited by your imagination; experiences could include:

• Academic led trips
• Participation in conferences
• Attending exhibitions worldwide
• Summer work camps
• Research projects abroad
• Volunteering
• Internships
• Cultural discovery trips
• Language tuition abroad
• Study exchanges
• Participation in competitions
• Putting on and participation in live performances

As long as your chosen experience takes place during the current academic year it can be considered for funding.

The length of your experience will depend on the type of activity you choose to do. For example, it could range from a 1-day conference to a whole summer volunteering.

You can apply to the Student Success (Experiences) Fund if you...

• Are a current and active student
• Are classed as Home for fees
• Are studying full or part time (if part time you must be studying at 25% of a full-time equivalent course)
• Are enrolled onto a course which is a minimum of 1-year duration
• Are enrolled onto a course that leads to an award such as a Foundation Degree, BA, BSc, BEng, or Integrated Masters
• Have taken out your full loan entitlement, including your full tuition fee loan (if eligible)

Priority will be given to...

• Students with household incomes below £25,000 (as assessed by their Funding Body)
• Students who have disclosed a disability
• Ethnic minority students
• Care leavers or students estranged from their family
• Students with caring responsibilities
• Students from neighbourhoods with low participation in HE
• Mature students

You can apply to the Fund through our partner platform Blackbullion, using the following link: 

Student Success (Experiences) Fund

If you've not already registered with Blackbullion you'll be asked to register with them, using your student email account before completing your application. Registration is free and will give you access to all Blackbullion's online resources and learning modules designed to help you develop essential money skills, as well as exclusive competitions. For more information on Blackbullion please watch the video Hi, we are Blackbullion (Youtube)

As part of your application you will be required to provide a personal statement outlining why you want to undertake your chosen experience and what the expected benefits are. You will also need to provide evidence of the costs you are applying for.

Please note: Your application is not complete and can't be assessed until all supporting evidence has been received. 

If you have any questions or require further assistance with your application, please contact feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk.

All awards will depend on individual circumstances and the experience proposed in your application.

There is an upper limit for awards of £1,000 per student per year.

No, payments will not usually have to be repaid. If, however your attendance is poor, or you fail to provide copies of receipts associated with your chosen activity when asked, you may be required to repay all or part of the award.

If you require any further guidance on how to complete the application form please contact us at feesandbursaries@staffs.ac.uk

• Any experience funded by the Student Success (Experiences) Fund must be completed before the end of the academic year.
• Retrospective applications will not be accepted. You cannot apply to the Fund if you are already studying, working or volunteering abroad or if you have already completed your chosen experience. 
• Unless you are taking part in an academic-led project, you are responsible for making all booking and travel arrangements. You must demonstrate that you have considered the most economical options and that you have explored all other funding opportunities available to you.
• Upon completion of your chosen experience, you may be asked to report back about your experience. You will be given guidance on the format of the expected feedback.
• You must keep any receipts associated with your chosen experience. We reserve the right to request evidence that you have used the Student Success Fund award as intended. If you fail to produce such evidence, you will be required to repay the Student Success Fund award.
• Any unused Student Success funding should be repaid to the university.