Sponsorship

Sponsorship is a way of receiving financial help during your degree or HND, often in exchange for periods of employment with a sponsor; this takes the form of a contract between you and the sponsor.

Sponsorships are becoming harder to find as companies economise and there is fierce competition for a diminishing number of opportunities.

Click on the links below for more information.

• Ways in which sponsorship may be offered
• Who might offer sponsorship?
• Advantages
• Disadvantages
• Entry requirements - what do you need?
• When should you apply?
• Where should you look for information?
• Sponsorship top tip!

Ways in which sponsorship may be offered

• An annual salary for the duration of your course.
• A salary for a specific year, for example gap year, sandwich work placement or final year.
• A bursary payment during term time plus a salary for vacation work

Employers sponsor students for a variety of reasons: as a means of recruiting high-fliers who may be hard to recruit after graduation and/or in employment areas where employers have difficulty in recruiting staff.

Employers may expect you to join the company after your course and some insist you work for a minimum period once you finish training. However, sponsorships do not necessarily guarantee you a job.

Who might offer sponsorship?

Sponsorship is offered by a range of organisations including private companies, professional bodies, government departments and local authorities.

The main subject areas attracting sponsorship include engineering, pure and applied science, accountancy, economics and computer science. It is also possible to find some within occupational areas such as retailing, finance and business. Some companies will specify the course or institution, whereas others are more flexible.

It is possible to be sponsored on both full-time and sandwich courses. The latter are often more likely to attract sponsorship, as you can gain a year’s work experience alongside your academic studies.

Before deciding to look for sponsorship you will need to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages. (hotlinks)

Advantages

Below are some of the advantages of sponsorship:

• extra money
• potential paid work during the holidays
• work experience and training
• gaining confidence in the working world
• the possibility of a job at the end of your studies.

Disadvantages

Disadvantages of sponsorship could include:

• making an initial career decisions at 17
• finding yourself on a course you wouldn’t have otherwise chosen
• going to an institution not chosen by you
• sponsorship may affect your entitlement to a student loan, depending on how much you earn
• having to work during the long summer vacation
• being committed to working for the company for a specified period of time.

Entry requirements - what do you need?

The entry requirements vary but in general sponsors are likely to specify:

• certain AS/A2 level (or IB) subjects
• UCAS points
• relevant work experience
• personal qualities – for example, an inquiring mind, creativity, ambition, enthusiasm
• skills including teamwork and communication .

When should you apply?

The best time to apply varies between companies but you should be researching during the first year of your advanced level studies. You apply for the course in the normal way but if the sponsor wishes you to complete a year in employment first you may need to defer you university course for a year.

Scholarships are another source of finance that may be offered by charitable trusts, a university department or a company, however these would not normally offer employment.

Where should you look for more information?

Student Money Matters (Trotman) – a guide to sources of finance and money management (does just what the title says, covers all aspects of finance and coping on a fixed income).

Sponsorship and Funding Directory (Hobsons)

University Scholarships & Awards (Trotman)

The Educational Grants Directory (Directory of Social Change)

The Sports Funding Guide (Directory of Social Change)

Sports Scholarships & College Athletic Programs in the USA (Peterson)

Top Tip!

Get on the web! Check out company websites, as these can be a valuable source of information. Also visit www.scholarship-search.org.uk

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