Careers Service

About the Bursary

What can the bursary cover?

The bursary can fund travel costs or accommodation costs or a combination of the two. It cannot cover the cost of food, clothing, travel visas, travel insurance or other incidental expenditure or living costs such as utility bills.

Can the bursary cover care costs?

Yes. The bursary can cover dependent care costs, including childcare and caring responsibilities.

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply for the Work Experience Bursary?

The scheme is open to current full time undergraduate students of The University of Manchester across all Faculties and academic Schools. This includes Home and International students.

Can postgraduate students apply?

No. The scheme is only open to current undergraduates.

Can final-year students apply?

Yes, but your opportunity must be completed by the end of June 2026.

I received a Work Experience Bursary during the last academic year. Can I apply again this academic year?

Yes. There are no limits to the number of applications that you can make during your time at university. You will only be eligible to receive a maximum of £250 to £1,000 (depending on your circumstances) within the one academic year.

My work experience opportunity is paid. Can I still apply?

Yes, but please bear in mind that the scheme aims to support students working in unpaid or low paid positions. Each application is assessed on its merits so please do make an application if the award of a bursary would assist you.

I will be attending an open day at a company which will involve some travelling. Can I claim for this?

Whilst open days are a great way to get a feel for a company and make connections, unfortunately, we cannot provide financial assistance towards these events. The only exception to this is students from the School of Law. Law students should contact careersbursary@manchester.ac.uk for more information on possible assistance with insight day attendances.

What else is NOT eligible to be covered by the Work Experience Bursary?

• Work experience that is part of your degree (e.g., placement year, elective, or intercalation).
• Bar, restaurant, or casual jobs that do not relate to your career development.
• Work experience undertaken while you have interrupted your studies.
• Online or Fully remote opportunities
• Opportunities that require fees to be paid
• Study Abroad or Summer Schools
• Food
• Clothing
• Living costs such as utility bills etc.
• Travel visas or insurance

Application Process

Why can some students apply for up to £1,000 and I can only apply for £250?

The scheme has two separate funding streams. One is open to students who are in receipt of

• the full maintenance loan
• and/or the Manchester Bursary
• and/or Undergraduate Access Scholarship from the university.

The second funding stream is open to all students regardless of financial background and carries no such conditions.

How do I provide proof of my work experience?

A copy of your contract or email from your supervisor or manager confirming the dates of your work experience is often sufficient. The more information you provide at this stage the easier you make it for the bursary panel to make a decision. Please include details such as pay rates and office locations in your application.

Who makes the decision on my application?

A bursary panel makes a decision based on the strength of the information provided in your application. Make sure that you submit a strong application and include all the necessary documents such as your CV, proof of the work experience offer and your evidence of expected costs.

If my application is approved how quickly would I receive the funds?

Once you have accepted the terms and conditions of the scheme please allow up to four weeks for the funds to reach your account although we aim to complete this process much quicker.

I have already completed my work experience. Can I still apply for a bursary retrospectively?

No. Retrospective applications will not be accepted.

I have just started my work experience. Can I make an application?

Yes, students who are in the middle of undertaking an opportunity can make an application. Please note that there is no guarantee that your application will be approved.

I have arranged an opportunity for 2027. Can I apply for a bursary now?

No. All applications must relate to work experience that is scheduled to end by the 18th of September 2026.

My work experience is taking place over the Christmas/Easter holidays rather than summer. Can I still apply?

Yes. The only restriction is that your work experience must be completed before 18th of September 2026 for non-final year students. For final years, your work experience must be completed before the end of June 2026.

My work experience is taking place abroad. Can I still apply for a bursary?

Yes, there are no geographical limits. Working abroad is a great addition to a CV. It must however comply with any current Government travel restrictions. Please see our Terms and Conditions for details.

After your Work Experience - Receipting and Repaying Unspent Funds

What evidence do you need to confirm how I have used my bursary?

At the end of your work experience, you will need to submit receipts to prove your travel and/or your accommodation expenditure for the total amount awarded to you. Failure to do so will mean that you will have to repay the bursary money.

What happens if my expenses are lower than I originally anticipated?

Any unspent funds will need to be refunded to us. The team will contact you at the end of your work experience with information on how to do this.

What if I can’t provide receipts?

You may be asked to repay the full amount if you cannot provide valid evidence of expenditure.

Key Dates

When does the Bursary scheme close?

The bursary scheme runs until the funding has been exhausted or Sunday 28th June 2026, whichever point is reached first. Within this period we operate weekly deadlines. Applications are then considered for each weekly submission round.

Why does the scheme close at the start of summer when the majority of internships occur?

Our funding is bound by the University's financial year cycle, which ends in June.

Contact Us

I still have some more queries. Who can I contact to find out more information?
Email careersbursary@manchester.ac.uk with your query and a member of the team will be happy to help.