Opportunity Fund
The Opportunity Fund is designed to help University of Lincoln students access career-enhancing opportunities by reducing barriers that can stand in the way. Whether you have been invited to a job interview, assessment centre, networking event, or another career-related opportunity, funding may be available to support your participation.
Many students have already used the fund to access valuable opportunities and move closer to achieving their career goals. The application process is simple, confidential, and outlined below.
Please note that this is an enabling fund, primarily to support with specific upcoming career opportunities, however we make considered back-dated opportunities for up to a period of 6 months.
As part of your application, you will need to provide evidence of the opportunity you are pursuing and how the funding will support your participation. The fund cannot provide support with ongoing travel, only one-off travel to attend an interview etc.
Why apply?
Its a simple, quick application process and you can receive support from the Careers team throughout the application. The funding can be put towards a variety of costs including;
- Professional clothing
- DBS Checks
- Recovering lost documents
- Costs associated with caring responsibilities
- Travel & Overnight Accommodation
We consider each application on a case-by-case basis so if you’d like to apply for any costs not listed above, please contact careers@lincoln.ac.uk to ask if this would be eligible.
Am I eligible?
There are a variety of eligibility criteria to be able to access the fund and if you’re eligible you can access the fund during your studies and up to 15 months after you graduate.
Due to the source of the funding, the fund is only available to Home, undergraduate students.
Each application is reviewed on a case-by-case basis, but you must meet one of the following to apply:
• My home household income is less than £25,000 per year.
• I have a disability, mental health condition or long-term medical condition.
• My parent(s) / carer(s) do not have a university level qualification and my household has a total income below £42,875 (usual Student Finance England threshold for higher maintenance loan).
• I look after somebody at home who has a mental/physical health condition.
• I’m estranged from my family.
• I have lived in the care of my local authority in the past.
• I am a mature / independent student (with a household income of less than £42,875.
• I am BME (with a household income of less than £42,875).
Applications are considered on a first come first served basis based on the above eligibility criteria.
If you do not meet the above criteria, we recommend that you access Student Services’ Financial support page or the Cost of Living support hub. You may also like to book onto a budgeting session, where you can seek advice on how to more effectively manage your finances.
What type of opportunities could I use the funding for?
The funding is to support with specific upcoming career opportunities.
Some examples of how the funding can be used include:
- Transport costs to and from interviews, assessment centres or insight days (including train travel and petrol costs). Petrol costs are based on 19p/mile however is subject to change
- DBS checks and other compulsory assessments needed to accept a role
- Accommodation allowing you to stay overnight near to an interview location or temporary place of work.
- Up to £75 towards professional clothing
- Carer costs. Costs associated with taking time out of your usual routine to attend an interview may be covered, in order that the person you care for can still be looked after whilst you are taking part in the opportunity.
- Applications to recover lost documents such as birth certificates, which may be crucial for attending interviews or obtaining experience.
Examples of costs which are not eligible for funding:
- Rent, rental deposits and other living costs such as food and utility bills.
- Cars, car parts, or repairs.
- Personal equipment.
- Travel costs associated with training opportunities (we may be able to support with accommodation if needed).
Funding cannot be used for opportunities accredited as a mandatory part of your course.
Students in receipt of Turing funding for global opportunities will not be eligible to receive funding from the Opportunity Fund for the same opportunity.
Apply here
If you are interested in applying for the fund, please complete the short online application form below. There is also an alternate PDF form in case you require this. If you would like support in completing your application or have any questions relating to the Opportunity Fund, please email careers@lincoln.ac.uk.
All students applying for the fund are recommended to watch the short Opportunity Fund Budgeting workshop so that you can make the most of any funding you are awarded.
What happens after I submit my application?
- A member of the Careers & Employability team will read through the application and conduct some initial checks within one week.
- You may be contacted for additional details, and to provide evidence of the opportunity and associated costs if not already received.
- Attend a short meeting to discuss your application.
- If funding is agreed, you will need to complete a bank details form.
- If funding is not granted, the careers team will explain why and signpost you to other support sources within the University of Lincoln.
- You will be asked to provide a short feedback form and stay in touch with the Careers & Employability team to update them on the outcome of the opportunity.
- If you have made dishonest claims on your application, or fail to provide receipts, you will be required to pay back the grant in full to Careers & Employability team and will not be eligible for future grants.
How can this support my Lincoln Award?
The Lincoln Award is our employability framework designed to support you in preparing for your future. Employers are looking for candidates who stand out from the crowd and have developed their skills and ambitions – a degree alone is not enough to guarantee your dream job.
Completing the Lincoln Award can help you to confidently articulate your skills and experiences to employers in future interviews. Get started now by watching the online induction and following the steps on our Lincoln Award guide.
We have put together an Opportunity Fund support package to help you to navigate the interview and assessment centre processes, and each of these activities can count towards your Lincoln Award:
- On Demand – How to make the most of the Opportunity Fund: Budgeting workshop (5 points)
- Workshop: How to prepare for interviews and assessment centres (5 points)
- Workshop: How to manage application stress (5 points)
- Workshop: How to build career confidence (5 points)
- Interview review tool (10 points)
If you are unable to find suitable workshop dates, please contact lincolnaward@lincoln.ac.uk who will be able to discuss alternative activities with you.