Futures Employability Fund

What is The Futures Employability Fund (FEF)?

The Futures Employability Fund is an opportunity for eligible undergraduate students and graduates (within 12 months of graduating from an undergraduate course) from under-represented groups to apply for funding for activities or support that will help them to improve their employability, develop their skills and experience and gain access to opportunities that a lack of funding may be stopping them from taking.  

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the Futures Employability Fund you must meet one of the following criteria:

  • Be in receipt of the Care Experienced Bursary. Please see our information page for details on how to make your claim if you are a Care Experienced Student. 
  • Be in receipt of the Estranged Student Bursary.
  • Be in receipt of the Carer Support Package. 
  • Be in receipt of the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showman or Boater Bursary.
  • Be in receipt of our previous Chester or Foundation Year Bursary.
  • Be in receipt of the Sanctuary Scholarship.
  • Be from the ethnic minority groups. 
  • Be the First Generation/First in Family - a student whose parents or guardians do not have any experience of higher education.  
  • Have a declared disability. 
  • Come from a postcode area least represented in higher education (quintile 1 and 2 measurements). 
  • Were entitled to Free School Meals at secondary school age within the last 6 years (this only applies to students starting University in 2024 onwards).  

You will also need to be a current full-time, UK home-fee paying student, or a graduate that met the above criteria during their studies. 

NB: students studying at partner colleges are not eligible to apply.

What is the Application Process?

Eligible students and graduates can find full details including terms and conditions, categories of items and activities that funding can be applied to, and the application process on CareerHub.

Students who are eligible will receive an email advising them how to apply.  If you think you are eligible, and have not heard from us, please contact Careers and Employability using the contact details below. 

What can you apply for?

Examples of what the funding can be used for include but are not limited to: 

  • Professional Development 
    • Digital marketing courses
    • Sports coaching qualifications e.g. NVQ, CYO or similar health or fitness instruction, National Pool Lifeguard Qualification, FA Coaching Qualification etc.
    • Language courses
    • First Aid qualifications
    • Conference/events attendance
    • Membership of professional bodies
  • Specialist Equipment
    • Software subscriptions
    • Archaeological tools
    • Photography equipment
    • Creative performance equipment
  • Career Development Expenses
    • Travel expenses*
    • Interview clothes (up to a maximum of £120) - evidence of invitation to interview is required to be submitted with the application form. .
    • Accommodation expenses for experiences away from home/campus*
    • Appropriate smart clothes/uniform etc if not provided for out of curriculum work experience
    • Specialist equipment needed for out of curriculum work experience*
      *Applications considered for Work Based Learning or Study Abroad requirements 

Please note that funding is not available for: 

  • Driving lessons 
  • Laptops for academic use, applications for laptops must clearly outline the employability purposes (this does not include CV writing and job hunting). 
  • Rent, bills, food shopping or contributions to commuting to university.  If you are experiencing financial hardship you can apply to the Student Support Fund or contact studentservices@chester.ac.uk 

Applications are reviewed and awarded monthly.

You can also check out The Futures Employability Fund terms and conditions​​ and resources on CareerHub