Students from Deprived Areas of England

The University of Sheffield defines deprivation according to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), with eligibility for Equal Opps/ widening participation requiring that a student's postcode have an IMD value of 16,250 or less, according to the IMD database. You can check your eligibility here.

Click here to read about the University's support for student hardship, including cost of living support.

Students can also access 1:1 appointments with Employability Advisors via Career Connect in which they can discuss any concerns about breaking into their chosen field as a student from a deprived area of England in confidence.

The Careers & Employability Services' Equal Opps offer contains opportunities such as:

Open to all Equal Opportunities students, the Equal Opportunities Fund provides up to £300 for students engaging in some form of work experience, from volunteering to travel expenses to attend a research conference. Through this, the Careers & Employability Service aims to level the playing field by ensuring that no student is left without access to vital work experience because of where they come from.

The Ambition Internship Programme, with priority access to Equal Opportunities students, allows eligible students to undertake a paid summer internship with SMEs and charities in the Sheffield City Region. The scheme is an opportunity for students to use their knowledge and skills to benefit a local organisation while gaining valuable career experience. 

Do you have any ideas about how the Careers & Employability Service can better support students from deprived areas? Fill in our Equal Opps feedback form here!

Students from deprived areas are likely to also represent other widening participation criteria at the University. As such, below are some societies and groups that may be relevant to students from deprived areas at the University of Sheffield:

• Sheffield 93% Club (open to students who attended state school prior to University)

• Student Action for Refugees Society 

• BAME community groups (as shown on the 'BAME students' page of the blog)

• Liberation Committee (concerns anyone who has faced systematic barriers in attendance of and participation in University)

• Liberation Officer contact: liberation.inclusionsofficer@sheffield.ac.uk

Do you have any questions about how Equal Opportunities in Careers supports students from deprived areas?

Do you want to talk to us about your experiences as a student from a deprived area trying to get into a career in your chosen field?

Email us at careers-equalopportunities@sheffield.ac.uk