Equal Opportunities Fund

What can I apply the money towards?

The money is to help you overcome the financial barrier it can take to access activities and services that would support your career goals. This could be: travel to an interview or an assessment centre, buying your first professional outfit for an employer event, or admittance to a conference. For a full list of applicable opportunities, head to our website. 

How do I apply for the fund?

Applications for the Equal Opportunities Fund are closed for Semester 1.

Missed out? Don't worry! The EO Fund will open again next semester. To keep up to date check out our monthly newsletter or this blog for further updates!

Can I apply only if I have an opportunity in mind?

Yes, all applications should explain what it is they are applying and how the funding will better their employability. For example, a final interview for a placement year is taking place in-person and without the funding, you'd not be able to afford travel to the location, missing out on the opportunity to interview for the role and secure a placement.

I've already applied this year but didn't claim the full amount. Can I apply again?

Absolutely! If you have another opportunity that you would like to access and haven't used the full £300, you can apply for the fund. Bare in mind, if your opportunity costs more than the remainder of your allowance, we can only top up to a maximum of £300 for the academic year. However, your allowance will reset to £300 at the beginning of every year of your undergraduate degree. 

I'd like to apply for two separate opportunities such as LinkedIn and professional clothing. What can I do?

If you have two opportunities you'd like to apply for, or two ways that would aid your access to an opportunity, please fill out the form separately for each one. This isn't because we would accept one and not the other, but allows us to keep clear how many ways the fund is being utilised. 

Here is an example of a past successful application...

Granted fund to pay an attendance fee for an event or conference 🎉

As a physical geography student, attending the IGC conference would be an invaluable opportunity to develop my employability and sector knowledge. The conference is one of the largest of its kind with ample opportunities for networking with people from all across the globe. Since my career goal is to become a researcher, this conference will allow me to gain substantial insights into leading research, gain awareness of interdisciplinary links and speak with representatives of various organisations involved in the kind of research I aspire to complete myself. 

I plan to attend a number of plenary and poster sessions related to my research interests, and potentially apply to deliver a presentation myself, focusing on topics such as climate data innovation, and ocean currents. Attending will also give me leads for possible internships and opportunities for further study. This will also be a key opportunity to develop contacts with researchers and representatives from around the world, giving me an international perspective on the field. As I am a student ambassador for my department and have already participated in multiple open days, I will be more than keen to share any insights gained during my conference attendance to Sheffield students and applicants, or provide a case study for students who might wish to attend this event in future.