Year 12 - Calderdale and Kirklees Careers Service Partnership

SponsorshipWhy do it?• getting sponsored by anorganisation could meanthat you get training andwork experience in additionto the academic tuitionyou get while studyingfor a degree• you may also get paid,though the amount willdepend on the schemeon offer, with somesupplementing yourstudent income andothers paying you thegoing rate as if youwere a full employee• usually you would onlyexpect to be paid whenyou are working outsideterm time• you may receive otherallowances, foraccommodation, travel,books and so on.What do sponsors look for?• good predicted exam grades• people with leadership andgood organisational skills,self-confidence, adaptability,initiative, drive – anythingthat will indicate to themthat you are worthinvesting in.Who are the sponsors?• several hundred companiesin the UK offer some kindof sponsorship, often tostudents on degree courseswith a large vocationalcontent, or students onsandwich courses• usually they are largecompanies, including banks,manufacturers, engineers,the energy industries,the armed forces, largeinternational companiessuch as accountancy firms,local authority departments,government departments• engineering offers the mostscope, with around 30%of electrical/electronic andmechanical/productionengineering, and 5% of civilengineering students beingsponsored in some way.How do you getsponsorship?• have a look on websitesfor institutions relatingto the vocational areathat interests you• check out universitiesand departments tosee whether particularcourses attract sponsors• consider making adirect approach to anycompanies you areinterested in working for• timing is vital – you needto apply really early,at least a year ahead ofstarting a degree course,preferably earlier• start researching thesponsorship opportunities atleast six months before that• mention your aim ofobtaining sponsorship whenyou apply through UCAS• if you can’t get sponsoredbefore starting your course,there are still possibilitiesas many firms find itmore attractive to offerAre there any disadvantages?sponsorship for many courses may be difficultor impossible to obtainthere will be huge competition for sponsored placesdon’t rely on sponsorship, you will always needto investigate alternative methods of financial supportyou are likely to miss out on opportunities your friendshave during the holidays – to travel, take a break, or getexperience of some other kind of workyou could be tied into a legally binding contract, and mayhave to agree to certain conditions, such as working forthe employer for a year before going on your course, orworking for a set time after completing your degreeyou may be expected to attend a specific institution,or take a particular coursethere is no guarantee that you will be employedby your sponsor on completing your degree.sponsorship to students whoare already at university• look for details in the Moneysection of your careers library• attend careers and HEconventions or fairs• ask your sixth form andsubject teachers as they mayalso receive informationabout sponsorships – tellthem about your plans• visit www.notgoingtouni.co.ukfor sponsorship vacanciesScholarships• some universities havea limited number of nonrepayablescholarshipsavailable to students.These are usually based onfinancial need and academicexcellence. Check websitesfor individual institutionsfor details• check out the StudentFinance and Sponsorshipsection of The Directorysee pages 23-25.