The bursary fund from the City Council will offer grants of up to £1,000 for projects that closely align with the council's strategic objectives.
A call for applications will open on 9 April and will close on the 7 May. Applications will be evaluated by a panel, with consideration given to how closely the research aligns with the strategic goals of 鶹 City Council. Successful applicants will be notified by June 4th, 2025.
The fund is open to undergraduate students in their penultimate year progressing to their final year, students working on their final-year projects, and postgraduate students at any stage of their research. This opportunity offers not only financial support but also a chance for applicants to engage with key stakeholders in the local community and contribute to the city's ongoing development.
To further incentivise outstanding research, the highest-scoring application will receive additional match funding from M-SParc, to support the continued advancement of the successful candidate’s research. M-SParc have an #OnTour location on 鶹 High St, to promote innovation, support High St regeneration, and encourage commercialisation of business ideas.
The bursary fund is a collaboration between 鶹 City Council, 鶹 (civic engagement team), the Students’ Union, and M-SParc. Together, these partners aim to foster a strong relationship between the University and the City, encouraging research that benefits both the local community and the region.
Gwenan Hine, University Secretary and Civic Engagement Lead, said, “We are thrilled to launch the 鶹 City Council Bursary Fund, which represents an exciting opportunity for our students and researchers to engage in meaningful projects that directly contribute to the development of our city. This initiative not only strengthens the important connection between 鶹 and the City Council, but it also empowers students to apply their academic expertise to real-world challenges. We are grateful to the City Council for their financial support for this initiative, and we look forward to seeing the innovative ideas and impactful research that will emerge from this collaboration.”
Martin Hanks, 鶹 City Director, said, “It is with great pleasure that the City Council is supporting this bursary initiative. To unlock the possibility of the City Council harnessing some of the World leading research being undertaken at the University to help it make its strategic decisions will, we believe, prove invaluable to the future of 鶹. For the students, it is an opportunity to see their academic work have an impact on the local community.
"On a personal note, I am delighted to see another joint University and City Council project come to fruition and I would like to thank all those involved at 鶹 for helping make this a reality.”
Nida Ambreen, President of Undeb 鶹 Students' Union, said, "The 鶹 City Council Student Bursary scheme offers an incredible opportunity for our students. I want to thank everyone involved for their joint effort in making this scheme a reality. At Undeb 鶹, we are passionate about empowering students and supporting their innovative ideas. This bursary provides students with the chance to make a meaningful impact on the community while advancing their academic goals. I encourage all eligible students to apply and take this opportunity to shape the future of 鶹."
Students can find the application form .
