Competitions and funding opportunities

There are many funding opportunities and competitions to help you pursue employability experiences.

Scholarships, bursaries, and funds

  • Careers Centre Employability Bursary – provides financial support of up to £700 to help University of St Andrews students complete work-related activity. Applications are considered from all students and disciplines.
  • The Rector’s Fund – a scholarship for students undertaking a summer internship or project that is motivated by a desire to create positive change. Open to all students and postgraduates who have a confirmed internship offer. 
  • Saints Abroad Scholarship – provides funding support for undergraduate students who have been offered a study abroad placement or who have secured a work placement for the following academic year. 
  • James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program – designed to provide work experience for US students who have a serious career interest in international affairs.

Competitions 

  • Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) Essay Competition – submit a 1000 to 1200-word essay to win £500 and an invitation to the CMA's 10th Anniversary event in London.
  • National Trust Time + Space Award – put your ideas into practice with support and mentoring opportunities. Four categories: Nature & Climate, Arts & Culture, Science and Society.
  • The Start Up Challenge – open to University of St Andrews students and those who have graduated in the last two years.
  • Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs –  annual competition for those aged 18 to 30 years old who have a well-thought-out business idea or an enterprise that has already launched. Winners receive prizes in the form of significant financial support towards a business idea or enterprise.
  • L'Oreal Brandstorm Competition –  annual competition to innovate the next generation of retail.
  • Targetjobs Undergraduate of the Year Awards –  an annual competition aimed at finding the best undergraduates in the UK. Each award is partnered by a prominent graduate recruiter who provides a prize for the winner, which could include a paid internship, a trip abroad, or other opportunities.
  • The Chaplaincy Prize –  awarded each year, the prize is open to all current students at the University of St Andrews and is based around a particular theme for an original piece of creative work or an essay. 
  • The Clean Tech Challenge – an interdisciplinary competition bringing together innovative tech and good management to support a greener world.
  • Accuracy Business Cup – engage with international employers and gain experience in the consultancy field.
  • University Business Challenge – team-based, UK-wide competition where you compete in a simulation and make board-level decisions for your business.
  • ICAEW 100 Competition –  an online, 30-minute, case study-based activity. Helps you quantify transferable skills, gain experience of psychometric assessment, enhance interview skills, and gain awareness of the industry and current trends. 

Technical competitions

  • Payara Cloud Hackathon – build an app with Jakarta EE10 and Payara Cloud for a chance to win up to £3,000.
  • TCS Quantum Challenge – a competition to create innovative and creative solutions to real-life business issues leveraging quantum computing, with the possibility of connecting with national and international employers.
  • Europe Terminal –  a games-based AI challenge, where players code strategies to automate gameplay for a chance to win $15,000.