The Thrive Fund is an exciting initiative which contributes financial support that helps you to take part in activities which enhance your employability, build your confidence and develop your transferable skills.

About the Thrive Fund

You can apply for funding to support a career-enhancing project, initiative or opportunity that will enhance the development of graduate attributes and enrich your student experience enabling you to stand out in a competitive environment.

• Up to £1,000 for UK projects (total per year).
• Up to £2,000 for overseas projects arranged with an approved partner.

If you’re applying to the Thrive Fund for an oversees project, this will only be considered when arranged through an established partner of the University, with existing links with our International Office and where the University has a Memorandum of Understanding or similar in place.

Some examples of what eligible students can apply for includes:

• Travel and accommodation costs required to undertake unpaid work experience or volunteering opportunities for up to a maximum of 30 days
• Expenses to travel to and from interviews or assessment days (which are not covered by the employer)
• Representing the University at a conference, festival or event
• Developing and making creative material, for example films, performances, readings and publications which are not a compulsory part of your coursework

Who is eligible to apply?

You are eligible to apply to the Thrive fund if you are a UK home undergraduate student and meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Student who is a care leaver, care experienced or estranged
• Student who was in receipt of free school meals
• Student entering university from a neighbourhood where there is low participation in higher education, and/or a student from low-income households (Check your postcode).
• Student with caring responsibilities
• Student who holds refugee status
• Students whose ethnicity is Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic
• Student who did not study A Level qualifications, e.g. BTEC.

International students are not eligible to apply due to OfS regulatory scope and funding differences.

If you are studying on an Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funded programme, such as an apprenticeship, you will not be eligible for the Thrive Fund.

Permanent employees of Edge Hill University and seconded students are also not eligible to apply.

Case studies

Below are some examples of the varied career-enhancing project, initiative or opportunities students have taken part in previously 

What can’t be supported by the fund?

• The Fund cannot be used to support:
• Core programme requirements, such as field trips, work placements or coursework, where these are compulsory, credit-bearing elements of a programme or module.
• Study Abroad opportunities where students are eligible for Erasmus+ or Turing funding.
• Paid work, for example with organisations such as Camp America.
• Fundraising activities.
• Costs of studying a qualification or course. The panel may, however, consider helping you with travel costs.
• Short-term elective placements.
• Aspects of opportunities such as cost of food, clothing, equipment, loss of earnings or insurance for specific items such as laptops and mobile phones.
• Activities with organisations such as Plan My Gap Year, International Citizen Service (ICS), Go For Life, SLV Global or similar initiatives

The Fund encourages students’ employability through unique experiences and opportunities, therefore it would not support a continuation or extension of a previous successful application.

In addition to the above, the Fund cannot be applied retrospectively to activities which have commenced, or taken place, prior to the point of application. Group applications can not be accepted.

How to apply

The Thrive fund opens for application on September 1 2025. You are advised to apply as early in the academic year as possible.

Who can help with my application?

It is strongly advised that you get in touch with the Careers team before applying to the Thrive Fund. You can use the ask a question service or book an appointment via the Careers website. The team can help you find suitable opportunities and provide support in submitting a strong application.

Ready to apply?

To apply for financial support from the Thrive Fund please visit the Careers Portal.

Dependant on the amount requested from the Fund, the following may be requested as part of your application:

• confirmation from your Personal Tutor or Course Leader that the activity is not a compulsory element of a course or module and that it is a credible opportunity
• evidence of the opportunity, for example, screenshot of the email offering the opportunity or a screenshot of the conference itinerary
  breakdown of the budget and costs (with evidence)

Payment

If your application is successful, payment will be made directly to your bank account via BACS. This can take up to five working days from our Finance department receiving the relevant paperwork.

You will be required to sign to accept the Fund’s terms and conditions and complete a risk assessment of your opportunity prior to payment being made. The allocated funds must only be used for the purpose specified within your application. It is your responsibility to make the relevant arrangements for the activity to take place once your funding has been confirmed.

Any money you are allocated does not have to be repaid. The only exception is where the project, activity or opportunity does not take place. In these circumstances, the Scholarships team must be notified without delay and you will be required to repay any previously awarded funds to the University.

Sharing your story

Upon successful completion of your opportunity, you will be required to complete an online survey and make an appointment with a Careers Adviser to discuss how the opportunity has enhanced your employability.

We will also ask you to share your story, for example through a poster presentation, blog, written report, student profile or news article, telling us what you did with the funding. Edge Hill University reserves the right to use this information in future publicity material.

We will also ask you to become a Fund Ambassador, working with the Scholarships team to promote the fund, sharing your story and enthusiasm with your peers.

Contact us

If you have any queries about the Thrive Fund, you can get in touch with us and we will be happy to assist you.