Published:
Students facing financial difficulties as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak are set to benefit from a £25,000 funding package through a partnership between Heriot-Watt and Santander Universities.
Student businesses will also be eligible to apply for a portion of the fund, which is available now and until the end of August.
Santander UK today announced it is providing £4.5million of additional funding to its 85 university partners across the UK to support an array of initiatives as part of the national effort to combat the outbreak.
Welcoming the announcement, James Hairsine, Director of Careers and Graduate Futures of Heriot-Watt University, who said: “
We are very pleased and grateful to Santander for this additional funding, which builds on the support they currently provide for our Internship Programme and to wider relationships with the University. This additional funding provides us with an exciting opportunity to support students financially and also support charities and not for profit organisations. Students will be able to undertake online internships with charities and not for profit organisations, which have been hit hard during the Covid-19 outbreak, and provide our students with the opportunity to develop skills and make a difference to our community.
Students who wish to find out more or apply for funding can do so by visiting the Careers & Graduate Futures website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/students/careers.htm or by emailing k.beattie@hw.ac.uk
Matt Hutnell, Director, Santander Universities, said: “Santander is committed to supporting higher education as well as local communities across the UK so we’re pleased that our funding is able to be redirected to where it is most needed at this critical time. Universities are doing some fantastic work to contribute to the UK’s effort to combat the outbreak of COVID-19, so we’re delighted to collaborate with our university partners in a way which increases their response effort and look forward to continuing to work with them on supporting both students and the broader higher education community with further initiatives over the coming months.”
Students may find themselves in financial difficulties during this current pandemic crisis but Heriot-Watt has a range of support available including the Student Hardship Fund.
Those in an urgent crisis should contact Student Wellbeing Services or The Advice Hub for support. The Residents Life Team can also provide support.
Craig McManamon
Media Relations Officer
E: c.mcmanamon@hw.ac.uk