The Student Enterprise Fund
Apply to the Student Enterprise Fund to accelerate your business or kick start a new business idea!
The Student Enterprise Fund has four funding pathways and is designed to support a broad range of early-stage businesses, social enterprises and freelancers.
Please note: Applicants for the Engineers in Business Competition (EIBC) or Pulse for Change Competition should apply to the START, BUILD or GROW Pathways depending on the stage of your business. In the application form you will be asked whether you wish to also apply for these awards. Any questions, please contact [email protected].
START
Apply for up to £500 to START a new business
For students/alumni students at the very early stages in their entrepreneurial journey wanting to explore or validate a new business idea or social enterprise, or those needing funding to kick start or launch their business activities.
Applications for the START Pathway – Summer 25 are now open! Applications close midnight, Sunday 15 June 2025.
Find out more
BUILD
Apply for up to £2,000 to BUILD your business
For students/alumni with strong customer validation of their business idea, who require funding to further build or develop the product or service, launch it to the market or take the business to the next level.
Applications for the BUILD Pathway – Summer 25 are now open! Applications close midnight, Sunday 15 June 2025.
Find out more
GROW
Apply for up to £5,000 to GROW your business
For students/alumni who require essential funding to progress their existing business to the next critical development milestone OR to grow/accelerate existing sales or traction.
The GROW pathway is running in collaboration with Future Worlds and is generously supported by Santander Universities.
Applications for the GROW Pathway – Summer 25 are now open! Applications close midnight, Sunday 15 June 2025.
Find out moreFREELANCE
Apply for up to £500 to support your FREELANCE business
For students/alumni interested in monetizing their skills and experience in the UK who require essential funding to help kick start, launch or expand their freelancer activities.
This pathway is generously supported by Santander Universities.
Applications for the FREELANCE Pathway – Summer 25 are now open! Applications close midnight, Sunday 15 June 2025.
Find out more
***We strongly recommend all those interested in applying read all the information in full***
Starting your own business is exciting, but also incredibly challenging. Access to financial resources can present a huge bottleneck to getting started or growing your venture.
Whether you have a brand-new idea, an early-stage business, or strong customer traction, the Student Enterprise Fund could award you between £500 to £5,000 in prize funding to take it forward and make it a reality!
Funding is available to undergraduate, postgraduate taught, postgraduate research students as well as recent graduates. Students can apply as individuals, a partnership or group.
Students who have previously received funding from the Student Enterprise Fund pathways are eligible to apply to future rounds, albeit with restrictions. Please read the specific eligibility requirements for each pathway.
*Please note that Student Enterprise Funding is only available to individuals who are legally eligible to start a business in the UK*
International students with Student Visa immigration permission are not permitted to engage in business activity in the UK whilst they are studying on a Student Visa and are therefore NOT eligible for this funding.
Want to discuss your eligibility for funding or get feedback on an application? Book a 1:1 Student Enterprise Appointment with a member of the Student Enterprise team.
We highly recommend you book a 1:1 appointment to increase your chances of success.
You can contact the Student Enterprise Team at [email protected].
