Santander Career Support Award 2026

60 awards of £250 available.

In partnership with Santander, the Santander Career Support Award 2025–26 provides a £250 contribution to help students access recruitment, work experience and employability development opportunities that support progression into their chosen careers.

Who can apply

You can apply if you:

• Are a current University of Southampton student (undergraduate or postgraduate, full-time or part-time) during the 2025/26 academic year

• Have an activity that is ongoing during 2026 or has not yet started but will begin before the end of the academic year (including up to 31 August 2026)

• Meet the eligibility criteria in the Santander Terms & Conditions (via the Santander Open Academy application)

What you can use the £250 for

The award can support costs linked to a secured opportunity, including:

• Recruitment activities (e.g., interviews, assessment centres – online or in-person)

• Work experience (e.g., internships, placements, volunteering – online or in-person)

• Employability development (e.g., conferences, insight days, networking events, employer workshops, employability projects)

Eligible cost types can include travel/accommodation/fees, professional attire, and other essential costs needed to take part.

What you can’t use it for

You can’t use the award for:

• General living costs (rent, bills, food), tuition fees, standard commute to university

• Devices (laptops/tablets), internet/data

• Anything already paid for before applying or activities already completed

Key dates

• Applications open: Monday 23 February 2026

• Applications close: 7 May 2026 (23:00 GMT)

• Outcomes emailed: 21 May 2026

• Accept award by: 28 May 2026 (within 7 days)

How Southampton will award (preference criteria)

The Santander Career Support Award 2025–26 will be awarded to applicants who meet the eligibility criteria in the Terms & Conditions, with preference going to students who:

• clearly explain how the proposed activity will support their future career and employability development; and

• demonstrate thoughtful reflection on the skills they would like to strengthen and how the activity will help them build those skills.

Successful Futures and the Southampton Skills Model

To support your application, we align this opportunity with Successful Futures and the Southampton Skills Model, a framework of 14 key employability skills, developed through research into graduate recruitment.

Using the Skills Model in your application (important)

You will be asked in the national Santander form:

“What would be the impact on your future career if you were awarded a Santander Career Support Award?” (max 100 words)

When responding, you may wish to:

• reference up to two skills you would like to develop (using the Southampton Skills Model language), and

• briefly explain how your chosen activity will help you strengthen those skills.

Recommended (not required): MyCareer skills self-assessment

You may complete the Successful Futures skills self-assessment pathway in MyCareer before applying. This self-reflection tool can help you identify development areas. You may refer to this insight in your application response if helpful.