Unleashing Potential: Be Part Of The Amos Bursary Scholars

Young people of African and Caribbean heritage in Britain face higher rates of unemployment and are underrepresented in key positions in the labor market. Despite having qualifications, black graduates are almost twice as likely to be unemployed as their white peers a year after leaving college. How to increase your chances on the labor market if this topic concerns you? Discover the development opportunities offered by the Amos Bursary.

What is the Amos Bursary? What does the Amos Bursary do?

The Amos Bursary is a UK-based social mobility charity that provides mentoring, leadership training, and financial support to talented young people of African and Caribbean heritage, helping them reach their full potential, enhancing professional and personal development and pursue successful careers. The program aims to fight racial inequality and unemployment among people with black skin.

Are you interested and meet the basic criteria of being British of African and Caribbean heritage? Check other requirements for this bursary!

How to become the Amos Bursary Student? Who is eligible?

To qualify for consideration and apply for the bursary, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Attend a state school/academy/college in London or the West Midlands. The field of study is not important.
• Be in Year 12. Don’t miss the recruitment! Another stage of study does not apply for the bursary.
• Hold at least 6 GCSEs with grades 9-6 (A* – B)
• Projected to achieve a minimum of ABB at A-level or 34 Points at IB
• Have the right to work and live in the UK
• Qualify for home student status at a UK university.

There are also another 2 criteria to apply for the Amos Bursary, that must be met from the list:

• Attend a school with low average attainment levels for GCSE or A-level
• Come from a single-parent family
• Require financial support to attend university due to family circumstances
• Have a household income below £40,000 or receive income-related benefits
• Received free school meals at any time during your education
• Would be the first generation in your family to attend university
• Live in a neighborhood with a low rate of progression to higher education and/or high levels of socio-economic deprivation
• Have been looked after/accommodated in care
• Have other extenuating circumstances not listed (which will need to be detailed in your application)

Source & more information: www.amosbursary.org.uk

What can you gain from being the Amos Bursary Student?

They offer a range of personal and professional development opportunities through their Excellence Programme and the AMOS Connect Platform; mentorship from peer and professional mentors, university support guidance from the first step of application to graduation, internships with their partner companies, career guidance, commercial awareness, international experiences, networking and cultural opportunities, financial support with advice about available aid and a small financial contribution. These opportunities are designed to help students of African and Caribbean heritage develop and prepare for success in the global business world.

If you fail to pass the selection process and become a scholar of the program, you can still experience the community spirit being part of digital progressive network or being an associate thanks to their Triple Track Programme.

How much is the Amos Bursary?

The amount of funding provided by the Amos Bursary for young people varies depending on the individual circumstances of the scholar. For example at UCL they offer for Amos students a scholarship worth £1,000 per year for the duration of the undergraduate programme. On the other hand they have collaborated for example with Live Nation providing an annual non-repayable monetary grant of £5000.00 to five students from the Amos Bursary program throughout the duration of their university studies.

When is the deadline for the Amos Bursary application and how to apply?

The application period for those willing to become the Amos Bursary students runs from mid-November to early February. For precise dates check the official website. This is also the place through which an official application should be submitted.

First of all, you need to check if you meet all the selection requirements described in the first paragraph. To complete the Amos Bursary application form you will need:

• your personal information
• GCSE grades
• If applicable, your results from AS Levels
• predicted A Level grades
• If relevant, your achieved A Level results
• Contact information of your parent(s) or guardian(s)
• Contact details of a teacher/senior member of staff at your school/college
• Your Personal Statement (limited to 500 words)

In personal statement you have to describe three paragraphs: your background, your present and your future. On the bursary site, we can read tips that suggest that you should focus on your family and personal background in the first part. Describe what occupations are pursued by your parent(s) / guardian(s). Narrate your history, including both positive and challenging experiences, and outline the valuable life lessons that you have learnt. In the second part, describe what university you are planning to get into, what are your favorite subjects, interests, are you active in any clubs, what do you surround yourself with and what is important to you. In the last part, describe your future, what you want to pursue, but from the perspective of benefits for the world and people; what good change you can bring to society.

Who founded the Amos Bursary?

The Amos Bursary is founded by Colleen Amos and Baroness Valerie Amos.

Colleen Amos is a British social activist and education advocate. In addition to her work in education and social justice, she has also been involved in various philanthropic and humanitarian initiatives, including supporting projects to combat HIV/AIDS and promote gender equality. Colleen was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2019.

Baroness Valerie Amos is a British politician notable for being the first woman of African descent to serve in a British cabinet and lead the House of Lords (2003–07). She later served as British high commissioner to Australia (2009–10) and as head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (2010–15). She became director of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London in 2015. She left in 2020 to become master at University College.

Check out other scholarships and funding opportunities for young people on our blog:

• Laidlaw Scholarship – your first step to being the leader of the future
• University Hardship Fund For Students And Other Financial Support

Are you looking for similar financial opportunities for students? Go to gowork.uk, find the university you are interested in and ask a question on its thread. It’s easier than you think!