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Careers Support

Why focus on students from underrepresented groups?

The University is committed to supporting students from all walks of life and embraces diversity within its community. Students from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups often face barriers in accessing Higher education developing their employability and career plans as they transition a) into university and b) into their post-graduation destination.

Certain features of the graduate labour market can disadvantage people from underrepresented backgrounds, so some students find it easier to make the move into graduate level employment than others. We believe that all students should have equal and fair access to opportunities and the chance to thrive in the right career


Which students are from underrepresented groups?

Underrepresented groups include - care leavers, student carers, students with disabilities, estranged students, students from low income households, mature students, students with mental health support needs, BAME students ,asylum seekers and refugees. For more information on the wider University support - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/wp-support/

Employability support available for students from underrepresented groups:

Supporting Equality and Diversity online resources -

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/equality/ including information on:

  • Disclosing a protected characteristic, including disability, to an employer during the recruitment process or whilst employed
  •  Specific information about employability support and initiatives in relation to carers, care leavers, criminal convictions, disability, ethnicity, first generation students, gender, gypsy, roma & traveller, lower socio economic background, maturity, military families and sexual orientation.

One to one confidential appointments –
The appointments can be either face to face or online and designed to offer personalised one to one advice and guidance and give you time to discuss your career questions and concerns. They normally last about 30 minutes, but please let us know if you think you will require extra time and we will do what we can to accommodate this.
To book, you can contact the Career Zone  via the Live Chat (https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/). Alternatively you can also email careers@exeter.ac.uk or phone +44(0)1392 724493 (all campuses), or of course, visit the Career Zone in-person.

For more information about how to get the most out of your appointment visit maximise your appointment: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/about/maximiseyourappointment/

For further information about appointments, visit http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/about/faqs/

 

 

Access to Internships:

Access to Internships (A2I) is a scheme to help Exeter UG students from underrepresented groups arrange a UK paid internship with the support of funding. All funding is issued on a first-come-first-serve basis.
A2I, together with the Career Zone, can help you:
• Identify potential internship employers
• Make an effective approach to request a paid internship
• Provide generous funding to offset the cost of an internship

For further information and to see if you are eligible - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/internships/access/a2iwpfunding/

 

Specific opportunities for students from underrepresented groups:

upReach is a social mobility charity that partners with the University (and employers) to support students from lower socio economic backgrounds reach their full potential. Includes access to employer led opportunities eg. Insight days and work experience , mentoring, skills sessions and ongoing 1to1 support - https://upreach.org.uk/

 

Other opportunities to support your employability:


Help with developing professional contacts and experience:

International opportunities:

  • Global Leaders  www.exeter.ac.uk/students/careers/employability-schemes/globalemployability/

 

Student and Alumni profiles:


Read a range of stories from our current students and graduates. They share both their career plans/ideas, and also top tips and advice on how to reach out for help and support and how they’ve enhanced their employability - Click here

 

Useful links:
• Success for all Fund – https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/financialhelp/
• Wellbeing support - https://www.exeter.ac.uk/students/wellbeing/
• Study Zone - https://www.exeter.ac.uk/studyzone/
• Guild Advice Unit (Exeter) - https://www.exeterguild.org/advice/
• Student Union welfare (Cornwall) - https://www.thesu.org.uk/welfare/
• Exeter Speaks Out -https://www.exeter.ac.uk/about/speakout/