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Bagged Yourself a Summer Internship Overseas? You may be able to Secure some Funding too!

By skye.aitken, on 9 March 2020

Written by Hidy Fu, Global Internships Officer at UCL Careers

At UCL, we are really keen to help enhance the global nature of our student experience. One of the most practical ways we thought we could help is by supporting you financially with your great effort in having secured your own internship! Interested to find out more? Read on!

We have two types of funding: The Global Internships Bursary and the Erasmus + Traineeship Grant.

Have a quick glance at some of the key elements of the funding on offer, which are two separate schemes, both under the Global Internships Programme:

Global Internships Bursary Erasmus + Traineeship Grant
  • Up to £500
  • Up to €520* monthly
  • Internship outside of UK
  • Internship must last for at least 4 weeks
  • Internship outside of UK, within EU
  • Internship must last for at least 60 days
For both:

  • Open to non-finalist undergraduates and non-Tier 4 postgraduates
  • Priority given to those who have not received global internship funding before

* An additional grant of €20 a month is awarded to students who meet widening participation criteria (added automatically for eligible students).

If you like collecting badges, you will be glad to hear that the bursary or grant will be recognised on your Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR).

Want to apply for both to increase your chance of securing funding? Well you can! You will need to submit two separate applications and will only be able to receive one (if your application is successful) and it will be at the discretion of UCL Careers to determine which type of funding you will receive.

Follow the links below to read all the terms and conditions and start thinking about applying! Application will open next week!

Global Internships Bursary                      Erasmus + Traineeship Grant

Deadline to apply for both funding: 26th April 2020

Questions? Not sure? Drop us an email at globalinternships@ucl.ac.uk.

If you are still looking for an internship, overseas or within the UK, why not get some ideas from our website or log in to MyUCLCareers and look at the managed opportunities we have sourced for you, under the Global Internships Programme. You will have to hurry as the deadline to apply for those is Sunday 29th March 2020.

Careers with Global Impact: Conservation within Sustainability

By skye.aitken, on 25 February 2020

Written by Shally Sawhney, Skills Officer at UCL Careers.

Careers with Global Impact: Conservation within Sustainability
Wednesday 4 March 2020,

2.00pm – 4.00pm

Have you considered a Career in Conservation or Sustainability?
Would you like to discover more about how your skills can translate into roles on a global stage?

Then come along to our afternoon event to explore careers across a range of international global organisations. Hear from professionals with experience of working within conservation who will offer an insight into their career journeys, the different job roles available within the sustainability sector and provide tips on the key skills needed to build a career on a global platform

The event will also include a Q & A and an opportunity for networking.

An Insight into International Development Week 2020

By skye.aitken, on 23 January 2020


Written by Dimitrios Zachos, Employer Engagement & Events Officer UCL Careers

International Development Week is back and aims to provide students and recent graduates with insights on different roles, career paths and how to go about pursuing a career in the field.

But what is International Development?

International development is an all-encompassing and ‘blurry’ term. Climate Change, Clean Energy and Water, Gender, Education and Equality, Global Health, Disaster and Recovery, Development Economics are just some of the global issues and phenomena that International Development organisations work to solve and combat. International Development organisations may act locally and internationally (where aforementioned issues manifest). However, in many cases they are known to engage with economically disadvantaged regions around the world empowering people to improve their well-being and address causes that affect it.

What to expect from International Development Week 2020?

Get ready to take full benefit of what we’ve got planned for you by attending our How to ‘connect’ with development professionals and get the most out of the week. An experienced Careers Consultant will be there to guide you step-by-step and answer any questions you might have about networking, making a strong first impression and help you understand why opportunities to connect with International Development staff are so important.

You will get the chance to apply what you’ve learned in our employer panel and networking events Climate Change – A Sustainable Career Choice? and Fighting for Human Rights & Equality. Representatives from leading NGOs, charities, think tanks,  organisations and the government, such as Chatham House, Depaul International, Ecorys UK, Refugee Support Network, Stop the Traffik, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) , Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), WaterAid, The Climate Group, Climate Bonds Initiative will be on campus to provide you with insights on the variety of roles available and how to get into International Development.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get hands-on experience! Register for our Insight into Humanitarian work experiential case study, led by the Humanitarian Leadership Academy (part of Save the Children). You’ll learn more about the typical issues and challenges facing those who work within the field through ‘hands-on’ content, discussion, case studies and personal testimony.

Eager for more? The UCL Engineers Without Borders Society will be running Designathon: Design with Impact, a day where you will get the chance to form a team and work on providing solutions for real life challenges provided by an NGO.

So what are you waiting for? Join us for a week full of events and workshops! Learn about the valuable and rewarding work that International Development experts do! Connect with prospective employers and find out about how to go about a career in the fields they represent!

See you all there!

Writing Amazing Personal Statements | CareersLab

By skye.aitken, on 20 January 2020

Written by Joe O’Brien Marketing Communications Assistant, UCL Careers.

Have you wondered how to make a convincing case for joining a study programme; be that a master’s, a PhD or any other option? Join UCL Careers Consultant Raj Sidhu, as he shares his 4 top tips from his years of experience reviewing personal statements. Lean how you can transform yours, and get offers from the world’s finest graduate schools.

We’re posting a new CareersLab video every week on the UCL Careers YouTube channel and right here on the UCL Careers blog.

If you’re a UCL student or recent graduate and you have a question you’d like Raj to answer in a future CareersLab video then please email us at careers.marketing@ucl.ac.uk.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and the UCL Careers Newsletter so you never miss an episode.

What to expect from Charities and NGOs Themed Week 2020

By skye.aitken, on 16 January 2020

Written by Sally Brown, Careers Consultant, UCL Careers

Want an impactful career that will benefit many lives?

Getting into Charities and NGOs can be competitive, but you can find success by learning from leading organisations and professionals. Their experiences will show you what this sector is really like and how to find a route into a fulfilling career.

What does it mean to be a charity or an NGO?

Generally speaking, a charity is an organisation has to be recognised by the Charity Commission as having a purpose that is for the ‘public benefit’. This includes activities such as the prevention or relief of poverty, the advancement of things like education and the relief of those in need. An NGO or a ‘non-governmental organisation’, is a not-for-profit company that has been created to serve the community and its citizens in some way – for example, this could be in raising concerns with governments by being an advocate for a group of specific people.

What roles can I do in the sector after I graduate?

Like any sector, there are many different roles. Our first panel event ‘Behind the Scenes’ will take a look at roles that focus on making organisations run smoothly and effectively; such as communications, research and campaigns.

Interested in working directly with the people an organisation supports? Then come to our second event ‘On the Front Line’ – where you will hear from professionals about the work that they do, as well as some great tips for getting into this sector.

What about volunteering whilst I am a student?

This a great way of helping out causes that matter to you, building up skills for your CV and a fantastic chance to network with relevant professionals in the field. Why not come along to our interactive workshop Creating Social Purpose: Volunteering to find out about sourcing opportunities, the benefits for your future career and even how to create your own volunteering opportunity!

What is it like working in the sector?

So, you’ve done your research about the Charities and NGOs sector, you have identified some organisations and/or roles that sound interesting on paper – but what is it really like working in this sector on a day to day basis? Our fourth and final event ‘Meet the Alumni’, will give you a chance to meet 18 different professionals in a structured networking session.

Where can I find opportunities?

We will be posting relevant jobs from MyUCLCareers, throughout the week on our social media pages. But you can also find out more from visiting organisation websites, the relevant section on Prospects, or on sector-specific jobs boards such as Charity Jobs. For volunteering role, use the filters on our MyUCLCareers vacancies tab or see what the Volunteering Services Unit (VSU) at UCL have to offer.

I’m a bit nervous about networking/talking with the guest speakers.

Not to worry, many people find this daunting, so why not attend the upcoming Careers Essentials workshop on Career Essentials: Making the most of Panels and Alumni events.

To find out more and to book, please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/about/events/themed-weeks/charities 

Interview with an Alum: Kam Hussain, BA Geography 2016-19

By skye.aitken, on 28 November 2019


Interview with Kam Hussain, UCL alum and entrepreneur. Written by Joe O’Brien

Hi Kam, tell us about where you are in your career and how you got there?

I work in an AI tech startup and was head-hunted as I impressed at an Edtech startup which was based in the same co-working space. I interned (and freelanced) at said Edtech startup in three stints, across 15 months between penultimate and final years at UCL. In between, I also interned at a FoodTech startup. These opportunities were provided by UCL Careers (via the Santander Scheme).

Can you tell us what services you used during your time at UCL?

I found UCL Careers Extra super helpful and have worked with UCL Changemakers to improve UCL Careers services. I also visited a Careers Consultant to get my CV checked.

What path did you take to start your own business?

I started at UCL Innovation and Enterprise in October 2016. I began with their 8 week programme called ‘Bright Ideas phase 1’ (Now, ‘Explore’). I began ideating my business idea. In term 2 of my first year, I completed another 8 week programme ‘Bright Ideas phase 2’ (now included within Explore). I developed a prototype using sewing machines from Institute of Making! I pitched at the end of both programmes. In summer of 2018, I completed ‘Launch’ – Another 8 week programme. I had to overcome my fear of selling and began speaking to retailers and potential buyers to assess whether people would buy my bags. Now that I’ve graduated I have a clear vision. I genuinely went from no business experience and no fashion background, with only a picture in my head, to a full fledged business with real people buying and using my products every day!

What’s been the most challenging thing you’ve had to learn in creating your own business?

Understanding that no matter how much support I get from family, friends, peers, investors and other businesses, I will always carry the ultimate burden and risk. So it’s important to ensure that your mental health is prized, and that you make the decisions to keep you happy. You have to make sure you never lose sight of your vision or integrity for others, as you’ll always be the one to face the repercussions. After a while make sure you recruit a co-founder! Going solo is the toughest I have found.

If you could give 1st year Kam some career advice, what would that be?

If you get rejected, it’s because you’re not right for that role in particular at that time. Perhaps there isn’t a culture fit at all. At the end of the day, it was never meant for you. It doesn’t mean that you’re not as educated, or as competent as those who got the role. It’s all relative, learn from the rejection, and pivot to a different industry or role if needed. Your time will come, so be gracious.

Can you tell us why having a social impact is important to you as an entrepreneur?

If there was no social focus to my brand then I would become what I hate. I’d become a money-motivated business man. I’m in pursuance of something much greater than money alone, that’s why I care as much about HOLSTRAP Foundation as I do with the brand itself. I’m of Bangladeshi origin and in 2013, there was a collapse of a garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It killed around 1100 people, and injured a further 2500. It hit home. I want to change the narrative. It’s not all about the big heritage brands, or the newer fast fashion brands that pay pennies to children and don’t care for the wellbeing of their outsourced workforce. This is the alternative. Beautifully handmade luxury in London, with sales proceeds empowering workers in developing countries. It’s deep rooted within me to make people’s lives easier or better. 

Where was your favourite place on campus when you were a student at UCL?

My favourite place on campus was the Paleography Reading Rooms in Senate House! The tobacco sofas contrasting with the clean white desks; the surrounding walls neatly filled with books of palaeography, with beams of sunlight shining through. Inspiration. Far away from the hustle and bustle of main campus. Peace. The UCL Senate House Hubs were a good spot too.

Finally, where can readers find your products?!

My Products are available to pre-order through my crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. The campaign ends 11:59pm on 6th December 2019. Thereafter, it’ll be available through www.holstrap.com | @holstrap on all socials. 

Museums, Arts & Cultural Heritage Week 2019: Careers in Museums

By skye.aitken, on 25 November 2019

Written by Shally Sawhney, Skills Officer at UCL Careers.

We invited four different speakers from various roles and institutions within the Museum sector to give students an insight into what it is like to work in the field.

  • Alison Boyle – Keeper of Science Collection at the Science Museum
  • Moa Taylor Hodin – Learning Coordinator at Museum of London Docklands
  • Gina Koutsika – Creative & Skills Director at V&A Museum of Childhood
  • Vanessa Meade – Curator of Exhibitions and Interpretations at Geffrye Museum

Our fantastic panellist gave some great advice and here are some top tips for students looking to get into the sector.

On volunteering and getting experience:

A common theme throughout the panel was the importance of volunteering in the sector. All our panellist recommended this as a great way to get experience and to figuring out what you what kind of roles you enjoy most. Volunteering in a museum can also help when applying for roles, especially as people you know within the museum may be able to support you with your application. One of our panellists regularly volunteers at the museum she works in which gives her the opportunity to learn new skills and also meet people from both front of house and back of house.

On getting into the Sector:

The Museum sector can be a hard sector to get into. It can be competitive, some roles have hundreds of applications and you have to really want the job. Our panellist advised to be persistent, keep applying and be prepared to travel. Local museums are a great opportunity to get experience. One panellist said there are lots of different avenues into working in museums and recommended joining different networks to widen the number of people that you know. Leicester University’s museums job desk which is updated on a Thursday afternoon was highlighted as a great job site

On showing your passion:

All our panellist love working in the sector – there are challenges that they face but the rewards are far greater. Their advice to students is to show your passion and say yes to opportunities.

‘Take every opportunity you can. Ask for feedback and show your passion.’

‘You might have a lot of applications but if you are passionate then keep going.’

‘Take every opportunity that is given to you, just go for it’

‘Give different things a go, you might get asked what has inspired you’

 

We also had some excellent questions from our audience – we’ve included the top 3 questions and what the panel had to say:

Audience Questions:

Do I need a doctorate to work in a Museum?

You can get promotions without a doctorate, it certainly can help but you do not absolutely have to have it. It is more important to have relevant contact experience (especially for a curator role). A Doctorate might be useful later on in your career but experience is definitely more important. One panellist decided to do an MBA instead, which she felt, was more useful for her in running museums. Many institutions are keen on the practical experience to support all the theory that you may have learned.

What are you looking for in applications?

Different organisations recruit in different ways. Make sure that your experience is relevant and that you have tailored it to the job description. Keep it super clear and easy for the person reading it to see how great you are. Some institutions use a points system where they measure your essential skills and desirable skills, so look at having those essential skills ticked off – really spell it out and have practical examples for everything. Try to give different examples (something that stands out), look at the experience that you can adapt and the skills that you are able to transfer. Some applications are now looking at behaviours as key competencies rather than skills.

What support is there for professional development in museum roles?

There is a lot of learning on the job and HR will have a variety of training opportunities, although some people will pay for their own training and development. Make the most of your managers and the team around you, find out if there is a mentoring programme and if there is, apply to access it. If you’d like to attend a conference or an event, sometimes organisations such as the Museum Association may offer you a grant so that you are able to get a ticket.

UCL Careers Fairs 2019: Law

By skye.aitken, on 21 October 2019

Interested in a career working within Law?

The UCL Careers Law Fair features top employers including Solicitors, Barristers’ Chambers, Course Providers and Professional Services.

Most of the organisations are keen to speak to both Law and non-Law students.

Students talking to employers at a UCL Careers fair

Employers will be hiring for training contracts, pupillages and some other graduate roles, and in some cases for vacation schemes and placements. This fair is primarily aimed at penultimate year law students and final year non-law students from any other degree discipline with an interest in pursuing a legal career.

Other years are welcome to attend to research firms, and find out about open days and insight sessions, but we recommend you research which firms are offering these in advance.

When: Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th October | 5:00pm – 7.30pm

Where: North and South Cloisters, Wilkins Building

Some employers attending include:

Day 1

Day 2

·      Clifford Chance

·      Allen & Overy

·      Freshfields

·      Linklaters

·      Slaughter & May

·      CII

·      Simmons & Simmons

·      Herbert Smith Freehills

·      The University of Law

·      Mayer Brown

·      Winston & Strawn

·      Government Legal Profession

·      Cooley

·      Dechert

·      Baker McKenzie

·      Mishcon de Reya

Plus many more!

For a full list of employers attending the fair, visit:

Law Fair Day 1
Law Fair Day 2

You do not need to book to attend our Careers Fairs, but you must bring valid UCL ID to gain entry.

For more information on about the fair and how to prepare, visit: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/about/events/careers-fairs

The Law Fair 2019 is kindly sponsored by Deloitte (Day 1) and The University of Law (Day 2)

UCL Careers Themed Weeks: Government & Policy Week 2019

By skye.aitken, on 8 October 2019

21 – 24 October 2019

Interested in a career that makes a difference? Government & Policy week is your chance to hear from those working at the heart of government; people who influence policy; and leaders in the public sector.

If you haven’t attended events organised by UCL Careers before, we strongly recommend you read through our Themed Weeks page for information on what to expect, how to prepare and how to book.

Events can be extremely popular, so book early to avoid disappointment!

Watch event recordings on our Themed Week archive. These include complete panel discussions and in-depth interviews with experts.

Speaker in front of students


Introduction to Policy in Government

Monday 21st October 2019: 1 – 2pm

Join us for a ‘fire-side’ chat; where Nicola Benton, International Climate Negotiator with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is in conversation with our own UCL Careers Consultant, Raj Sidhu

View event details and book your place


Careers in the Heart of Government

Monday 21st October 2019: 5.30 – 7pm

Hear from speakers working across the UK Civil Service. Guests from the FCODEFRADExEU, and DfT will talk about their careers to date. This event will include Q&A and a networking opportunity.

View event details and book your place


Influencing Policy

Tuesday 22nd October 2019: 5.30 – 7pm

Hear from representatives of some of the shapers of public policy. This event will include Q&A and a networking opportunity. Speakers include Localis (think tank), Universities UKUnite the UnionOfcom, and Waltham Forest Council.

View event details and book your place


Implementing Policy Workshop

Wednesday 23rd October 2019: 12 – 2pm

Guests from the Civil Service will guide you through the policy making process. You will work through a group exercise; designing and evaluating policy options to recommend for implementation. You will receive feedback throughout this process and guidance on how to approach policy recommendations.

View event details and book your place


Careers in International Relations: an introduction

Wednesday 23rd October 2019: 3 – 4pm

Admissions professionals from Columbia University (SIPA)Georgetown School of Foreign ServiceThe Fletcher School (Tufts) and Johns Hopkins SAIS will provide an overview of careers in the field of International Relations. You will learn about the types of roles and organisations involved, the experiences and educational requirements to succeed, and how you can start a rewarding career in this area.

View event details and book your place


Careers that make a difference

Thursday 24th October 2019: 5.30pm – 7pm

A carousel event made up of table discussions giving you the chance to meet representatives from a range of public sector employers and discuss their work, the challenges they face, as well as explore jobs and graduate schemes open to you. This event will conclude with optional informal networking. Confirmed guests include: Teachers, Social Workers, FrontlineUnlocked, and more to be announced.

View event details and book your place

UCL Careers Fairs 2019: IT & Technology

By skye.aitken, on 8 October 2019

Want to find out more about careers within IT and Technology?

The UCL Careers IT & Technology Fair features some of the top employers in consultancy, big data, software, cloud computing, telecommunications, financial technology and many more.

A student looking at the camera smiling at a fait

Employers will be hiring for permanent graduate positions, internships and, in some cases, 1st year spring programmes.

The fair is open to all year groups but there may not be structured programmes on offer for all students. Some roles will be open to students studying computer science or a related technical discipline, but others will be open to all with an interest in technology.

When: Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 October | 5:30pm – 8pm

Where: North and South Cloisters, Wilkins Building and Jeremy Bentham room on Day 1.

Some employers attending include:

Day 1 Day 2
·      Morgan Stanley

·      Goldman Sachs

·      GSK

·      Bank of America

·      Ocado

·      Deloitte

·      Twitter

·      Nissan

·      ITV

·      Tesco

·      Vodafone

·      McKinsey & Company

·      Cisco

·      BP

·      Lloyds Banking

·      American Express

Plus many more!

For a full list of employers attending the fair, visit:

IT & Technology Fair Day 1

IT & Technology Fair Day 2

You do not need to book to attend our Careers Fairs, but you must bring valid UCL ID to gain entry.

For more information on about the fair and how to prepare, visit: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/about/events/careers-fairs

The IT and Technology Fair 2019 is kindly sponsored by Cisco (Day 2).

Cisco logo