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Resources for Students and Graduates

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The following resources have been developed and consolidated for the benefit of these audiences:

  • Prospective students
  • Current students
  • Recently graduated students and alumni

The resources include sites for sector-specific skills development, industry-level concepts and terms, and locations for finding work experience and employment.

Whether you are interested in studying at the University of Bedfordshire, or are a local student considering your HE options, the following resources have been consolidated to help you along the way.

Don't forget that you can also join us at an Open Day online event or physical visit.

University Help Hub

Knowing what to study and where can be daunting when applying for university. It can also be hard when life throws a curve ball and your study arrangements change. So with the help of our students, UoB has developed Help Hub, which provides a range of handy tips and advice so that you can make the most informed choice, stay positive and get through your application process or self-isolated study.

Explore Help Hub

UniConnect & Aspire Higher

The Office for Student Uni Connect programme brings together 29 partnerships of universities, colleges and other local partners to deliver outreach programmes to young people in years 9 to 13.

Their work is focused on local areas where higher education participation is lower than might be expected given the GCSE results of the young people who live there.

The Aspire Higher Programme is the UniConnect partnership between the Universities of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Northampton. We connect local schools and colleges with universities and employers, helping you to access opportunities for your learners. We also run targeted outreach activity with local schools to support you in giving learners exposure to HE experiences and in meeting the Gatsby benchmarks.

The Aspire Higher website provides a growing range of useful external and bespoke resources for prospective students. Access these resources here:

UCAS Application & Clearing Support

UCAS, or The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is a UK-based organisation whose main role is to operate the application process for British universities. Their website provides a range of support to prospective students, who are interested in studying at university.

Read our guide to UCAS

The Complete University Guide Clearing FAQs

UCAS home page

UCAS What to Study - undergraduate and UCAS What to Study - postgraduate

UCAS Application Support - undergraduate and UCAS Application Support - postgraduate

Sign up to UCAS Newsletter

Finance & Funding Support

One of the main factors that prospective students must consider prior to applying to university is the types of financial support that they may be able to access. The following links from the University and UCAS are helpful starting points:

University of Bedfordshire scholarships and bursaries

UCAS money and student life advice

Below is a range of useful links and resources to support current University students. These focus on student successes, employability and practice guidance.

We also have a growing range of industry-level resources that will also be useful to current students studying subjects within the Creative Industries.

Furthermore, current students who are interested in cultural education may find the subsequent resources linked to our Local Cultural Education Partnership programmes useful.

Finally, current student who want to get involved in development and project opportunities with the Arts and Culture Projects team can contact culture@beds.ac.uk and speak to one of the team.

Placements & Volunteering

Engaging with a placement as a student can add value to your CV, link you to local companies and communities and enrich your academic studies by adding industry context.

UoB can support you to arrange a placement. In addition, you are also welcome to contact the Arts and Culture Projects team to find out about the local arts scene around your campus and we can work collaboratively with your academic School and the Employability teams to link you to local opportunities, projects and partners. For more information contact culture@beds.ac.uk

UoB also looks to link current students to relevant volunteer opportunities that can provide flexibility as well as enrich the student experience - socially and academically. Find out more about volunteering

Careers & Employability

UoB's Careers & Employability Service offers a range of physical and online support to current students who are considering current and future employment opportunities. The team can be contacted on careers@beds.ac.uk

You can also sign up for University of Bedfordshire job bulletins

UCAS also provides useful support for considering future careers

Below are links relevant to finding jobs in the creative industries:

Extra & Co-Curricular Activities

The Arts and Culture team are one of many teams who support students to enrich their studies through employability, extra and co-curricular activities. Explore University-wide opportunities

Arts Council England: National Portfolio Organisations, Music Hubs, Bridge Organisations & Creative People and Places Projects

As a current student currently studying and/or interested in the creative industries it is useful to know more about Arts Council England.

Arts Council England (ACE) is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is dedicated to promoting the performing, visual and literary arts in England. It was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales.

Between 2018 and 2022, Arts Council England will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create arts experiences for as many people as possible across the country.

Find about about Arts Council England activity in your local area

Watch this 'About Us' video

The following are supported through Arts Council England funding across the country:

  • National Portfolio Organisations, or NPOs, are leaders in their areas, with a collective responsibility to protect and develop the national arts and cultural ecology. They are funded by Arts Council England (ACE) through a tiered system. Public investment brings public accountability, for ACE and for the organisations they invest in, and this is reflected in ACE's expectations.

Many NPOs have specific engagement and development targets surrounding cultural education and children and young people, and so it is worth knowing the local NPOs near to you and your educational setting and form a relationship with them.

How Arts Council England works with NPOs can be better understood by the Relationship Framework [PDF]

  • Music Education Hubs are groups of organisations – such as local authorities, schools, other hubs, art organisations, community or voluntary organisations – working together to create joined-up music education provision, respond to local need and fulfil the objectives of the Hub as set out in the National Plan for Music Education.

Find more information about Music Hubs and how they are funded

Their Relationship Framework document is also a useful way of better understanding the role and work of Music Hubs: The relationship between Arts Council England and Music Education Hubs 2020-21 [DOCX]

  • The Arts Council funds a network of 10 Bridge Organisations to connect the cultural sector and the education sector so that children & young people can have access to great arts and cultural opportunities.

They work with local schools, art organisations, museums, libraries, music education hubs, local authorities, Further Education and Higher Education Institutions and many other partners to develop a network of cultural provision.

They also support schools to achieve Artsmark and organisations to deliver Arts Award.

The Arts Council invests £10 million a year in Bridge organisations which are working in at least 100 places across the country to galvanize Local Cultural Education Partnerships

Bridge Organisations are co-funded with the Department for Education.

In Bedfordshire, our Bridge Organisation is Royal Opera House Bridge, or ROH Bridge. ROH Bridge not only cover Beds, but Essex, Hertfordshire and North Kent as well.

Find more information about Bridge Organisations

Find more information about ROH Bridge

  • Creative People and Places Projects, or CPPs, have been developed to support more people choose, create and take part in brilliant art experiences in the places where they live. CPPs are funded by Arts Council England, and there are 30 independent projects based in areas where there are fewer opportunities to get involved with the arts. The CPP in Bedfordshire is Revoluton Arts. CPPs are an action research programme, and they share our learning widely.

More information about CPPs and their impact is shared on the main Creative People and Places projects website: www.creativepeopleplaces.org.uk

Sign up here to receive email updates about CPPS

Below is a range of useful resources to support recent graduates and alumni. We also have a growing range of industry-level resources that will also be useful to graduates and alumni.

Furthermore, recent graduates and alumni interested in cultural education may find the subsequent resources linked to our Local Cultural Education Partnership programmes useful.

Finally, recent graduates and alumni who want to get involved in development and project opportunities with the Arts and Culture Projects team can contact culture@beds.ac.uk and speak to one of the team.

Placements & Volunteering

UoB can link recent graduates and alumni to a range of placement and volunteering opportunities. Find out more about volunteering or contact the Careers team

Recent graduates and alumni are also welcome to contact the Arts and Culture Projects team to find out about the Bedfordshire arts scene and find opportunities for you to network through local events, projects and contacts. For more information contact culture@beds.ac.uk

Careers & Employability

The University of Bedfordshire's Careers & Employability Service offers a range of physical and online support to recent graduates and alumni who are considering current and future employment:

UCAS also provides useful support for considering careers

Below are further external links relevant to finding jobs in the creative industries:

CVs

Preparing a CV and a job application can take just as much planning and preparing as an assignment.

Visit UoB's CVs, Applications & Interviews section for guidance, or contact the careers team at careers@beds.ac.uk for support.

For further information and example CVs, visit:

Preparing for Interviews and Assessment Centres

Organisations who are recruiting will likely use video interviewing software, or virtual platforms to conduct interviews. Practice and preparation are important to ensure your best performance on the day.

To book a mock interview with the Careers team to help you practice, email careers@beds.ac.uk

Arts Council England: National Portfolio Organisations, Music Hubs, Bridge Organisations & Creative People and Places Projects

As a recent graduate or alumni who is looking to work in the creative industries, it is useful to know more about Arts Council England.

Arts Council England (ACE) is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is dedicated to promoting the performing, visual and literary arts in England. It was formed in 1994 when the Arts Council of Great Britain was divided into three separate bodies for England, Scotland and Wales.

Between 2018 and 2022, Arts Council England will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create arts experiences for as many people as possible across the country.

Find about about Arts Council England activity in your local area

Watch this 'About Us' video

The following are supported through Arts Council England funding across the country:

  • National Portfolio Organisations, or NPOs, are leaders in their areas, with a collective responsibility to protect and develop the national arts and cultural ecology. They are funded by Arts Council England (ACE) through a tiered system. Public investment brings public accountability, for ACE and for the organisations they invest in, and this is reflected in ACE's expectations.

Many NPOs have specific engagement and development targets surrounding cultural education and children and young people, and so it is worth knowing the local NPOs near to you and your educational setting and form a relationship with them.

How Arts Council England works with NPOs can be better understood by the Relationship Framework [PDF]

  • Music Education Hubs are groups of organisations – such as local authorities, schools, other hubs, art organisations, community or voluntary organisations – working together to create joined-up music education provision, respond to local need and fulfil the objectives of the Hub as set out in the National Plan for Music Education.

Find more information about Music Hubs and how they are funded

Their Relationship Framework document is also a useful way of better understanding the role and work of Music Hubs: The relationship between Arts Council England and Music Education Hubs 2020-21 [DOCX]

  • The Arts Council funds a network of 10 Bridge Organisations to connect the cultural sector and the education sector so that children & young people can have access to great arts and cultural opportunities.

They work with local schools, art organisations, museums, libraries, music education hubs, local authorities, Further Education and Higher Education Institutions and many other partners to develop a network of cultural provision.

They also support schools to achieve Artsmark and organisations to deliver Arts Award.

The Arts Council invests £10 million a year in Bridge organisations which are working in at least 100 places across the country to galvanize Local Cultural Education Partnerships

Bridge Organisations are co-funded with the Department for Education.

In Bedfordshire, our Bridge Organisation is Royal Opera House Bridge, or ROH Bridge. ROH Bridge not only cover Beds, but Essex, Hertfordshire and North Kent as well.

Find more information about Bridge Organisations

Find more information about ROH Bridge

  • Creative People and Places Projects, or CPPs, have been developed to support more people choose, create and take part in brilliant art experiences in the places where they live. CPPs are funded by Arts Council England, and there are 30 independent projects based in areas where there are fewer opportunities to get involved with the arts. The CPP in Bedfordshire is Revoluton Arts. CPPs are an action research programme, and they share our learning widely.

More information about CPPs and their impact is shared on the main Creative People and Places projects website: www.creativepeopleplaces.org.uk

Sign up here to receive email updates about CPPS

Considering Further Study

The government's Graduate Labour Market Statistics 2018 show that graduates and postgraduates have higher employment/salary rates than non-graduates (Graduate Prospects 2020)

You can find further information via these links:

For some professions, a postgraduate qualification is required. You will find further information in our Postgraduate Study leaflet [PDF]

Additional resources about further study can be found at Careers & Employability Service