Applications now open for ICAS Foundation support
Applications now open to school and college students planning to study accountancy at university this Autumn 2021.
The ICAS Foundation supports talented young people living in disadvantaged communities to study accounting and finance at a range of universities. Applications are now open for school and college students planning to study at university this Autumn to join the programme and benefit from the range of support provided.
The Foundation in numbers
Since 2013, the ICAS Foundation has:
- Supported around 230 academically talented young people at 14 universities.
- Awarded more than £1.6m in bursaries and grants.
- Engaged over 150 CAs volunteering as mentors to support its students.
The Foundation believes that, even in the face of challenging circumstances, any academically talented student should have the opportunity to study accounting or finance at university. Foundation students therefore receive a financial bursary (up to £2500 each year) which contributes to their living costs, study materials and personal development.
“When I started university, I didn’t realise how the cost of textbooks, travel and lunches would add up. My bursary was ideal as it meant I could purchase all my textbooks right away – there were no worries about running out of money, or whether I could purchase all the other things I needed for university.” (Amy, University of Strathclyde and ICAS Foundation graduate, currently an ICAS trainee)
Alongside this financial support, experienced CAs provide one-to-one mentoring assistance for Foundation students – this service is critical to helping students make the best of their time at university, with our volunteer mentors sharing their experiences to provide encouragement and a sounding board for student queries.
“From our first meeting, I was able to ask my mentor anything. He helped me find work experience and apply for internships and graduate roles. I felt really fortunate that someone who worked in the profession, and who understood the challenges that I faced while studying accountancy, would give their time and effort to help me succeed. I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor!” (Ryan, Glasgow Caledonian University and ICAS Foundation graduate, currently an ICAS trainee)
How you can help
With the closure of schools and universities, this year there are fewer opportunities for young people to find out about the assistance provided by the ICAS Foundation. If you have any contact with young people or those who support them – through schools, colleges or other support agencies – please spread the word about the fantastic help incoming students could receive. Applications are now open and close on 31 May 2021 – for more information visit the ICAS Foundation website or contact the ICAS Foundation team.
You can also help ICAS Foundation students by:
- Volunteering to mentor a student in the Autumn 2021 intake at any Scottish university, Lancaster University or the University of Birmingham.
- Giving a financial donation to the ICAS Foundation to help support our bursary scheme.
- Offering a work experience or internship opportunity to an ICAS Foundation student.
The ICAS Foundation is a charity registered in Scotland SC034836. You can find out more about the ICAS Foundation and how you can help at https://www.icasfoundation.org.uk/ or contact the ICAS Foundation team at enquiries@icasfoundation.org.uk / 0131 347 0121.