Self-Employed Placement Year

What is a Self-Employed Placement Year?

A Self-Employed Placement (SEP) is an alternative option to the traditional placement year in industry. A SEP aims to develop enterprise skills whilst starting and running a business, becoming self-employed or freelancing. You'll receive support and guidance from the Student StartUp team throughout the year and have opportunities to attend networking events and apply for our new SEP Bursary.

Eligibility

The Self-Employed Placement Year is not available to:

• students undertaking a degree programme with a compulsory placement

• international students studying with a Tier 4 Visa - more details can be found on our International Student guide

The Self-Employed Placement Year can only be taken between your second and third year and is not eligible for the Connected Degree placement. 

Support you'll receive during your Self-Employed Placement Year

Our Student StartUp team will give you comprehensive support before, during and after your self-employed placement. They offer:

• 1-to-1 advice and mentoring 
• free desk space at an Innovation Connect centre
• access to meeting rooms, presentation facilities and breakout spaces
• start-up events and workshops 
• online toolkits and resources
• networking opportunities 
• the chance to talk with our Entrepreneurs in Residence
• access to competitions and funding opportunities 

To explore the answers, book an appointment with Student StartUp at one of their regular Enterprise Clinics or email studentstartup@port.ac.uk 

SEP Bursary

For the 2025/26 academic year, there are five SEP bursaries available, each worth £3,000. You do not need to pay this money back.

Funding is provided by Santander Universities. All payments are at the discretion of the Student StartUp Team.

What costs can the SEP bursary help with?

The bursary can help you meet costs for things like:

• Rent
• Bills
• Food
• Medical costs, such as prescriptions of contact lenses

The bursary cannot be used to help pay for:

• Tuition fees
• Business start-up costs
• IT equipment  
• Non-compulsory items such as gym memberships, car costs

Who can apply

The bursary is available to UK/Home students enrolled in full-time, campus-based undergraduate degree programmes. You must be taking a self-employed placement after your second* year of study.

Priority will be given to:

• Care-experienced and estranged students
• Students with disabilities
• Students with children
• Mature students (aged over 25 as of 1 September 2025) who have taken out the maximum available student funding
• Students from low-income households (as assessed by Student Finance England)
• Young carer bursary recipients
• Students from under-represented groups (you can declare this as part of your application)

Applications from students outside these priority groups are welcome but you will need to provide evidence of financial need. We may ask for further information after you apply.

*If you are not in your second year but want to apply, contact the Student StartUp Team before submitting your application through studentstartup@port.ac.uk  

How to apply for a SEP bursary 

You will need to complete an application using the Santander platform.

The deadline for applications is 27 June 2025. However, applicants will be reviewed and awarded continuously and therefore the Student StartUp Team has the right to close applications early with no prior notice. You are therefore encouraged to apply early.

All awards are assessed on your circumstances. Your application will be reviewed as part of your SEP application.  Final decisions will not be made until you have completed the full SEP application process (expression of interest, presentation). For more information on this please see the SEP application pack.

To apply for the SEP bursary, please complete the application here.

Payment of bursary if successful

You will be notified by email of the outcome of your application by 4 July 2025. If successful, the bursary will be paid directly into your bank account following your attendance at the SEP induction on 24 September 2025. It can take up to 2 weeks for the payment to reach you from this date. 

The payment can not be made earlier, and you will need to have considered this in your financial planning for the year. 

Please note, if you fail to attend the SEP induction, the bursary award will not be paid to you.

Unsuccessful applications

You will be notified by email of the outcome of your application by 4 July 2025.
All decisions made by the Student StartUp Team are final, there is no appeal process and feedback will not be provided. 

Other sources of help

The Student Finance Centre offers information, advice and guidance on managing your money, including making sure you’re getting the right support from your student funding body, and benefits you're eligible for. In certain circumstances, they also give out grants to students facing financial difficulties, which you don't need to pay back. 
Contact via:

• +44 (0)23 9284 3014
• studentfinance@port.ac.uk 
• Student Finance Centre, University House, Winston Churchill Ave, Portsmouth, PO1 2UP

If you have any questions related to the self-employed placement bursary or self-employed placement in general please contact the Student StartUp team by emailing studentstartup@port.ac.uk

Further information