SELCS Student-Led Experience Fund

Have an idea for a student event or activity? We could give you up to £150 to make it happen!

Have you got an idea for a student event or activity that could bring SELCS students together, help people connect or make student life a little more exciting?

The SELCS Student-Led Experience Fund gives students up to £150 to turn their ideas into student-led events and activities. Your idea could be social, creative, academic, cultural, skills-based, wellbeing-focused or something completely different.

The essentials

Who can apply	All SELCS students*
How much funding	Up to £150 per activity/event
Applications open	Start of each term
Applications close	End of Week 5 of each term

Apply now

Have an idea but unsure if it's suitable?

That's OK. Talk to us first.

Email our SELCS Student Experience Team and we can have an informal chat about your idea before you apply.

SELCSSEE@warwick.ac.uk

What is the Student-Led Experience Fund?

The Student-Led Experience Fund gives SELCS students the support, funding and ownership to create something for their fellow students and help bring our community together.

We know that some of the best student experiences come from opportunities to meet people, make connections, share interests and feel part of something. The fund gives you up to £150 to turn your idea into a student-led event or activity.

Your idea could bring together students from your course, Centre or across SELCS, or simply create an opportunity to do something enjoyable together. There are no set themes or types of events - we want to give you the freedom to decide what you'd like to make happen.

And it doesn't need to be big. A simple two-hour activity for 10–15 students could be just as valuable as a larger event.

Why should I take part?

Running your own student-led activity is a chance to:

Bring people together and make a positive difference to the SELCS student community.
Meet new people and build connections across your course, Centre or SELCS.
Develop practical skills in planning, organising, communication and budgeting.
Gain experience you can talk about on your CV and in future applications.
Turn an idea you've had into something real — with funding and support to help you make it happen.

What could I do?

There are no set themes or types of events you need to choose from. We want to hear your ideas. But we know that sometimes seeing what’s possible can help spark an idea of your own. Below, you’ll find a real example from the fund, alongside some suggestions to get you thinking.

Real Example: A Family-Friendly Gathering

Who was it for?

PGT and PGR student parents across SELCS, including students from Applied Linguistics, Education Studies, Lifelong Learning and Teacher Education.

What did they do?

A relaxed, family-friendly gathering gave student parents an opportunity to meet other parents, share experiences and build connections. The event included lunch, refreshments and a creative painting activity that parents and children could enjoy together.

Why was it a good idea?

The event responded to a specific challenge faced by student parents: finding opportunities to connect with other students in a way that works alongside family life. Making the event child-friendly helped remove a potential barrier to participation.

What did the funding pay for?

Lunch and refreshments £90
Family-friendly painting activity £30
Room booking (Free)

Above: Photo of canvas paintings created by student parents and children at the gathering.

Ideas to spark your thinking

The examples below haven't necessarily happened - they're suggestions to help get your ideas flowing.

You don't have to choose one of these. We'd love you to put your own spin on an idea or come up with something completely different.

Guest Speaker Talks
Invite an interesting guest to speak to students about their career, experiences, research or area of expertise.
Employability Session
Help students develop their career skills through activities such as CV writing, interview practice, networking or exploring career options.
Creating Learning Resources
Work together to create useful resources that could support students with their learning, such as revision guides, study tips, subject resources or online materials.
Conversation Café
Bring students together for an informal coffee and conversation around a shared topic or interest.
SELCS Games Night
A relaxed social evening with board games, quizzes, snacks and small prizes.
Culture & Community
An opportunity for students to share food, music, stories, languages or traditions from different cultures.
Creative Workshop
Try something creative together, such as painting, photography, creative writing or crafts.
Take a Break
A low-pressure wellbeing activity designed to give students a chance to step away from studying and connect with others.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a good idea?

You don't need to come up with the next big SELCS event! We’re looking for ideas that are interesting, realistic and will add something positive to the student experience.

A good idea will usually:

1. Have a clear purpose

Tell us what you want to do and why. What will students get from taking part? This could be an opportunity to learn something, meet new people, try something creative, share experiences or simply have fun.

2. Have a clear student audience

Think about who your activity is for. It could be students on your course, within your Centre, a particular year group, PGRs, PGTs, or students from across SELCS.

3. Help students connect or engage

We’re particularly interested in ideas that help students meet others, build a sense of community, share interests or connect with students they might not normally meet.

4. Be realistic within the £150 budget

Your idea doesn't need to cost the full £150. We want to see that you've thought about what you actually need and how the funding could help make your idea happen.

5. Be realistic alongside your studies

Your event doesn't need to be complicated or take weeks to organise. Think about what you could realistically deliver alongside your course or research.

6. Be inclusive and accessible

Consider how you can make your activity welcoming and accessible to the students you want to reach. Think about things such as timing, location, accessibility and whether students might feel comfortable taking part.

7. Be your idea!

We don't have a checklist of the “right” types of events. Your idea could be social, academic, creative, cultural, skills-based, wellbeing-focused or something we've never thought of before.

Who can apply?

The fund is open to SELCS students at all levels of study:

Undergraduate students
Postgraduate taught students
Postgraduate research students

Students from:

Applied Linguistics
Education Studies
Lifelong Learning
Teacher Education

are all welcome to apply.

You can apply on your own or with other students.

You don't need to be a student representative, society committee member or experienced event organiser.

This is for anyone with an idea.

What if I have an idea but I don't know how much it will cost?

That's OK. Give us your best estimate and talk to us if you're unsure.

It may be helpful to view Warwick Food and Drink Price Lists if you need refreshments or catering supplies. We are also able to purchase vouchers for the Co-op on campus.

Our SELCS Student Experience Team already have some creative art supplies that can be provided free of charge and room bookings can also usually be made free of charge (depending on the time of year and room availability).

Can I apply for more than one event? Do I need to spend the full £150? What could the money pay for? Can I run a series of events? Who can I talk to about my idea? When will I hear back about my application? What are the application deadlines?

We will have three rounds of applications during the academic year (one per term)

	Applications Open	Applications Close
Round 1	5 October 2026	6 November 2026 (at 23:55)
Round 2	11 January 2027	12 February 2027 (at 23:55)
Round 3	26 April 2027	28 May 2027 (23:55)

When must my activity or event take place?

Your activity or event can take place during term time or during the University vacation — you can choose the timing that works best for your idea and the students you want to involve.

When planning, think about when your event will be most accessible and convenient for your intended audience. Consider teaching schedules, assessment periods, holidays and the different needs and commitments of students.

Please also allow enough time to organise and promote your activity. It may take a couple of weeks for us to process your application and make a decision, so we recommend applying as early as possible.

For example, you can apply in Term 1 for an activity taking place in Term 2 or Term 3, or during a vacation period.

The application rounds are mainly for administrative purposes and don't mean that your event has to take place in the same term that you apply.

Ready to apply?

Apply now

*SELCS students include any student studying (at any level) in the following Centres: Applied Linguistics, Education Studies, Lifelong Learning and Teacher Education.