As you'll be aware the graduate employment market is very competitive, and the students who enhance their academic knowledge with real-world experience are those best positioned when they enter the world of work.

Career-enhancing and inspiring opportunities, such as volunteering, work placements and internships, enable the next generation of Sheffield Hallam graduates to excel. These opportunities give a huge boost to life-changing ambitions – from sporting athletes through to budding business entrepreneurs.

Unfortunately these opportunities often carry additional costs, which mean that without additional financial support many students have no choice but to turn them down.

Taruka Srivastav graduated with a sports journalism master's degree in 2016. While studying she received a bursary which allowed her to take up an exciting and highly sought-after internship position with Manchester United Football Club.

She said: 'The bursary helped me immensely! Without the funding I wouldn't have been able to afford the regular commute to Manchester. I didn't want to miss any classes and the money meant that I was able to be very flexible and fulfil whatever the club needed me to do.'

'Without the bursary I wouldn't be working in my current role with Manchester United Supporters' Trust. It's provided me with many career avenues to explore and I hope that one day I'll be the media director of a sports club.'

By making a donation you can help support the personal development and career prospects of students who are unable to take up opportunities due to financial constraints and ensure a level playing field for every one of our students to go on and achieve great things.

Who will your donation support?

Your donation will provide financial support to students taking up career-enhancing opportunities, helping them with expenses such as travel, insurance, childcare, equipment and resources and accommodation.

You could support a student for a week's placement working at a top company in London; or contribute to an international placement; or enable a student to volunteer and bring their knowledge and skills to help a community project, whilst gaining valuable experience themselves. Our alumni often tell us that this real-world experience was instrumental in helping them on their career path following graduation.

What impact will your donation have?

Finding funding for additional activities around courses is a challenge for many students, which can limit the reach and impact of their studies. Your help will ensure that all students have equal chance of a bright and successful future.

Why Sheffield Hallam?

Our courses are designed and delivered in close partnership with employers and professional associations. We offer 324 courses with accreditation from 59 professional bodies, and we actively encourage all of our students to look for opportunities to experience work as well as enhance their own personal growth and confidence during their studies.

With so many great opportunities for our students to improve their employability whilst at Sheffield Hallam, with your help they can go on and achieve great things.

How you can help

You can transform lives by donating to the Hallam Fund here.