The Ignite Fund is a matched funding opportunity which gives all students at the University of Westminster the opportunity to apply for funding for projects and activities which help to ignite their employability and professional development.
At a time when the cost of living continues to place significant pressure on students, opportunities that could shape their future careers can too easily become unaffordable. The Ignite Fund helps remove those financial barriers, enabling Westminster students to invest in their ideas, develop new skills and gain experiences that can make a lasting difference to their futures.
One student, Alisha, used support from the Ignite Fund to attend the Architectural Association Summer School:
“The Architectural Association Summer School was an incredibly valuable experience, both personally and professionally. Working alongside people with different backgrounds and approaches to design challenged my way of thinking and helped me become more open and confident in developing ideas. I came away with greater confidence in my approach to design, a broader understanding of architectural practice, and an experience that I know will continue to influence the way I approach architecture throughout my future career.”
During the 2025–26 academic year alone, £115,000 was awarded to 176 students, including 92 students who were the first in their families to attend university.
Every award represents an individual ambition. For some students, funding provides access to specialist training or a professional qualification. For others, it can help turn a business idea into reality, enable participation in an international opportunity, or provide the equipment and resources needed to develop a portfolio, complete a project or gain valuable industry experience.
The impact can continue long after an individual project has finished. By giving students the means to pursue opportunities outside their day-to-day studies, the Ignite Fund can help them develop their confidence, strengthen their CVs and portfolios, build professional networks and put their skills into practice.
This is only possible because of the support of the Westminster community. By coming together and giving what we can, we can help ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent talented students from accessing experiences that could shape their futures.
Please show your support and help Westminster students reach their full potential by donating to the Ignite Fund today. You can also make a regular gift.