Applications are now open for the next round of the University of Westminster’s Ignite Fund, designed to remove financial barriers and empower students to pursue their ambitions.
The Ignite Fund is a key part of Zone29, the University’s new home for careers and enterprise, providing students and graduates with access to work-related programmes, opportunities and experiences, which is due to open in Spring 2026. The Ignite Fund is central to Zone29’s mission of unlocking talent, breaking down barriers and championing social mobility.
In the last academic year, demand for the fund reached new heights, with 378 students applying and 167 students receiving the fund. Behind every application is a student with a vision for change and the Ignite Fund ensures financial barriers never silence that ambition.
The fund’s impact is reflected in the diversity of the students it supports. Of last year’s recipients, 70 were the first in their families to attend university and 105 came from low-income households.
Thanks to the generosity of Westminster’s donors and the enduring partnership of the Quintin Hogg Trust, the Ignite Fund has fueled innovation, research and international opportunities. This includes Anshul Yadav, recent graduate in Software Engineering BEng Honours, who developed CarbonQuest, an AI-powered app that helps individuals monitor and reduce their carbon emissions. The app, which he developed as part of his final-year project, also received a Netcompany first-place prize.
Another recipient was Television Production BA Honours graduate Eleanor Johnson who recieved the funding for her semester exchange at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia. Throughout her time she gained specialist skills and grew her network, supporting her transition into post-university life.
Other innovative projects include The Movie App, an emotionally intelligent film recommendation platform developed by Digital Marketing BA Honours student Mohammad Izadi, and the creation of Studio Jordan Johnson, a professional recording space that has created opportunities for collaborations with DJ MAG and the BBC.
The Ignite Fund is more than just financial support, it is an investment in creativity, entrepreneurship and community transformation. Every contribution helps Westminster students seize opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.
One of this year’s recipients, Agostina Sturla, who graduated in Digital Media, Public Relations and Advertising BA Honours, said: “Without the Ignite Fund, I simply would not have had the means to take the professional marketing course that kick-started my career.”
Highlighting the academic opportunities made possible, Life Sciences PhD student Success Ajayi, added: “The Ignite Fund’s generosity will allow me to showcase my PhD research at a major international conference, gain critical feedback and connect with leaders in my field. This experience will be transformative for my academic growth.”
Jordan Scammell, Head of Development and Fundraising at the University, commented: “The Ignite Fund’s generosity unlocks potential and provides the critical support that allows our students’ ambitions to become achievements.”
Applications for the next round of the Ignite Fund open on 15 September and will close on 2 November.
The Ignite Fund’s mission directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education, 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
To find out more on how to apply, visit the Ignite Fund and learn how to donate to support their initiatives.
Learn about how to support the range of programmes running under Zone29.
