Scholarships Administrator

Scholarships Administrator (Job Number:

Student and Academic Services Directorate

Grade 4: - £24,843 - £26,093 per annum

Fixed Term - Full Time

Contract Duration: 13 months

Contracted Hours per Week: 35

Closing Date: 03-Dec-2025, 5:59:00 PM

Disclosure and Barring Service Requirement: Not Applicable.

The University

At Durham University we are proud of our people. A globally outstanding centre of educational excellence, a collegiate community of extraordinary people, a unique and historic setting – Durham is a university like no other.

Across the University we have a huge variety of roles and career opportunities, which together make us a large and successful community, which is a key hub of activity within our region and nationally. Whether you are at the very start, middle or end of your career, there is a role for you. We believe everyone has their own unique skills to offer.

We would be thrilled if you would consider joining our thriving University. Further information about the University can be found here.

Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Join Us? - Information Page.

The Role and the Department

The Student Immigration and Funding Service (SIFS) works with internal colleagues and external bodies to provide high-quality advice and support relating to immigration legislation and financial support for both undergraduate and postgraduate students and applicants.

The Service is part of the Student & Academic Services Directorate (SASD), which provides a professional administrative support service to staff, students and potential students of Durham University.

The Academic Registrar is the head of the department and is responsible to the Vice Provost for its management. The following services fall under the remit of the Student and Academic Support Directorate:

• Widening Access & Participation
• Academic Quality Service
• Recruitment and Admissions
• Student Immigration and Funding Services
• Student Registry

All the services are based at the Palatine Centre in Durham City.

The post holder will be part of the Scholarships Team within the Student Immigration & Funding Service, which administers internally and externally funded scholarships for Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Home and International students.

The Scholarships Administrator will provide clerical support to the Scholarships Team, ensuring that the Scholarship provision at Durham is seen as exemplary. The post holder will provide a high standard of administrative support to scholarship applicants, recipients and staff, dealing with enquiries professionally and efficiently, and proactively following up on any queries you receive.

You must be a flexible team worker able to take responsibility for managing a varied workload to a high standard. A high level of accuracy, sometimes under pressure, is essential. You will be dealing with highly confidential and potentially sensitive information and must ensure that it is kept in accordance with the principles of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and with the strictest confidence.

This role is based in the Palatine Centre, Durham. SASD operates a hybrid working policy which allows a level of flexibility within the working week.

Working at Durham

A competitive salary is only one part of the many fantastic benefits you will receive if you join the University:

• You'll receive 27 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year - a total of 39 days. The University closes between Christmas and New Year.
• No matter how you travel to work, we have you covered. We have parking across campus, a cycle to work scheme which helps you to buy a bike and discount with local bus and train companies.
• You can access exclusive discounts via our benefits portal including money off at supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products such as Apple, eating out and days out at various attractions.
• Our on-site nursery is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and you can access holiday camps for children aged 5-16.
• We provide wide-ranging health and wellbeing support including discounted membership for our state-of-the-art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• We offer all staff the opportunity to take part in volunteering activities to make a difference to the local community.
• Our family friendly policies, including maternity and adoption leave, are among the most generous in the higher education sector (and likely above and beyond many employers).
• If you are keen on advancing in your role or career, we have a genuine passion for developing our colleagues from qualifications to IT skills, courses and apprenticeships.
• We offer generous pension schemes with varying contribution amounts to help you plan for your future.

Discover more about our total rewards and benefits package here.

Durham University is committed to equality diversity, inclusion and values

Our collective aim is to create an open and inclusive environment where everyone can reach their full potential and we believe our staff should reflect the diversity of the global community in which we work.

As a University equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are a key part of the University's Strategy and a central part of everything we do. We also live by our values and our Staff Code of Conduct. At Durham we actively work towards providing an environment where our staff and students can study, work and live in a community which is supportive and inclusive. It's important to us that all of our colleagues are aligned to both our values and commitment to EDI.

We welcome and encourage applications from members of groups who are under-represented in our work force including people with disabilities, women and black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. If you have taken time out of your career, and you feel it relevant, let us know about it in your application. If you are a candidate with a disability, we are committed to ensuring fair treatment throughout the recruitment process. We will make adjustments to support the interview process wherever it is reasonable to do so and, where successful, reasonable adjustments will be made to support people within their role.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply

To be considered for this role, here are the skills/experience we're looking for:

Essential Criteria

Qualifications/Experience

1. Five GCSEs at least Grade C or level four (or equivalent) including English Language and Mathematics or equivalent experience.

2. Experience of working in a team

3. Experience of providing advice and guidance to a range of colleagues and customers.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

1. Good spoken and written communication skills.

2. Good digital skills including experience in using digital devices and apps including the internet, email, digital communication tools, Microsoft 365 applications, and Microsoft Access.

3. Committed to continuing professional development.

4. Ability to solve problems and resolve straightforward issues yourself and as part of a team.

Desirable Criteria

1. Post-16 qualification or equivalent experience.

2. Relevant administrative experience in a busy office environment.

3. Experience of working on the front line with service delivery, and the ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality.

How to apply

To progress to the assessment stage, candidates must evidence each of the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification above. Where there are desirable criteria we would also urge you to provide any relevant evidence. Please don't forget to check if there is any weighted criteria (see above).

While some criteria will be considered at the shortlisting stage, other criteria may be considered later in the assessment process, such as questions at interview.

Submitting your application

We prefer to receive applications online. We will update you about your application at various points during the process, via automated emails from our e-recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folder periodically to ensure you receive all emails

What you are required to submit:

• A CV
• A covering letter which shows examples of how you meet all of the criteria within the Person Specification

Contact details

If you would like to have a chat or ask any questions about the role, the Scholarships Manager would be happy to speak to you. Please contact Patricia at

Typical Role Requirements

• This role will be involved in the administration of scholarships within the University. It will be responsible for providing students with information relating to scholarships when studying at the University
• In addition, it will be involved in ensuring that students receive the funds awarded to them as the successful recipient of a scholarships.
• The postholder will be involved in collating scholarship application documentation to support the scholarship panels who are responsible for selecting recipients for scholarships and awards.
• You will also support the wider responsibilities of the Student Immigration and Funding Service in order to develop themselves and to better understand the work undertaken by the service

Here are the kind of activities that you'll be asked to undertake and ways in which you'll be expected to operate.

Service Delivery

• Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and the University's values.
• Provide an excellent and timely service to our students, your colleagues in the Scholarships team and SIFS, as well as colleagues across university departments. students, your colleagues in the Scholarships team and SIFS, as well as colleagues across university departments.
• Use your experience and problem-solving skills to resolve routine issues relevant to your role such as payment queries, application status, and provide information and updates to help your team find solutions.
• Collect, organise and record data and information accurately and provide reports as required.
• Promote positive wellbeing arrangements which benefit you and your team.
• When carrying out your role, use and apply relevant professional and regulatory standards, e.g. data protection, when managing data.
• Use standard office-based devices and applications such as Word, Excel, Email, and Microsoft Forms to deliver services.
• Update guidance on standard operating procedures followed by the team.

Teamwork

• Resolve queries and respond to requests for information and advice and bring any complex issues to the attention of more experienced team members.
• Help your team organise and provide administrative services that support key activities, for example, planning and attending to Open Days and Post Offer Events, undertaken within your service and contribute to team planning activities.

Communication/Liaison

• Record information, e.g. Scholarship applicants and recipients data, and respond to queries which you receive.
• Liaise with staff in other areas and external organisations to ensure that services are being delivered in an efficient and collaborative way.
• Provide support for meetings, working groups and committees, such as gathering data, preparing and sending documents for meetings, drafting reports and taking minutes.
• Any other reasonable duties.

Useful links

Please note that in submitting your application Durham University will be processing your data. We would ask you to consider the relevant University Privacy Statement Privacy Notices - Durham University which provides information on the collation, storing and use of data.

MATERNITY COVER

Appointment to this post is fixed term to cover the substantive post holder's maternity leave and is not anticipated to be extended.

When appointing to this role the University must ensure that it meets any applicable immigration requirements, including salary thresholds which are applicable to some visas.