Academic Officer

We are seeking an organised, proactive and student-focused Student Funding and Academic Administration Officer to join our Academic Office.

This is a varied role combining student financial support, grants and bursaries, graduate scholarships, student administration and wider academic office responsibilities. The successful candidate will play an important role in ensuring that students have access to the financial support and opportunities available to them, while contributing to the efficient and effective administration of the Academic Office.

Experience in academic administration is essential for this role. We are looking for someone with excellent organisational and administrative skills who is comfortable working with financial information, databases and spreadsheets, and who can build positive relationships with students, colleagues and stakeholders across the collegiate University.

Key responsibilities

Student financial support, grants and bursaries

• Administer hardship and welfare-related student financial aid applications and awards, ensuring accurate and confidential records are maintained.
• Keep up to date with relevant guidance and literature and provide reports as required, including statistical returns such as HESA reporting.
• Develop and enhance systems for analysing expenditure, working closely with relevant internal departments.
• Administer student grants and bursaries.
• Facilitate maintenance subsidies for eligible students and maintain accurate associated financial records.

Graduate scholarships

Working under the oversight of the Academic Registrar and Tutor for Graduates, you will:

• Maintain accurate records of scholarships and awards available in each academic year.
• Provide accurate and timely information to the University’s Graduate Admissions & Funding Office, Divisions and Departments.
• Monitor relevant scholarship funds and provide regular reports to the Treasury, Steward’s Office and Development Office.
• Arrange payment of awards to students currently studying at the College.
• Advertise and manage applications for awards and prepare reports for consideration and approval by relevant committees.
• Maintain up-to-date scholarship and funding information on the website.
• Respond to funding queries from current students, providing clear, helpful and timely advice.

Support for offer-holders and new students

• Work with the Admissions team to check financial guarantees for incoming undergraduate and graduate students.
• Assist with the induction and registration of new students.
• Help coordinate Freshers’ Week timetables and documentation and support Freshers’ Week activities.

Wider Academic Office responsibilities

• Maintain relevant sections of the website and intranet.
• Undertake research, projects and surveys as requested by the Academic Services Manager.
• Assist with reviews of Academic Office processes and make recommendations for streamlining procedures and improving the student experience.
• Act as a welcoming and professional first point of contact for visitors to the Academic Office.
• Attend relevant briefings and training sessions across the collegiate University.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues in other colleges, University departments and central administrative teams.

Essential Criteria

You will have demonstrable experience in academic administration within a higher educational organisation together with a strong understanding of the importance of accurate, efficient and student-centred administrative processes.

You will be:

• Confident working with financial information, spreadsheets, databases and quantitative data.
• Experienced in using Microsoft Office, email and internet-based systems, with the ability and enthusiasm to learn new software and systems.
• A clear and professional communicator, with the ability to respond sensitively and effectively to student queries.
• Able to work fully on site as this role cannot accommodate remote or hybrid working