frequently asked questions
If your question isn't listed, please contact us.
Why do you ask for so much information during registration and how do you use my data?
As part of our mission to empower more students from underrepresented backgrounds to spend time overseas during their studies, we want to get to know who is using our platform and how they use it, so that we can continue to improve the platform and bring the right opportunities on board to achieve our mission.
Your data is stored securely and only used within the scope of our privacy policy. We use anonymised user data in our reporting, which is mainly used by our university partners to provide better opportunities for their students.
Is there specific eligibility criteria for opportunities listed on the Departure Board?
Although there are no overall eligibility criteria, companies listing opportunities may set eligibility or requirements as they see fit.
What is a 'Provider' and how are they selected for the Departure Board?
Providers are intermediaries that offer students a package of support alongside a range of opportunities that they source and manage. Providers charge fees for the support and structure they offer, which are sometimes paid by students and sometimes by institutions such as charities, companies in their global destination or universities. The Departure Board includes Providers within our listings and in each case you can find out exactly how they work, what fees they charge and who pays their fees. In order to feature on the Departure Board, Providers must complete our basic due diligence checks. You can read more about our due diligence process here and review the fundamentals of each Provider on their profile page.
Where is the Departure Board registered as a company and where is your team based?
We are a UK registered company and our team are based in Manchester and Leicestershire. Our aim is to increase the number of life changing opportunities to work and volunteer abroad, so we reinvest the majority of our profits into achieving this aim. Find out more about our mission on the About Page.
What is your stance on unpaid work experience overseas?
Whilst we aim to reduce barriers to participation, including funding, we are pragmatic about the volume of well paid opportunities to gain work experience overseas. In many countries factors like relatively low average wages locally, visa restrictions and the duration of a student’s stay can make it difficult for companies to pay students enough for them to afford the experience without additional funding. By guiding students towards additional funding available and sourcing new paid opportunities, we hope to contribute towards a better overall landscape within the confines of factors we can’t control.