A new bursary has been introduced by the government to pay for recent graduates to participate in overseas expeditions.

Recent graduates who are struggling to find work will be able to apply for a bursary scheme to travel abroad – provided by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

The scheme, which has been launched in conjunction with youth and education charity Raleigh, will pay for 500 graduates under the age of 24 to take part in ten-week expeditions abroad.

Graduates who receive the bursary will travel to places such as Costa Rica, India, Borneo and Nicaragua to get involved with various community and environmental projects.

The aim of the scheme is to give young people a chance to enhance their employability during a period of economic downturn.

The bursary will be given to graduates who can prove that an expedition of this sort would be beyond their financial means. Both the BIS and Raleigh will provide £1,000 each towards the cost of the expedition.

David Lammy, Minister of State for Higher Education, said: “We want to make sure this opportunity is available to all, regardless of their background, and so are providing £500,000 to Raleigh to support 500 graduates who could not otherwise afford to go.”

However, what has not been made transparent is the fact that graduates who are successful in their application will still have to provide the remaining £1,000. In addition to the £1,000 self-contribution, graduates will also have to pay for their flights, vaccinations and kit, which Raleigh estimates at around £800.