Care Leaver Bursary

About this bursary

You may be eligible for £2,000 if you are a care leaver and studying full-time. We are committed to supporting young people in or leaving care to progress to higher education.

The bursary is paid in three instalments throughout the year, for each year of study (based on progression to the next level of study). This is given to you in addition to the financial support you will receive from your local authority and any student finance you may be eligible for (your grants and loans).

We can also offer a full 365-day accommodation contract to any care leaver who needs it. You can request this directly on your accommodation application.

You may not want or need additional support while you’re studying with us, however the following is also available:

• pre-entry advice
• funding application support (liaising with your funding body where necessary) and support with budgeting through our online learning tool Blackbullion
• liaison with your local authority (with your permission) to ensure a smooth transition and to ensure the right support is in place for you
• support in applying for additional sources of funding, such as Delayed Funding Loans and the University Hardship Fund
• referral to other University services to ensure that you are getting the right support
• referral to external specialist services where needed.

Eligibility

To apply for one of these bursarys you must:

• be a full-time student
• be a home student entitled to student funding from SFE, SFW, SFNI or SAAS.
• be under the age of 25
• have been in care on or after your 16th birthday and have been in care for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14
• provide evidence of your status as a care leaver such as a letter from your personal adviser/social worker/pathway worker. If you are unsure of the evidence needed to confirm your circumstances, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us.

How to apply

If you have indicated that you are a care leaver on your UCAS application, we will contact you directly to invite you to apply for the bursary.

We can also assist you with your application to Student Finance England to ensure that you are assessed correctly and receive all funding available to you.

If you chose not to include your care leaver status on your UCAS application, email Katie Sykes at k.sykes@tees.ac.uk for an application information.

About the donor

We are committed to supporting young people in or leaving care to progress to higher education. We offer a range of activities and support to looked after children, care leavers and their care workers to help raise aspirations, provide information and support, and to encourage care leavers to reach their potential. This is the collaborative, whole-institution response evidenced through the Care Leaver Covenant.