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1 | IMPORTANT NOTE: Details of support available can change. If you are applying to one of the below colleges or universities, please speak with the named contact to check what support is available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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3 | Colleges/Universities | Accomadation Info | Financial Assistance Info | Evidencing Info | Wider Access Program Info and Links | Contact | Other Information and Resources | ||||||||||||||||||
4 | Borders College | Doesn't provide accommodation | Do not offer funding on top of the statutory funding. Discretionary funding we support accommodation costs, we require rent statement and 3 months bank statements. Students with CE are fast tracked for funding. | All students need to prove their CE for funding purposes. This can be in the form of a letter or using the College Funding Forms. | SWAP East for 1 FE course - Access to Nursing | Jen MacKenzie, Student Support Services Telephone: 01896 662516 Text: 01896662516 Email: careaware@borderscollege.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | Dumfries & Galloway College | Doesn't provide accommodation | Care Experienced Bursary for FE course (SCQF level 3-6) and Care Experienced Bursary HE (SCQF level 7+) through SAAS. FE Discretionary funding for help towards rent/mortgage payments and FE Childcare Costs funding. HE Discretionary funding (all maximum funding from SAAS needs to be applied for before applying for these funding) and HE Childcare cost funding. | For FE - a letter from social work, or evidence from child panel meetings, or care plans, permanence orders or studnet can request a form from us that you can ask a professional person to complete that knows your back ground. Student Adviser for care experience students can offer support around this if it is difficult to gain evidence. For HE - SAAS will provide you with a care experience form to complete and if student adviser for care experience students has seen previous evidence supporting your care experience, she is happy to fill this out for you. | Nursing (SWAP) (NQ) @ SCQF Level 6. In-house Access program: Moving onto Further Education @SCQF level 3 - weblink: https://www.dumgal.ac.uk/course/moving-on-to-further-education-nq-scqf-level-3/ | Tanja Livingstone Student Adviser for care experienced students 01387 734064 livingstonet@dumgal.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
6 | Dundee and Angus College | Doesn't provide accommodation | Do not offer funding, but have hardship funds that are available that can be processed withing a week (must evidence hardship). | Require a letter from Social Work listing legal section of care. | SWAP - Access to Social Sciences and SWAP - Access to Life Science. Offer in-house Access program, however, these change and it's best to contact the Team Leader from each campus to get most current information. Team leaders information below: Rona Jack - Kingsway Team Leader - r.jack@dundeeandangus.ac.uk, Bryan Leonard - Gardyne Team Leader - b.leondard@dundeeandangus.ac.uk, and Wendy Russell - Arbroath Team Leader - w.russell@dundeeandangus.ack.uk. | Rona Jack - Kingsway Team Leader - r.jack@dundeeandangus.ac.uk, Bryan Leonard - Gardyne Team Leader - b.leondard@dundeeandangus.ac.uk, and Wendy Russell - Arbroath Team Leader - w.russell@dundeeandangus.ack.uk. | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | Edinburgh College | Occasionally provide 365 day accommodation. College students are only enrolled on a 36 week programme which means they are not enrolled as a student over the summer and not covered by the college's insurance. They will however provide accommodation over the holidays. | All funding is government funds - priority is given to students with care experience. Offer discretionary fudning as well. | Require that FE students evidence must be from social worker; HE SAAS other professionals can provide the evidence. | SWAP | guidance@edinburghcollege.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | Fife Collge | Doesn't provide accommodation | Care Experienced Bursary and hardship funding for students. | Require no proof of Care Experience | Have multiple routes via SWAP and in-house programme. Weblink: https://www.fife.ac.uk/courses/browse-courses/access-to-further-education-certificate/ | wecare@fife.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | Forth Valley College | Doesn't provide accommodation | Care experienced students who are studying a Full-Time Further Education (FE) course (up to SCQF level 6), can apply for the Care Experienced Bursary. Students who are studying a Full-Time Higher Education (HE) course (SCQF level 7 or above) should apply to SAAS for their equivalent funding. The Care Experienced Bursary is a maintenance bursary which is paid to help students with their living costs while studying. The bursary rate for Academic Session 2024-25 is £225 per week. This bursary is not-means assessed which means there will be no deduction made to the weekly award based on your assessable household income. Please note that if you are awarded Care Experienced Bursary and apply for other funds (e.g. travel, study materials, housing or childcare) these will be means-assessed as they would be for any student. Students seeking discretionary funding must complete an online application form and provide supporting documentation to demonstrate eligibility. This includes evidence of: Age (beyond statutory school leaving age) Residency status Course enrolment Individual and household income Specific costs or liabilities (as applicable) Our discretionary funds are used to support students in several ways, including: A contributory award towards formal housing costs One-off awards through the Student Assistance Fund for unexpected financial needs Travel and study material costs for eligible asylum-seeking students The documentation required varies depending on the student’s circumstances and the type of funding requested. Additional discretionary funds (e.g., the Student Assistance Fund) require a separate application and relevant evidence of financial hardship. Applications for on-going funding support must be submitted within six weeks of enrolment to be considered for a full award. Students may apply for other discretionary support at any point during their enrolment, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. Funding prioritise students from Priority Groups, including those with care experience, when allocating limited funds. Application window typically opens in the summer, depending on national guidance (e.g., from SFC/SAAS), and remains open throughout the academic year. Processing times vary due to the individual nature of each application. Please note: funding availability, criteria, and timescales may be subject to change at any time based on national guidance and institutional priorities. | When applying for funding, students must provide evidence to support their application. If they have disclosed themselves as care experienced then they must upload evidence of this to their funding application. Usually this will be a letter from a care worker, social work department, or local authority. This letter should be headed, and include: • your name, • date of birth, • the category of care you have experience of • the relevant dates of the care experience. If students are having any issues with getting this evidence, they should get in touch with Student Funding for advice. Outside of the application for Student Funding, if any additional support is required the Support and Guidance Team can be contacted. | SWAP (East) Access to Nursing Course on both Falkirk and Stirling Campus. Also offers in-house Access programs in Access to Engineering Technology, Computing, Creative Industries and Chemical Engineering. | Laura Geoghegan laura.geoghegan@forthvalley.ac.uk 01324403415 | Each care experienced student has an assigned Named Contact. Part of their role is to support pre-exit and transition activities. Part of this may include a referral to SDS for career advice. | ||||||||||||||||||
10 | Glasgow Caledonian University | Offers 365 days a year free accommodation that may be extended for up to 2 years. Many graduating students are given extensions to their accommodation to support their transition but this is done on a case by case basis. | Students can access the Care Experienced Student Bursary from SAAS. In addition, there is the Common Good Scholarship that CE student are encouraged to apply for and given priority when allocating but not all are guaranteed to receive it. | Evidence can be the student being in receipt of the Care Experienced Student Bursary or a letter from a social worker/other professional to confirm CE. | Links with SWAP West. Predominantly courses within their school for health and life sciences such as nursing, psychology. | Nathan Tagg (07990604579) and Emily Flaherty (07375561244) careleavers@gcu.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
11 | Heriot-Watt University | Offers accommodation - Wellbeing team will advise the accommodation team of any students who are eligible for year-round accommodation. Offer students that are care experienced a 40 or a 50 week contract before arrival. This allows the students to make a choice of what best fits their needs and can save a move after undergraduate departures in June. Where possible if students are staying year round we are now trying to allocate them into the same room for the next academic year to reduce moving from one place to another. Are happy to assist students with help and advice on private rented accommodation as well. weblink: https://www.hw.ac.uk/campuses/edinburgh/living-in-edinburgh/off-campus-living | Priority access to Widening Access Bursaries - https://www.hw.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/scholarships-and-bursaries/heriot-watt-widening-access-bursary-scotland Priority access to Widening Access Expenses Bursary – currently £525 The Discretionary Hardship Fund is available for all students to apply, however Care Experienced students are prioritised. Students need to submit a Hardship Application, along with 3 months of bank statements. There is a maximum of 3 week turnaround on these applications, however it is usually quicker. There is also an Emergency Hardship Fund, which is a same day payment of £50 to support students in immediate need of food / utilities / travel funds. | Only proof required for any care experienced student is a brief statement of why they are care experienced, to ensure they haven’t ticked the box in error. This doesn’t have to be detailed – only a sentence or two is required. | Active member and charity partner of SWAP East, long-standing links into SWAP West – applications are warmly welcomed from both SWAP East and SWAP West. | Pre Entry: Tracey Kerr. Email:access@hw.ac.uk Post Entry: Edinburgh Campus - Emma Smail. Email: wpwellbeing@hw.ac.uk Galashiels Campus - Gillian McLaughlin. Email: sbc.wellbeing@hw.ac.uk | Care experienced students are welcome to take part in the Widening Access Ambassador Scheme, which covers all widening access students. Places are limited, and work is ad-hoc as and when required. Pay is at living wage rates – currently £12.60 per hour plus holiday pay. Training is provided, and a programme of voluntary (unpaid) CPD is being drawn up. Work varies including taking part in large-scale on campus events, visits to schools and colleges, workshops on campus and tailored campus visits for widening access students. Ambassadors sign up for work they want to take part in, and there is no pressure to be involved in something they don’t feel comfortable doing. Ambassadors also act as a ‘student panel’ for the widening access team providing a student voice on work undertaken by the team. For more information contact – access@hw.ac.uk. Aspiring Futures careers programme, we have a range of bespoke support for care experienced students. This includes participating in the Heriot-Watt Career Mentoring programme. Through this programme, student mentees benefit from professional connections of alumni working in a field / sector of interest to the student, develop their career knowledge and awareness of navigating career journeys if facing additional barriers including tips on effective applications and job interviews. The Aspiring Futures programme also offers paid internship opportunities and we specifically target care-experienced students. The internship hours can be worked flexibly throughout the summer to fit in around any other commitments and most of the projects can be undertaken on a hybrid basis to suit the students’ commitments. T There is a dedicated careers consultant who supports all under-represented groups of students and who works closely with the Student Wellbeing / Experience team to signpost relevant care-experienced students to particular internship / graduate job / further study opportunities and insight career events and programmes offered by employers. Graduate support - We are the only university in Scotland with a dedicated Career Consultant for all Heriot-Watt Graduates & Alumni and offer lifelong careers support for care experienced graduates who have studied on one of our UK campuses – Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney.. | ||||||||||||||||||
12 | Highland Theological College UHI | Doesn't provide accomodation | Discreationary funding available | Require no proof of Care Experience; only require income evidience for funding. | Offers an in house access course. | Cathy Steed: cathy.steed@uhi.ac.uk or 01349 780401 | |||||||||||||||||||
13 | New College Lanarkshire | Doesn't offer year round accommodation, but will assist with finding somewhere to live for the whole year | Do not offer funding on top of the statutory funding, but do make students with care experience a priority for other hardship funds they offer. | Require a letter from social work department or head teacher confirming care experienced, a care leaver, or looked after young person for funding applicaitons. Can complete a form if struggling to provide evidence. | SWAP - Nursing, Social Work, Social Sciences, Paramedic Science, ESOL with business, Primary Teaching, and Health and Social Care. | studentadviser@nclan.ac.uk. | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | Newbattle Abbey College | Are unusual in that they are a residential college. They close the college over Christmas break, however, can usually support students wtih finding alternative accommodation for that period. | FE Care Experienced Bursary. Do not offer any other additional funding specific to students with care experience. Have discretionary funding available for hardship. | Requirements are determined by the Scottish Funding Council and NAC works with students to help them find evidence required | SWAP East - Arts, Humanities and Social Science. Offer an in-house program of Preparation for Further Education course which acts as a "ramp" onto SWAP. Also have a National Certificate in Social Sciences which mirrors SWAP but can be accessed by students who don't meet the SWAP requirements (for example, it can be accessed straight from school or if there has not been a break in education of three years or more). | office@nac.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
15 | The Open University in Scotland | Doesn't provide accomodation | Students who study at the Open University in Scotland are not eligible for the care experienced bursary from SAAS. This is because all OU students are considered part-time. That means, even if students choose to study at full time equivalent intensity, they will be a part-time student and therefore, not eligible for the care experience bursary by SAAS. At the Open University, students are able to apply for the Study-Related Costs Funding. This fund can help with costs like internet access, a laptop, childcare and stationery. This funding is open to all OU students who meet the eligibility criteria. More information can be found here: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding/study-related-costs-funding/ | Requires evidence of care experience which could be a letter from their current local authority, GP, social worker, or other professional who can confirm the student was looked after. | Work with both SWAP programs to highlight the opportunities to study with The Open University in Scotland. As a majority of their courses have no entry requirements, progressing to study with the Open University is an option for anyone who has completed a SWAP Access course. Offers in-house program as well - weblink: https://www.open.ac.uk/courses/do-it/access | OUScotland-Cares@open.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | Queen Margaret University | Offers 365 day accommodation - efforts made to give students with care experience priority | SAAS Care Experienced Bursary and QMU discreationary funding. | Doesn't ask or require specific proof | SWAP East - over 300 linked courses which can be found at weblink: https://swapsurvey.org/progression/east | Gayle Green: ggreen@qmu.ac.uk or 0131 474 0000 | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland | Offers 365 day accommodation | No specific funding for CE students, but can apply for other busaries and hardship funds. | Same requirements as SAAS or disclosure on matriculation/throughout the year. Younger students may have a meeting alongside their care givers to better understand their care experience and needs. | Links with SWAP and offers an in-houes access program via open access courses through WACI and auditioned programmes through Transitions - weblink: https://www.rcs.ac.uk/fair-access/ | welfare@rcs.ac.uk. | |||||||||||||||||||
18 | South Lanarkshire College | Doesn't provide accomodation, however, staff signpost and support students who are experiencing housing issues or homelessness | Scottish Funding Council and SAAS CE Bursaries. Discreationary funding applications are fast-tracked for care experienced students. Online applications are located on the student portal and evidence of income is required and housing costs. | SLC accepts self-disclosure however, the Scottish Funding Council and SAAS both require evidence of CE status. | SWAP Access to Nursing; Access to Paramedicine & Science; Access to Social Work & Social Studies; Access to Criminology & Psychology; Access to Science & Health | Karen Pirie, Guidance & Support Advisor - Email: Karen.Pirie@slc.ac.uk; Tel: 01355 807780 Hazel McArdle, Guidance & Support Advisor - Email: Hazel.McArdle@slc.ac.uk; Tel: 01355 807780 | https://www.slc.ac.uk/students/student-support/care-experienced-students | ||||||||||||||||||
19 | UHI | Not all of our campuses have on-site accommodation. For those which do, care experienced students are provided with 365 day accommodation; https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/studying-at-uhi/accommodation/ | A letter from Social Work and Local Authority | This would vary between our academic partners. https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/studying-at-uhi/interested-in-applying/courses-explained/progression-routes/ | Lyndsay Sutherland, UHI Student Support Manager Email: lyndsay.sutherland@uhi.ac.uk Tel: 07386 664074 | It is worth noting that UHI is made up of 10 academic partner colleges and institutions, so our structure is unique and tertiary. Each academic partner will have their own specific support for care experienced students, particularly around funding and accommodation. You may wish to contact them individually to complete a copy of this survey for a fuller picture; https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/students/support/student-support-contacts/ | |||||||||||||||||||
20 | UHI Perth | Doesn't provide accommodation | FE Care Experienced Bursary, Graduation Bursary (£150 one-off payment to pay for gown, etc), Scholarships available at £1000 | Requires identificaiton and a letter/email from the student's social worker confirming they were in care and under which section | SWAP courses - Applied Sciences, Access to Nursing, Applied Health & Life Sciences and Applied Sciences | Apryll Cunningham Student Support Worker 07385 029889 wellbeingandsupport.perth@uhi.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
21 | UHI Inverness | Offers 365 days a year accommodation; need to apply at https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/studying-at-uhi/accommodation/uni/inverness/ | SFC Care Experienced Bursary or SAAS at HE Level. Additiona support available in form of discreationary hardship funding, foodbank, toilety bank, free breakfast and lunch available. Weblink to details of additional support: https://www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk/study/student-support-services/cost-of-living-assistance/ and https://www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk/study/funding/discretionary-hardship-funding/ | Require 1 piece of evidence confirming care experience such as SCRA or court letter, letter from social work department or adoption certificate and 1 piece of photographic ID. The transitions team can support students to obtain requried evidence. | Offers an in house access course. Weblink: https://www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk/courses/scqf-level-4-5-leep-ahead-life-education-employment-and-personal-development/ | Amanda Campbell and Claire Ross: transition.ic@uhi.ac.uk | https://www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk/study/student-support-services/access-and-transitions/care-experienced-and-students-who-require-extra-consideration/ | ||||||||||||||||||
22 | University of Aberdeen | Offers year round accommodation | Offers a range of scholarships up to £5000 per year of study-these are open to students from any widening access group | Only use UCAS flag | Links with SWAP East and SWAP West courses. Also offer online access modules which are open to all (CE students qualify for free places in these modules). | accessaberdeen@abdn.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
23 | University of Edinburgh | Offers 365 days a year accommodation | Bursary for students with care experience: https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/undergraduate/uk-eu/access-awards/access-edinburgh Discretionary funding (Care experienced students given extra help with application process ): https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/financial-support/all-students | None: just self declaration. | SWAP: all courses. In-house programme: https://col.ed.ac.uk/our-programmes/access-programme2 | Neil Speirs Email: edinburghcares@ed.ac.uk Phone: 07884 117 146 (contact hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm UK time) | https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/access-edinburgh/settling-university/peer-mentoring | ||||||||||||||||||
24 | University of St Andrews | Offers 365 days a year accommodation. However, during winter and summer periods student need to re-apply or inform Lewis Reid (point of contact) to add to priority list. Unfortunately, some students need to move for the time periods between winter and summer. | St Andrews Access Award - https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/scholarships/scholarships-catalogue/undergraduate-scholarships/st-andrews-access-award/ - Award depends on individual circumstances; Applicants with a household income less than £34,000 can apply once to be considered for various awards, including a monthly maintenance allowance, a contribution towards university or private accommodation and a sports membership discount as detailed above. -St Andrews Wardlaw Scholarships -The Robertson Trust Scholarship Care experienced applicants could consider applying for one of our Gateway programmes. These routes do not make any difference to the degree you will graduate with, but do give you some extra support and guidance in your first years at St Andrews to help ensure you make the best possible start to your studies. Gateway programmes can provide entry to any degree programme at St Andrews. Aswell as the access grant/ Discretionary funding can be applied for by requesting an application to be completed and providing bank statements as evidence. Depending on urgency, funds can be provided in 2-3 working days later. | A letter from local authority or document stating care experience from a professional | No in-hoies Access program, but have lInks with Swap, SCAPP, and Who Cares Scotland | Lewis Reid Access & Inclusion Adviser Email: ljr26@st-andrews.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
25 | University of Stirling | Offers 365 days a year accommodation | Care Experienced Bursary (£500 for every year of your course), hardship funds to assist with montly livings costs and rent (if living in university accommodation), and Graduation Bursary (£150 to cover graduation costs). | Contact Student Support team to get more information. | SWAP | Pre-entry: wp@stir.ac.uk Post-entry: SSSspoc@stir.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
26 | West Lothian College | Doesn't provide accommodation | Do not offer funding on top of the statutory funding, but do make students with care experience a priority for other hardship funds they offer. | Contact Student Support team to get more information. | SWAP - Access to Nursing, Teaching and Science. Weblink: https://www.west-lothian.ac.uk/courses/browse-by-subject/higher-education-for-adult-learners-swap/ | counsellingservice@west-lothian.ac.uk | |||||||||||||||||||
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