Students who have spent time in care are entitled to support to help them access higher education. Here are some practical ways you can support care experienced students research their options and prepare for their next steps.
This page was created in partnership with the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) the Care Leavers' Covenant, Become, and Who Cares? Scotland.
For anyone supporting a care experienced person with their UCAS application, this free training module can be found on the UCAS Professional Development Platform. This resource accompanies the toolkit below and takes you through the different stages of the application – from the research phase to transition, offering practical tips and resources.
Sign in or register to take the module and explore our other training resources for teachers and advisers – this is free to use and you do not need to be a registered centre to access it.
Unlike the toolkit below, this back-to-basics guide assumes knowledge of the UCAS application process, making it ideal for virtual schools, local authority teams, foster carers, pastoral and support staff, and new practitioners.
It's been designed to help those trusted adults who are helping a young person make choices about their next steps and make their UCAS application – from the discovery stage through to transition.
Alongside the basic information, you will find guidance specifically dedicated to support care experienced applicants throughout to ensure they have the information they need at the right time.
Read the supporter's toolkit for helping care experienced students through the UCAS process.
For anyone supporting a young person’s Personal Education Plan (PEP), this guide suggests professional actions as they make their career and education choices – from Year 8 through to post-16 study.
Forward planning is extremely important for care experienced students to ensure they get the appropriate funding and support as early as possible. Remind students to discuss plans with their support worker as part of their pathway plan, as they are entitled to help with making these from their local authority.
Encourage students to share their care experience in the diversity and inclusion section of their application. Reassure them this information is only used positively to help support their success.
The FAQs page may answer their questions, and this UCAS blog explains why it’s so important to share.
From the 2027 cycle, UCAS is extending its fee waiver initiative to include students who are care leavers. Building on the positive impact of the free school meals fee waiver, this new support will allow eligible applicants to have their application fee waived.
The legal definition of a care leaver comes from The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 which states that a Care Leaver is someone who has been in the care of the Local Authority for a period of 13 weeks or more spanning their 16th birthday. A care leaver in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is eligible for the fee waiver up until their 25th birthday, in Scotland they are eligible up until their 26th birthday.
The questions in the UCAS application asks about ‘care experience’ which is a broader term than care leaver. Care experience can include students who have spent a shorter period of time in care or those who have had informal kinship care arrangements for example.
The process for eligible care leaver students
If the student is using Clearing to find an alternative place, advise them to speak to the university or college about their support needs before making any decision. For example, it may be hard to secure year-round accommodation in Clearing – if this is needed, the student should contact the university or college.