Care Leavers and Experience of Care Scholarship

Value

£6,000 in years one and two, £8,000 in your final year for two undergraduate students.

Study level

New, full-time undergraduate students in their first year only.

Aim of the scholarship

Supported by a number of donations over the years, this Scholarship offers support to undergraduate students who are care leavers and care-experienced to help improve social mobility. 

Check if you can apply

You must:

• Hold a firm offer to study a new full-time undergraduate course in the 2026/27 academic year, excluding foundation year and distance learning.
• Have spent time living in public care as a ‘looked after’ child or young person
• Have a household income of £25,000 or less. We’ll check this against your Student Finance application. Please contact us if you will not be applying to Student Finance for a maintenance loan.
• Be a UK student - English, Scottish, Welsh or Northern Irish - paying the standard full-time fees, and have a UK Student Support Number.
• Pay for your course yourself, including through a student loan or a payment from your parents. Your course fees must not be paid by a business, charity or other organisation.

Check the terms and conditions

Before you apply, read our terms and conditions.

They explain:

• What’s expected of people who get scholarships.
• What happens if you leave your course or we withdraw the scholarship.
• How we use your personal information.

How to apply

Before you apply, read our application advice.

You’ll need to: 

• Complete the application form.
• upload evidence of your time in care:
  • If you are a care leaver: a letter from your local authority personal advisor confirming your status .
  • If you are care-experienced: any official documents confirming your time living in public care, such as a letter from your local authority.
  • If you are also estranged: the letter or email from the Student Loans Company confirming they have accepted your estrangement. You will have been sent this during your application for Student Finance.
  • If you have no evidence: a Word document outlining details of your care experience, including the local authority and the dates that you were in care.

Applications will open 1 January 2026.