How can we help?

• Find out more about applying to higher education if you are care experienced.
• Become’s Propel website can help you research the support available at different universities and colleges, and there is lots of information about going to university from care.
• In Scotland, visit the Who Cares? Scotland website for more information about your rights and entitlements.
• Directly contact student support services at the university or college you are interested in – here is a list of the points of contact for care experienced students at universities around the UK. They will be able to tell you more and make sure you have all the information you need. They will usually include this information on their website too.

Telling the university or college that you are care experienced can help admissions staff consider your achievements in context. They may also get in touch with you to share more details about the support they offer.

Your information may be used (anonymously) for monitoring purposes. This helps the university to inform and improve the support they provide to other care experienced students in the future.

The information you share with UCAS is kept in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.  

• Read a case study from Kingston University about how information about being a care leaver is used
• For more information about who your information is shared with, read UCAS’ privacy policy.
• Read UCAS’ personal data policy.

Growing up in care means you are entitled to a range of practical support, if you want it. This might be support during your application (e.g. events to help you with your transition to university), financial assistance, year-round accommodation, or help with managing your health and wellbeing.

When you give this information, you're letting the university know that you may need additional support during your studies. They may get in touch to tell you more about the benefits and options open to you – you can then decide if you’d like to access these forms of support.

Knowing about your circumstances may also help admissions staff consider your achievements in context. This is called ‘contextualised admissions’, and the aim is to form a more complete picture of you as an individual and identify applicants who have the potential to succeed, even if their personal circumstances have affected their attainment (e.g. exam grades).

It will not reflect negatively on your application, and some universities and colleges may make you a ‘contextual offer,’ which is typically lower than the standard entry requirements. In Scotland, you're guaranteed a place at university if you are care experienced and meet the minimum entry requirements.

Please note, the availability and level of support will vary between institutions, and not all students will be eligible for support at every university or college. As such, we strongly recommend you contact the university or college as early as possible to discuss any support needs you may have – however small or major they may seem – and to find out what support is available. They will support you to make a smooth transition to university and succeed in your ongoing studies, in a way that works for you.

Here's a list of the points of contact for care experienced students at universities around the UK.

If you live full-time with relatives or friends who are not your parents, then you are considered to be living in kinship care. This could be family members such as your grandparent, a sibling, or an aunt or uncle. It could also be a neighbour, a godparent, or a family friend. This may have been the result of an informal arrangement with your parents, or a formal process through the local authority (e.g. under a Guardianship Order). Sometimes it is called ‘family and friends care’ or ‘connected persons care’.

• Find out more about kinship care on the Fosterline website.
• You can find a full list of the different types of care experience on Become’s website.
• If you are in Scotland, read more on the Scottish Government website.