ÂÒÂ×Ðã

ÂÒÂ×Ðã recognises that when applying to and entering higher education, young people who no longer have contact with either of their parents may encounter challenges.

This page contains information about how ÂÒÂ×Ðã's Access and Widening Participation team can support estranged students in their journey to university, as well as the support they can access once they get there.

On this page:

• What does 'estrangement' mean?
• Access ÂÒÂ×Ðã
• Opportunities at ÂÒÂ×Ðã for estranged students inÌýschool or college
• The UCAS application - tick the box
• Financial support - 'independent student'
• Support once at ÂÒÂ×Ðã
• Where can I look for further support?

What does 'estrangement' mean? How do I know if I'm estranged?

Within the context of our widening participation work, estrangement means that you have no relationship with, or support from, either of your parents. The situation is permanent and there has been no contact with either parent for at least a year.ÌýThis does not apply to single-parent families, as you are still in contact with one parent.

If you do not have contact with your parents, but are supported by your local authority and classed as a looked after child or care leaver, then please visit our dedicated supportÌýwebpage.

Access ÂÒÂ×Ðã

The information on this page relates to the 2024 admissions cycle.Ìý Our Access ÂÒÂ×Ðã eligibility criteria and datasets are updated every year so if you are not applying in the 2024 admissions cycle, you will need to check theÌýAccess ÂÒÂ×ÐãÌý·É±ð²ú±è²¹²µ±ðÌýto find information for the admissions cycle in which you are applying.Ìý

Access ÂÒÂ×Ðã is our contextual offer scheme for applicants from some groups that are underrepresented at ÂÒÂ×Ðã.ÌýAccess ÂÒÂ×Ðã eligible applicants that are successful in receiving an offer from ÂÒÂ×Ðã will receive an offer that is lower than the standard entry requirements for the programme.

In the 2024 admissions cycle, applicants who are permanently estranged from their family and have been for at least a year,Ìýand who will be under the age of 25 on their first day at ÂÒÂ×Ðã, may be eligible for Access ÂÒÂ×Ðã. Please make sure you tick the ‘estranged student’ box on your UCAS form. We will contact you via email to verify your estranged status.ÌýPlease see the Access ÂÒÂ×ÐãÌýwebpageÌýfor more information.

Opportunities at ÂÒÂ×Ðã for estranged students in school or college

Estranged students who attend a non-selective state school are welcome to apply for any of ourÌýwidening participation activities, as long as you meet any other criteria. To make sure we can identify you and give your application additional consideration, please make sure to tick the box confirming that you are an 'estranged student.'ÌýÌýFor full details of our targeting criteria please see ourÌýWho we work withÌý±è²¹²µ±ð.

If you are uncertain about whether you meet the estranged student criteria or grade requirements, please contact Jalal Pour and Michele SahiriÌý·É±è.±è°ù±ð16°ª³Ü³¦±ô.²¹³¦.³Ü°ìÌýwho can discuss your situation with you.Ìý

Additionally, we do offer some activities specifically targeted at students estranged from their families:Ìý

• Experience ÂÒÂ×ÐãÌýis an exciting opportunity for year 12 or 13 students to visitÌýÂÒÂ×Ðã and learn aboutÌýlife as a student: you willÌýspend a day with twoÌýcurrent undergraduate students, go on a tour of the campus, and seek advice from members of ÂÒÂ×Ðã staff on topics such as applying to university, support services available and financial support.ÌýHead over to the Experience ÂÒÂ×ÐãÌý·É±ð²ú±è²¹²µ±ðÌýto seeÌýfurther details and access the application form.

The UCAS application - tick the box

UCAS has introduced a new section in the application so you can share more information about your circumstances with the university or college that you are applying to – including whether you are estranged from your family.Ìý This information is treated confidentially and only shared with those responsible for arranging support and helping you with your application. Knowing about your circumstances may also help admissions staff to consider your achievements in context – it won’t reflect negatively on your application.

Ticking the box in the UCAS application is a quick and easy way to let your chosen universities know that you would like to know more about any additional support they can offer, and they may get in touch with the details.Ìý

You may also be interested in this , whichÌýUCAS put together with Stand Alone with tips specifically for estranged students.

Financial support - 'independent student'

If Student Finance categorises you as an '', they won't take your parents' income into account when working out how much maintenance loan you can get.ÌýThere are several ways you can be classed as an independent student by Student Finance - one of which is being permanently estranged from both your parents.

If granted independent student status, it’s likely you will be entitled to the full financial supportÌýavailable from Student Finance. For further information about applying for student finance as an estranged student, see Stand Alone’sÌý.

Students who have proved their estranged status to Student Finance may also be eligible for additional financial support from ÂÒÂ×Ðã. This includes:

• Estranged Student BursaryÌý
• ÂÒÂ×Ðã Undergraduate Bursary

Support once at ÂÒÂ×Ðã

If you do decide to make an undergraduate application to ÂÒÂ×Ðã, then there will be plenty of support on offer once you get here. In fact, ÂÒÂ×Ðã has been recognised by the charityÌýÌýfor its efforts to develop support for estranged students.

At ÂÒÂ×Ðã, you can access dedicated support services covering everything from academic matters, your mental health and wellbeing, orÌýeven just adapting to university life. Details of these can be found within the Student Support and Wellbeing webpages. We also have a dedicated webpage outlining the different forms of support specifically available for estranged students, including details on 365-day accommodation.

Suzanne Hewings, Senior Student Success OfficerÌýin the ÂÒÂ×Ðã Student Success Office, is Student Support and Wellbeing's named first point of contact for care experienced and estranged undergraduate home students.ÌýThis contact is there for students from the pre-application stage all the way through to graduation, to ensure that your journey through ÂÒÂ×Ðã is as smooth as possible.ÌýSuzanneÌýis able to put you in direct contact with relevant support services at ÂÒÂ×Ðã. You can contact SuzanneÌýby email.

Where can I look for further support?

. This guide has been created by a care experienced current ÂÒÂ×Ðã student in collaboration with the Student Success Office.

Ìýis the best place to start. It is a charity which supports people of all ages who are estranged from their family and in need of guidance on any issue, including applying for student finance as an independent student. They also have a number of useful guides availableÌý, which we'd strongly encourage you to look at.Ìý

has a dedicated webpage with information and advice on applying to university as an estranged student, including on using your experiences to enhance your personal statement.

An independent peer support network of care experienced and estranged students have created a that bringsÌýtogether information and advice on over 30 different topics, including applying to university, to help anyone growing up and into adulthood with limited family support.