How we can support you
How is a care leaver /care experienced student defined?
A care leaver is defined as a young person aged 16 to 25 who has been in the care of their local authority for at least 13 consecutive weeks (or periods amounting to 13 weeks), which began after the age of 14 and ended after the age of 16. (Note: If a young person returns home for six months or more after the age of 16 they cease to be eligible to be classified as a care leaver)
This could have been in foster care or residential accommodation. If this definition applies to you, then you should be receiving support from your local authority's Leaving Care Team to come to university.
However, at the University of Greenwich, we will still provide support to all care experienced students, even if you have been in care for just one day.
Confidentiality is important to us and we will always respect this and will not share your information with anyone without your consent.
Helping you to apply
Here are some of the ways we can help.
- Contextual admissions: We offer special consideration to applications from care leavers of a reduction of 16 UCAS points (equivalent to two A-level grades) below the advertised entry tariff for undergraduate courses on our website (including those provided by partner colleges). Eligibility and how to apply.
- Application: we offer support for choosing your course and help with your UCAS application, including personal statements.
- Attend events: we help you attend subject-specific taster days, arrange bespoke visits and can also help with the cost of attending an Open Day and/or interview if you're from Kent, Medway or Greater London.
- Answer your questions: we can answer your questions about the transition from school or college into higher education. Email: careleavers@greenwich.ac.uk.
On-course support for care experienced students
Once you become a student, how do we support you?
- Bursaries: we offer financial support through the Care Leaver Bursary and The Greenwich Bursary (subject to terms).
- Mentor: your student ambassador, 'Greenwich Friend', can provide confidential support and guidance, answer your questions and help your transition into higher education.
- Support from our designated members of staff help you to succeed in your studies.
- Year-round accommodation: you are welcome to stay over university holidays. Whilst some accommodation is used for events during the summer, you'll be able to live somewhere that isn't used or move to different accommodation.
Financial support / Care Leaver Bursary
What sources of financial support are available for care leavers?
Undergraduate loans
Full-time undergraduate students can apply to Student Finance for a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan for general living costs. You will be required to provide a letter from your local authority to confirm your care leaver status in order to qualify for the maximum maintenance loan.
Local authority bursary and support
A local authority bursary of £2,000 is available for all eligible care leavers entering higher education. Your local authority may pay this in a lump sum or in instalments.
Local authorities must also support you with accommodation and other costs related to entering higher education. You can discuss with your local authority what they offer alongside the bursary.
Care Leaver Bursary
The University of Greenwich provides care leavers, on both undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes, with a bursary of £1,500 per progressive year of study, for up to four years (depending on the length of your course), plus £200 towards the cost of graduation. This bursary is not means-tested, but you must be under the age of 25; a UK student; qualify for the maximum level of government maintenance, special support grants, or government Master’s loan; and your tuition fees must be paid directly to the University of Greenwich.
About the Care Leaver bursary.
The Greenwich Bursary
This bursary is worth £700 for new undergraduate students with a low household income. The bursary is assessed and awarded automatically by the Student Fees and Funding Team.
Other scholarships and bursaries
You may also be entitled to some of our additional awards, such as the Commuter Bursary.
Care leaver covenant
The University of Greenwich has signed up to the Department for Education's Care Leaver Covenant. We have committed to a range of support measures to enhance the recruitment, retention, success and progression of care leavers who study with us.
A range of organisations have committed to supporting care leavers with their own covenant.
Just having contacts in the university, it was really helpful and it gave me a bit of a lift because the staff already knew my background.
Download the Greenwich Cares support leaflet
Find out how we support you with your application, what financial support we offer, and how we help you transition to university.
Visit us
Join our next Open Day to chat with staff and students and find out more about studying at Greenwich.
Care leaver bursary
Our Care Leaver Bursary provides £1,500 per year to undergraduate students who are joining us directly from local authority care.