Care leavers, care experienced, and estranged student support

Eligibility

• Home/UK Undergraduate or PGCE student starting in September 2024.
• Be able to provide a letter from your local authority, social worker, personal advisor, or key worker confirming care leaver or care-experienced status OR be able to provide evidence that you have been assessed as estranged by Student Finance England.
• In some cases, have a household income of £25,000 or less as assessed by Student Finance England.

Value

• £3,000 awarded in three instalments throughout the academic year.
• Students must progress to the next academic year to continue receiving the bursary, otherwise it will be temporarily paused.

How to apply

• If you are estranged, please contact Dimple or Rebecca, on studentfundingservice@stmarys.ac.uk directly to arrange this meeting and declare your estranged status.
• There is no application form, however evidence will need to be provided as detailed above by the end of October 2024.

Student Finance

• Please ensure you have a Student Finance England (SFE) account and give your consent to share your financial information with St Mary's University.
• For care leavers, you will need to provide SFE with your proof of care leaver evidence to receive the maximum financial support available to you.
• If you require any advice or guidance in relation to your SFE application, please do get in touch.

Notification and payment

• Eligible students will be contacted in early November 2024 via their St Mary's student email address confirming the award and payment dates (usually November, January, and April).

Other scholarships

• Students who are awarded the St Mary's Cares bursary are also able to apply for another bursary or scholarship without effecting this award.

Terms and conditions

• In the first instance the St Mary's Cares Bursary will be prioritised for care leaver and care-experienced students.
• Estranged students aren't guaranteed a bursary and will be awarded one if there are funds available once care leaver and care-experienced students have been allocated an award, however should still apply by contacting one of the designated contacts.
• St Mary’s Cares bursaries do not need to be repaid.
• Eligible students must be registered at St Mary’s University by 31st October 2024. You must also have had your household income assessed by Student Finance England by this date.
• Eligible students must attend an induction meeting with one of the designated members of staff, Rebecca Hughes or Dimple Mehta-Mody by mid-October 2024. You will be invited to this meeting when you have registered as a student at St Mary’s.
• If are are estranged, please contact Rebecca or Dimple directly to arrange this meeting and declare your estranged status.
• Students must be undertaking their first Undergraduate degree (i.e. not previously completed an undergraduate degree programme before).
• St Mary's Cares support only includes students aged under 25 at the start of their degree programme. If you are aged 25 or over, there may be some support available, however you will need to email the designated contacts. 
• The award is payable for a maximum of three years when studying on an undergraduate programme, and one year when studying for a PGCE.  You must be enrolled full-time to receive the bursary in 2024/25 and each subsequent year.
• The bursary will not be paid during part-time or full-time repeat academic years, or during any dormant/suspended periods.
• If more students meet the criteria than funds available, bursaries will be awarded on a first come first served basis. If you do not receive a bursary but meet the criteria, please email the designated contacts to find out what other financial support is available.
• The following categories of students are not eligible:
  • Students transferring from another institution
  • Students undertaking a postgraduate qualification (except PGCE).

Care leavers, care-experienced, and estranged students are given priority to the St Mary's Hardship Fund. You can email studentfundingservice@stmarys.ac.uk or come in to see us in the Student Funding Office. This is based in the Student Services Centre, on the top floor of the J Building, and we are open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm.

St Mary’s recognises that the Summer can be a difficult period for care leavers, care-experienced, and estranged students and can provide a grant to help contribute to the costs of living in the period between academic years. Please contact the Student Funding Service to find out more. 

Graduation is such a wonderful celebration of students’ hard work, and we don’t want anyone to miss out on this because of the cost involved. We can provide a one-off payment to cover the following costs:

• gown hire
• guest tickets x 2
• basic photo package.

We recognise that the transition into life after university can be a challenging one, especially financially. Once graduated, our care leaver and care-experienced students can receive an award to assist with immediate living costs, such as rent or support in travel costs to and from interviews.

• Pre-entry summer meeting organised by the designated contact.
• Priority invite to our ‘Get Set for Success’ pre-enrolment transition programme.
• Access to 365 days accommodation if needed with deposit paid on behalf of the student. If you are aware that you will need accommodation 365 days, please speak with the designated contact before completing your accommodation application as not all of our accommodation remains open at Christmas time.
• Automatic interview onto our paid Student Ambassador Scheme.
• Pastoral support with regular check-ins throughout the year with direct links to other supportive services such as the Wellbeing Services, Accommodation Services and Employability Service (also provided to estranged students).
• Life-long career support and advice (available to all St Mary’s students).