A hassle-free
home at uni.

So you can focus on your university experience and plan your future.

Tell me more

Having somewhere of your own to call home matters. With the Unite Foundation scholarship, you’ll have accommodation and bills covered for up to 3 years at university. That includes all through the holidays too, so you don’t have to wonder where to go during Christmas or summer. You can even stay the summer after you graduate to plan your next move. The Unite Foundation team will help you settle in, keep in touch and offer opportunities for employment and enjoyment. So far, over 700 estranged and care experienced young people have gone to university on the Unite Foundation scholarship, are you next?

Who can apply

You can apply for the scholarship if you’re:

  1. 25 or under
  2. A statutory care leaver, care experienced (Scotland), or estranged from your family
  3. Starting or studying your first undergraduate degree
  4. Eligible for UK home fee status
  5. Applying to one of the Unite Foundation’s partner universities (see ‘Where you can study’)

If it’s handy to print something out to pass on to someone you know, to let them know about the scholarship, you can download and print the information leaflet below – or you can just pass on the link to this page!

Unite Foundation Scholarship Information

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Where you can study

Aberdeen
Robert Gordon University

Bath
Bath Spa University

Birmingham
Aston University

Bournemouth
Bournemouth University

Bristol
University of the West of England (UWE)
University of Bristol

Edinburgh
Edinburgh Napier University
University of Edinburgh

Glasgow
University of Strathclyde
Glasgow Caledonian University

Leeds
Leeds Beckett University

Leicester
De Montfort University

Liverpool
Liverpool John Moores University

London
Kingston University
Brunel University London
Queen Mary University of London
University of Westminster
King’s College London
London Metropolitan University
University College London (UCL)

Manchester
University of Salford
Manchester Metropolitan University

Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth

Sheffield
Sheffield Hallam University
University of Sheffield

Students starting their first year in 2024 can apply for any of the above university partners plus:

Canterbury Christ Church University

Imperial College London

Northumbria University

University of Winchester

How to apply

If you’d like to join the scholarship in September 2024, applications are now open!

You can apply to join the scholarship if you are planning to go to university this year or if you are already there. Before you start your application, download and have a good read through the application guidance documentation below to make sure you have everything you need.

If you’re starting your degree this year, download the guidance for 1st years.

If you’re already at university, download the guidance for existing students.

The deadline for applications is 23.59 on 14th June 2024.

Apply using the online application form here.

1st Year Student Guidance

View

Existing Student Guidance

View

How many places are there?

There are 95 places available on the scholarship in September 2024.

This is great, of course, but education is for everyone.

Last year the Unite Foundation released a report demonstrating the impact of the scholarship

It tells us:

+ Unite Foundation students stay on course
Students on the Unite Foundation scholarship progressed from 1st to 2nd year of study at the same rate as non-care leaver students

+ Unite Foundation students get their degrees
Students on the Unite Foundation scholarship completed their degree closer to the rate of non-care leavers

+ Unite Foundation students get ‘good honours’ degrees
Students on the Unite Foundation scholarship were within 3 percentage points of non-care leaver students in getting 1st or 2:1 class degrees

The Unite Foundation’s vision is that a free #HomeAtUniversity is provided for all estranged and care experienced students as standard support across all UK universities.

Let’s make this vision a reality.

Right click on the image below to download. Help us spread the word that a free #HomeAtUniversity works, and that all estranged and care experienced students should have one. If your university would like to speak to the Unite Foundation about how to do it, Fiona Ellison is the person to contact.

Our community

We come from all over the UK and many of us will be studying in the same cities, universities or living in the same student accommodation. Students on the scholarship run the This is Us social media accounts (see the links at the top of this page), keep this website up to date and get involved in campaigns, through paid work placements. If this sounds like your thing, get in touch with Beki – rebecca.rymsza@unitefoundation.org.uk, it’s a great opportunity to stretch your network and boost your CV.

You can also join in with All of Us, the community for ALL estranged and care experienced students across the UK. This is a community for any student who identifies as estranged or care experienced. Find out more at AllofUs.uk, there may be events or meet ups near you and you can join the community online – it’s safe, sociable and is a great place to make connections, share info, arrange meet ups and more!

We’re all united by our flag – co-designed by estranged and care experienced students  – the colours represent our whole diverse and dynamic community and are flanked by the symbol of equality.

You can download and print your own flag here.