Supporting our diverse community
Care leavers and estranged students
Specialist support and information for Care Leavers and Estranged Students.
/prod01/yorksjacuk/media/content-assets/safe-images/1600-x-1000/Students-on-Campus-April-2024-25.jpg)
At York St John we are committed to supporting students who are Care Leavers or estranged from their families.
We provide support throughout the whole of your journey, from application to graduation, to ensure you get the most out of your University experience.
Who we support
Care Leavers
A Care Leaver is any home undergraduate student under the age of 25 who has been in care for at least 13 weeks and was in care on their 16th birthday. This includes those under kinship or guardianship care as well.
Estranged Students
An Estranged Student is any home undergraduate student under the age of 25 who is irreconcilably estranged from their parents and has no verbal or written communication with either parent, and where this situation is unlikely to change.
How we support you
Application process
Talk to a Specialist Support Adviser
We understand that as a Care Leaver or estranged young person you may have questions or concerns before you arrive at university. You can contact our dedicated team of Specialist Support Advisers at any point in the application process to help with any concerns you may have: specialistsupport@yorksj.ac.uk.
We offer a number of Open Days and Decision Days throughout the year. Our Specialist Support team are available at all of these events to answer your queries.
If you are unable to attend any of these events you can also join a current student for an in-person campus tour. If you would like to meet with a Specialist Support Advisor when you attend your campus tour you can contact the team at specialistsupport@yorksj.ac.uk to arrange this.
Contextual Offer Scheme
Our Contextual Offer Scheme looks at more than your academic grades to make sure you get the chance that you deserve.
If you have spent time in care and indicated this on your UCAS application it will be taken into account and you may receive a reduced offer.
More details on the points offered and the courses covered by the scheme can be found on our website or by contacting admissions@yorksj.ac.uk.
Student finance, scholarships, and bursaries
Student finance
As a Care Leaver or Estranged Student you can apply for independent student status when you apply for your maintenance loan with Student Finance England or an equivalent organisation. This will allow you to access the maximum amount of maintenance loan.
You will be asked to provide evidence of your Care Leaver status or estrangement and our Specialist Support Advisers can help you identify appropriate evidence and complete any necessary forms.
Scholarships
Care Leavers and Estranged Students are also eligible for one of our YSJ Scholarships. These are £800 for each year of undergraduate study. This assessment will be made as part of your student funding application, and you will not need to provide any further information to us or apply for these scholarships.
From September 2025 onwards we will also be offering Scholarships Plus, a range of range of support and opportunities for scholarship recipients to further increase the positive impact of our scholarships.
Bursaries
The Find Your Future bursary scheme is open to recipients of our Care Leavers and Estranged Student Scholarships and is worth £500 for each year of study. This bursary is designed to encourage you to take those first steps in considering how to enhance your CV, add to your transferable skills or just get involved in something new.
To be eligible for this bursary, you must be under the age of 25. You must have been assessed as independent and recognised as either a Care Leaver or estranged by Student Finance England or an equivalent organisation.
You do not need to apply for this bursary. Instead you just need to attend an appointment with one of our Careers or Opportunities staff and then complete a short survey. Your funds will be paid to you in 1 instalment once we receive your completed survey, and you are not tied to how you spend these funds. Eligible students will be contacted at the start of Semester 2 with information about how to book an appointment.
Ongoing support
Accommodation
Both Care Leavers and Estranged Students are guaranteed University accommodation all year round if you need it.
You will also be prioritised if you are unable to access to a guarantor and choose to return to University accommodation after your first year.
1 to 1 support
We provide dedicated 1 to 1 support for Care Leavers and Estranged Students.
You can arrange regular meetings to discuss your individual situation and our Advisers can signpost you to further specialist support both within the University and beyond.
Global opportunities
Undertaking extracurricular opportunities abroad, whether international volunteering, summer camps or completing a study abroad placement, is an enriching opportunity and can enhance your employability skills.
Care Leavers and Estranged Students can receive Turing funding to help with the costs of undertaking a global opportunity.
Book an appointment
Meet with one of our dedicated advisers using the booking link below.
The lead Specialist Support Adviser for Care Leavers and Estranged Students is Anna Deacon.
