# Student carers

**Source**: https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/access-edinburgh/edinburgh-cares/student-carers
**Parent**: https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/download-guide

If you give unpaid care to a family member, guardian or friend, Edinburgh Cares can help you with the university application process and find financial help.

## Definition of a student carer

As a student carer, you give emotional or practical care to someone who would not be able to look after themself otherwise. For instance, you may need to help someone for the following reasons:

- they have ill health (including mental health conditions)
- they have a disability
- they have an addiction

### What entry requirements to apply with

#### If you’ve completed a recognised bridging programme

If you’re a student carer and have completed a recognised bridging programme, then you meet the criteria for a Plus Flag widening access offer. This means we will consider your application if you have achieved or are predicted to achieve our minimum entry requirements, rather than our standard entry requirements.

[Recognised bridging programme details](https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/access-edinburgh/secondary-school-students/recognised-bridging-programmes)

[Find entry requirements on our degree finder](https://study.ed.ac.uk/programmes)  

If you live permanently in the UK, then we usually offer you a place on your chosen degree wherever this is possible.  

#### If you’ve not completed a recognised bridging programme

If you have not completed a recognised bridging programme, then we will assess your application using the standard entry requirements criteria and consider your application under the University’s challenging circumstances policy.

To allow us to do this, you must include information about your circumstances in your UCAS application.

[Widening access offers information](https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/access-edinburgh/widening-access-offers)

[Challenging circumstances information](https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/access-edinburgh/widening-access-offers/challenging-circumstances)

## Apply for funding

Depending on your household income, you may have access to extra financial support from the University.

But you first need to apply for funding from your government student finance provider, such as the following:

- [SAAS (Student Awards Agency Scotland)](https://www.saas.gov.uk/)
- [Student Finance England](https://www.gov.uk/student-finance)
- [Student Finance Northern Ireland](https://www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/)
- [Student Finance Wales](https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/)

Edinburgh Cares can help you apply for funding.

[Contact us by emailing edinburghcares@ed.ac.uk](mailto:edinburghcares@ed.ac.uk)

### If you live permanently in the UK

If you live permanently in the UK, then you might be eligible for the Access Edinburgh scholarship, depending on your household income.

This scholarship will give you money every year of your degree programme to help cover your costs. You do not need to pay this money back after you graduate.

[Access Edinburgh scholarship](https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/undergraduate/uk-eu/access-awards/access-edinburgh)

## When you’re a University student

While you’re a student at the University, you will have access to a student advisor, wellbeing advisor and a cohort lead in your academic school. They will be able to provide you with academic and pastoral advice and guidance throughout your studies. Contact details will be provided by your academic school.

### Access to health and wellbeing services

If you need to use any health and wellbeing services, we can guide you to the right place to find help.

[Health and wellbeing services](https://www.ed.ac.uk/students/health-wellbeing)

### Social groups

We can help connect you with other students so you can make new friends at the University.

Edinburgh Cares organise social events to help you feel part of our community. In the past, our team has organised attending Edinburgh Fringe Festival shows, day trips to the beach and theatre trips. A wide range of clubs and student-led societies open to all students might be of interest to you as well.

[University sports clubs](https://www.eusu.ed.ac.uk/clubs/)

[University society groups](https://www.eusa.ed.ac.uk/activities/societies)

## Contact the Edinburgh Cares team

### Edinburgh Cares

#### Contact details

- Email:
  [edinburghcares@ed.ac.uk](mailto:edinburghcares@ed.ac.uk)

#### Availability

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm UK time

## Contact us through an online sign language interpreter

British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact the University of Edinburgh via Contact Scotland BSL, the online British Sign Language video relay interpreting service.

[Find out more on the Contact Scotland BSL website](http://contactscotland-bsl.org/device-direct/)

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This article was published on
2025-03-03