Care-experienced students
Source: https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/access-edinburgh/edinburgh-cares/care-experienced Parent: https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/download-guide
If you are care experienced, Edinburgh Cares can help you with the university application process, and give you financial help and access to year-round accommodation if you need it.
Definition of care experienced
If you are care experienced, you may be or have been in the following:
- residential care
- foster care
- kinship care
- living at home with a supervision order
If you are adopted but you have been in local authority care, then we also define you as care experienced.
Apply with the minimum entry requirements
As a care-experienced student, 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.
Find entry requirements on our degree finder
If you live permanently in the UK, then we usually offer you a place on your chosen degree wherever this is possible.
Widening access offers information
Select the care experience box on your UCAS application
If you select this box and meet or are predicted to meet our academic requirements, our Admissions team will be in contact with you to confirm your type of care experience.
After this stage, Edinburgh Cares will be available to provide extra help to you as an applicant.
Apply for funding
There is extra financial support available for you as a care-experienced student.
But you first need to apply for funding from your government student finance provider, such as the following:
- SAAS (Student Awards Agency Scotland)
- Student Finance England
- Student Finance Northern Ireland
- Student Finance Wales
Edinburgh Cares can help you apply for funding.
Contact us by emailing edinburghcares@ed.ac.uk
If you live permanently in the UK
If you live permanently in the UK, then you are eligible for the Access Edinburgh scholarship. 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.
If you don’t live permanently in the UK
If you don’t live permanently in the UK, you can still apply for financial support. The Scottish Government and the University offer a fund to help with living costs at university, but you will need to meet the requirements and accept the conditions to access this money.
Financial support for students facing unexpected circumstances
Apply for accommodation
University accommodation
As a care-experienced student, you will be guaranteed year-round University accommodation for every year of your degree programme. Edinburgh Cares can provide you with more information.
University accommodation options
Contact us by emailing edinburghcares@ed.ac.uk
Private student accommodation
You can also apply for an accommodation scholarship from the Unite Foundation to live in private student accommodation for three years of study (there are a limited number of scholarships available).
You will need to make sure you meet all the criteria for this accommodation award and apply by the deadline.
Unite Foundation Student Awards information
When you’re a 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.
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.
Mentoring
Throughout your degree, you can take part in our staff mentoring programme which allows you to meet with a trained member of staff on a one-to-one basis. This person can give you guidance on the wider university experience.
Contact the Edinburgh Cares team
Edinburgh Cares
Contact details
- Email: 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
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This article was published on 2025-03-03