Estranged and care experienced students

Support for Care Leavers and Estranged Students

The Intercollegiate Halls Support for Care Leavers and Estranged Students Policy offers the following guarantees to eligible students, in addition to the pastoral support available to all Intercollegiate Halls residents:

• Priority on our Intercollegiate Halls accommodation waiting list, if you are still seeking accommodation on or after 1st September. Please note that having priority on the waiting list cannot guarantee you a place, but it does make it more likely that you will be offered accommodation in the Intercollegiate Halls. If you wish to be considered for a priority place on the waiting list, you will need to apply in the usual way to get your name on the list, and then email residential.life@london.ac.uk to let us know that you have done so.

• A telephone call from the Warden at your Intercollegiate Hall, up to two weeks before you arrive, to answer any questions that you may have.

• The option to pay the deposit for your accommodation in three manageable instalments, with a deadline of final payment by the Friday immediately prior to your arrival.

• The option for early arrival at your Intercollegiate Hall, (up to five days before arrivals day, which usually falls on the second Sunday of September), free of charge, to help you settle into your new accommodation during a quieter period.

• Should you choose the option for early arrival, the Warden or a designated Resident Advisor will meet and greet you at the nearest underground station to your hall to help you find your hall and personally welcome you. This option must be arranged during the telephone call with the Warden to ensure that a member of the Warden’s Team is available to meet you. Please note that this option will not be available on the main arrivals day.

• A direct line of communication with the Student Health & Wellbeing Manager as an additional source of pastoral support and signposting to other services as appropriate.

• 365-day accommodation in an Intercollegiate Hall in your first year of full-time study (charged at the normal daily rate). This is a guarantee that you will be able to stay in an Intercollegiate Hall during the summer vacation.

• If required, 365-day accommodation in an Intercollegiate Hall for a further maximum of two years of full-time study (charged at the normal daily rate), subject to you having no outstanding debt to the University from the previous year(s).

Please see the full Policy for details and how to apply for these benefits.

Care Leavers & Estranged Student Scholarship

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

This Scholarship, a partnership between the University of London and the Unite Foundation, supports students who are care leavers, care experienced (Scotland), or estranged from their family.

We will provide, free of charge, a catered standard single study bedroom at Nutford House or a catered en-suite room at College Hall, commencing the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, for up to twelve full-time students, registered at one of the following University of London Member Institutions:

• Birkbeck, University of London
• City, University of London
• Goldsmiths, University of London
• London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
• School of Advanced Study, University of London (SAS)
• School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
• Royal Academy of Music (RAM)
• Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD)

University College London, Kings College London, and Queen Mary University London also partner with the Unite Foundation separately and you can get support for applying directly from them, to receive accommodation in their respective halls.

Please note that students from Member Institutions not listed above may have access to similar schemes operated by their Member Institution, so are directed to their Member Institution of study for further support.

Visit the Scholarship web page for more information, including how to apply.

Further resources

EaCES Handbook

The Estranged and Care Experienced Students (EaCES) Handbook is a brilliant resource created by current estranged and care experienced students. It offers practical support and guidance on everything from finances to relationships 

This is us

This is us is a student-led community space for estranged young people and care experienced students. It includes on online community on Mighty Networks, a podcast, blogs, and more.

Propel

At the Propel website, you can find out what support is available for care leavers and estranged students at the university or universities you re considering applying to. If you're already at university, this can also be a good first place to look for contact details of the person at your university who is responsible for supporting care leavers and estranged students.

Become

The Become Charity is for children in care and young care leavers. Alongside other services, they offer an advice line as well as free coaching sessions for care leavers up to the age of 27. 

Standalone

Advice centre for students who have no contact with their family. Find information about support, financing your studies and accommodation options.

For more information

Contact residential.life@london.ac.uk.