Care leaver support
Find out more about the support on offer for care leavers and care-experienced students at Kingston University. Get help with finance, accommodation and more.
Who are care leavers?
If you’ve spent time in local authority care, there’s plenty of help available to support you through your student journey here at Kingston.
You’re a care leaver if:
- You’re aged 25 or under when you enrol onto a Kingston University undergraduate degree programme
- You’ve spent time in local authority care, and qualify for support from the local authority until you turn 25
What support is available?
If you’re a care leaver at Kingston University and have been assessed as a 'home' student for fee purposes, you are eligible for:
- A non-repayable KU Cares bursary of £1,500 per progressive year of study.
- Priority for the Kingston Bursary, if you meet all the criteria.
If you’re a care-experienced student, we encourage you to:
- Chat to our KU Cares Advisors, who can direct you to welfare advisers for financial guidance and support.
As a care leaver or care-experienced student you’ll get:
- A priority place in halls
- Access to 365-day accommodation after your first year (where available, and as long as you meet the conditions in the halls licence agreement)
- Guidance for living in private accommodation
- Signposting to relevant services for comprehensive housing advice
If you’re a care leaver student, when you graduate, you’ll get:
- free gown hire
- a photography package
- two guest tickets
- a £1,000 graduation bursary
- an 'outduction' meeting with the KU Cares team.
We encourage care-experienced students to apply for the Graduation Support Fund, if you meet all the criteria.
You can also go to an 'outduction' to help you plan your next steps after university.
Our KU Cares team will support your student journey from application to graduation.
They will advocate for you at University and within your external support network.
KU Cares also runs at least three café drop-ins every year. These small, relaxed sessions are the perfect chance to get one-to-one support and meet students with similar experiences.
Memberships and accreditations
We have been awarded the NNECL quality mark, demonstrating our support for care-experienced students.
We are a proud signatory of the Care Leaver Covenant, which provides additional support for those leaving care.
Am I eligible for support?
You’re eligible for support if you are:
- Aged 25 or under at the time of enrolment
- Assessed as a ‘home' student by the University
- Enrolled on an undergraduate course or a PGCE
- Eligible for the full maintenance loan from Student Finance
- Able to provide evidence that you have spent time in care and continue to be supported by your local authority. That could be a letter from your social worker or personal adviser.
How to apply for support
Send your evidence letter, along with any questions you have, to [email protected]. Someone from the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
More support
Here are other ways we support care leavers and care-experienced students.
You'll also find some useful resources.
Our KU Cares team will support your student journey from application to graduation. They will advocate for you at university and within your local authority.
We also run at least three KU Cares café drop-ins every year. These small, relaxed sessions are the perfect chance to get face-to-face support and meet students with similar experiences.
The following organisations support care leavers and care-experienced students in their journey to higher education:
There will be many opportunities for you to get involved at Kingston University. Here are a few examples:
- Become a Student Ambassador. Visit our student life page to find out more.
- View and book hundreds of university events via KUextra
- Join our Beyond Barriers Mentoring Scheme
Get in touch
Email our KU Cares team for more information on any aspect of our support for care leavers and care-experienced students.
The team can also offer guidance for people working with care leavers and care-experienced young people, and advise local authorities and virtual schools.
