Young Adult Carers

A young adult carer is a young person under the age of 25 at enrolment who cares unpaid for a family member or friend with an illness or disability, mental health condition or an addiction.  

Financial Support

Young adult carers who enrol at Kingston University and have been assessed as 'home' for fee purposes are eligible to receive a non-repayable young adult carer bursary of £500 per progressive year of study, as well as priority for the Kingston Bursary if all of the criteria are met. 

Specialist Support

Our dedicated and experienced KU Cares team will be available to support you through your application, enrolment, your time at University and beyond. The team are a single point of contact, and can provide you with opportunities at the University that will fit around your studies and caring responsibilities. These currently include placements at the University and paid work via our Student Ambassador scheme.

Accommodation

Young Adult Carers will be given priority for accommodation in our Halls of Residence and can be accommodated short or long term. Young adult carers are also eligible for our fee waiver scheme for Halls of Residence.

Verification and Eligibility

In order to be eligible for this support you will need to apply for the Compact Scheme (see below) and provide us with verification of your status from one of the following: a carers network, local authority, a professional such as a GP or teacher; or evidence of support for the person you are caring for, such as Disability Support Allowance etc.

Compact Scheme

As a Young Adult Carer you will automatically become a member of the Compact Scheme. The scheme is exclusive to Kingston University students and offers an enhanced package of support and advice, as well as a single point of contact from pre-application to graduation.

What do I do next?

• Register your interest by applying for KU Cares (please ensure you tick the box declaring that you are a Young Adult Carer)