Skip to content

Support for care experienced and estranged students

It can be daunting to come to university without the support of a family network. If you're a care experienced or estranged student, we can offer you targeted support. We'll do our best to help you succeed during your time at NTU.

Welcome events

This year we will be holding our annual Care Experienced and Estranged Student Welcome event on 30th September. This is a great opportunity to grab a bite to eat, meet fellow care experienced and estranged students, hear more about the support and opportunities available to you and ask any questions you have to our Independent Student Ambassadors, Estranged and Care Leaver Society reps and specialist NTU staff. You will also receive your exclusive welcome pack at this event.

We will send you an email in early September inviting you to the event, but you can find out more now by heading to the Welcome website or by emailing welcome@ntu.ac.uk.

Applying to NTU

You will see on our course pages that we also make contextual offers to eligible applicants. Contextual offers are issued up to two grades lower than our standard entry criteria but may also be unconditional for a course that requires a portfolio/interview.

Applicants who are care experienced or are estranged from their families are guaranteed a contextual offer from NTU. As we receive this information from UCAS, you don’t have to do anything extra to receive a contextual offer and we will automatically make these to eligible applicants.

More information on our entry requirements can be found on the NTU course pages and in our Admissions Policy.

Applying to start in September 2025

Clearing is your chance to apply for an undergraduate course after you've received your exam results, or if you haven't already applied through UCAS. Clearing opens on Saturday 5 July 2025, but you may be able to apply to NTU now.

Applying to start in September 2026

You’ll find the latest information, entry requirements and course details on our course webpages and study pages.  You can also order our 2026 study guide to get a flavour of what it’s like to be a part of NTU.

You can now register with UCAS and start your application.  Completed applications can be submitted from 2 September.

Student Support Advisers

We can provide practical advice, information and support if you're estranged from your parents and/or you've spent time in:

  • foster care
  • residential care
  • arrangements outside of family.

Our Student Support Advisers can:

  • provide information and signposting
  • coordinate support
  • deliver support on a range of wellbeing, practical and study-related issues
  • help you arrange accommodation in our halls of residence over the summer.

If you'd like this support, complete our Support and wellbeing referral form.

We'll invite students who are eligible for the NTU Care Leaver and Foyer Resident Bursary to a transition support meeting.

Students, or third parties acting with the consent of a student, can get support using our Support and wellbeing referral form.

Money matters

After 14th August, once university places are confirmed, one of our money advisers will contact you to check:

  • The progress of your student finance application and whether you need any advice or information on next steps (If you’re still in the early stages of applying for your student finance, they can advise on evidencing your estrangement or time in care)
  • Whether you're receiving all the money you're entitled to
  • If you need any 1:1 advice on budgeting and managing your money while you’re at university

There are also bursaries and other support available. These include the following:

NTU Care Leaver and Foyer Resident Bursary and NTU Estranged Student Bursary

These are awards of £1,000 per year,  to help with living costs for eligible care leavers and estranged students who start at NTU in 2025. The University awards a bursary if you are under 25 and your Student Finance service assesses you as independent on the grounds of being a care leaver or estranged from your parents. If your Student Finance service hasn't classed you as independent on these grounds but you meet the criteria for either of these bursaries, contact us.

NTU Bursary and NTU Opportunity Bursary for 2025 entry

These are cash bursaries of £750 and £170 per year. They're available to eligible full-time UK home undergraduate students.

NTU Care Leaver Accommodation Scholarship for 2025 entry

This competitive scholarship will provide 20 eligible care leavers with FREE University/UPP accommodation during their first year of study.

NTU Undergraduate Support Fund

The NTU Undergraduate Support Fund is an amount of money provided by the University. It offers financial assistance during the academic year and is available to eligible UK home undergraduate students who have a shortfall between their income and outgoings. Care experienced and estranged students are priority groups to receive this support.

Get money ready for NTU

Starting university is exciting, but understanding your finances can feel overwhelming. That’s where we come in!

Money Ready for NTU is a free online workshop designed to help you prepare for student life with confidence. Run by NTU’s Student Money Team, this session is all about giving you the essential info (and some handy tips) to make your money go further.

Choose a session that suits you:

Accommodation

Priority Accommodation for Care-Experienced Students

If you’re a care-experienced student, you’ll be given priority for a place in campus accommodation - no matter your course or year of study. You may also be eligible for 365-day accommodation in NTU/UPP halls, with no need for a guarantor. Applications open each spring, and you’re encouraged to apply whether your course offer is conditional or unconditional. If you’re care-experienced, estranged, or at risk of becoming estranged, we’re here to support you. A dedicated member of our team is available to guide you through the process and answer any questions. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch - we’re here to help.

Guaranteed first year accommodation in Nottingham

If you're an undergraduate or postgraduate applicant at NTU, your first year of accommodation in Nottingham is guaranteed. Your offer may include NTU-owned, partner, and private accommodation. The offer covers all new full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students. Terms and conditions apply.

Housing Hand guarantor service

NTU has partnered with Housing Hand to provide guarantor services for students who would otherwise struggle to provide a UK guarantor. NTU students who follow the above link will receive a discounted rate for their guarantor fee. Please note, you do not need to provide a guarantor for NTU or UPP accommodation.

The NTU Care Leaver Accommodation Scholarship will provide 20 care leavers with FREE University/UPP accommodation during their first year of study.

You can apply for this competitive scholarship if you meet the following criteria:

  • You will be under the age of 25 on 1st September 2025, and
  • You have an unconditional or conditional offer to study a full-time undergraduate course at Nottingham Trent University, commencing in September 2025 and have accepted NTU as your firm (first) choice,  and
  • Your chosen course will lead to an Undergraduate Degree, Foundation Degree, Certificate of Higher Education, Higher National Diploma or Higher National Certificate, and
  • You have been
    • in the care of a local authority in the UK at some point since the age of 16, or
    • looked after by relatives who have a court order to do so, at some point since the age of 16, or
    • a foyer resident in the UK.

You cannot apply for this scholarship if your Local Authority Leaving Care Service is paying your full accommodation costs during the 2025/26 academic year.

If you meet all the above criteria, you should complete this NTU Care Leaver Accommodation Scholarship Application Form and submit it by the deadline on Friday 4th July 2025.  Check out the application guidance notes.

What happens after I’ve submitted my application?

  • Scholarship offers will be sent to successful applicants during week commencing  21 July
  • Scholarship acceptances must be returned by 27 July
  • Rooms will be allocated during August

If you have any specific accommodation requirements as a result of a disability or long-term medical condition, you should contact the Student Accommodation Service as soon as possible to discuss your needs and get further advice.

If you have any questions about applying for this scholarship, please contact the Student Money Team.

Employability support

Care experienced and estranged students have access to dedicated specialists in the NTU Employability team. Part of NTU’s Employability team, Rise aims to ensure all students, regardless of their circumstances, have fair access to opportunities whilst at NTU. Rise provides a range of employability initiatives, opportunities, and advice tailored to students from a variety of different backgrounds. Our care experienced and estranged students form part of our targeted Rise offer, and we offer the following support:

  • Exclusive events and opportunities. These are available throughout the academic year for eligible students.  Keep a look out for more information on Rise bulletins you will be sent throughout the year and on our Rise webpages
  • A two-day placement support programme for second year undergraduates called the Rise PLAN. This helps to boost confidence and resilience in seeking and securing placement opportunities. Information will be sent about the programme via email.
  • Dedicated communications to Rise students. Our termly Rise bulletins help maximise engagement with the opportunities and support available.

Your health and wellbeing

Our wellbeing service is here to help you tackle whatever issues you might encounter. It's a safe space to talk about your personal, emotional and psychological concerns, as well as accessing specialist advice and guidance.

Student Health and Wellbeing Services

You may also be interested in

Disability and Inclusion Services

Whatever your individual needs, circumstances and identity, we’ll work hard to make sure you get the support you need here at NTU.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

NTU is committed to sustaining an inclusive learning and working environment, which is enriched by diversity, values differences and promotes fairness, respect and equality of opportunity. Learn about our commitments to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and classroom.