At NTU, we appreciate that it can be a daunting time coming to the University without the support of a family network. If you are an estranged student, we can offer you targeted support to help you succeed during your time at University. The term ‘estranged student’ in higher education is used to describe young people (under 25) who are studying without the support of their family and have no contact with their biological or adoptive parents / legal guardians and sometimes with their wider family.
To help us to identify you as an estranged student, we rely on you providing us with this information. You can do this by completing this short online form. Our Student Support Adviser Team will then be able to make contact with you to let you know about the support we can offer you. You can do this at any time from application or when you are on your course. This adviser will remain a supportive point of contact during your studies. If you have any questions about estrangement, please feel free to contact our Student Support Adviser Team.
Financial support
Our Student Financial Support Advisers can meet with you either before or during your time at University to check that you’re receiving all the money you’re entitled to and offer advice on budgeting and money management. Detailed below is some of the support we offer that you may be entitled to.
- NTU Estranged Student Bursary: we offer a £1000 bursary to help towards living costs for eligible full-time UK home undergraduate or foundation degree students who start their studies at NTU in 2021. Further details about the eligibility criteria for our bursary can be found following the link above.
- NTU Bursaries for 2021 entry: We will be awarding a cash bursary of £750 per year to eligible full-time UK home undergraduate degree or foundation degree students who start University in 2021. Further details about the eligibility criteria for NTU Bursary can be found following the link above.
- Money management workshops: Contact us to join our Money Ready for NTU Workshop and learn how to budget at university.
- Student Finance independent status: we can offer you support with applying for independent student status with your national student finance service to enable you to receive the maximum amount of maintenance loan. Many students can find the application process quite complicated so if you would like any support, then get in touch. You will need to meet the definition of an estranged student for student finance purposes - further details will be available on your national student finance website.
If you are an estranged student, and have any questions about coming to University or would like to know more about the support we offer, please contact our Student Support Adviser Team. You can do this at any stage, even before you have made an application to NTU.
You can also chat to current NTU students. Get honest answers about university life, accommodation and hear about current students' own experiences.
Open days
Having a University tour guide can help you to get the most out of our open days. Your guide will be able to take you to all the best spots around campus, answer any questions you have and ensure you are getting all the information you need about your course and university life.
Accommodation
For full-time undergraduate / foundation degree estranged students, NTU offers accommodation in halls of residence over vacation periods, so that you can remain living in your halls over summer.
You can also apply to return to halls in your second and final years if you wish.
If you’re struggling to find the cash for your accommodation deposit, we will cover the cost until your student loan has come through for NTU Accommodation.
Academic and wellbeing support
Our wellbeing services understand the challenges faced by estranged students and can provide useful tips to help build resilience and cope with life’s challenges.
There is a Student Support Adviser in each academic school who can offer practical, study-related and emotional support; they can also act as your key liaison point if you need support contacting your course team.
Further information about our range of wellbeing services for student as well as self-help tools and resources can be found on our wellbeing pages.
Careers and placement support
You will have a specialist contact within the Employability Team.
Your contact will help you access career consultants, job fairs and employability workshops.
There is also employability funding available for estranged students (subject to meeting eligibility criteria). Further details about opportunities can be found below:
- Rise work experience fund: To fund unpaid work experience for up to 4 weeks.
- Rise sandwich placement bursary: To fund the expenses of your sandwich placement.
- Rise progression fund: To support interview and assessment costs for final year students.
- Placement support programme: For second year undergraduate students to boost confidence and resilience in seeking and securing placements
- Future You Scheme: Job alerts, invitations to events, and career coaching for final year students. The scheme also offers 6-week fully paid graduate internship opportunities at NTU.
Contact us
- You can get in touch with us at any stage, even before you have made an application, contact us to find out more about what NTU has to offer.
- You can also chat to current NTU students. Get honest answers about university life, accommodation and hear about current students own experiences.
Stand Alone Pledge
NTU has committed to the Stand Alone Pledge. Further information about the work of the Stand Alone team can be found online.
