Student Wellbeing Services
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UK Students - Government Undergraduate Funding
Care Leavers
Have you been in care and want to find out the funding available to you to attend University?
Funding can come from three main sources:
1) The Government
There is a range of funding available to students who wish to attend University. For information see: http://www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance
You need to submit a letter from your social worker with your Government funding application form. This will act as official evidence of your independent status. See the Government fact sheet
2) Your intended University
In addition to Government funding Universities usually offer a range of financial awards. At Lancaster these include:
- Bursary for life, living and learning - this is a combined package consisting of The National Scholarship Programme and a Lancaster Bursary.
- Scholarships - based on academic talent.
For further details please see: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/fees-and-bursaries/
If you have been in a Foyer - there may also be a specific bursary from the Access to Learning Fund (Foyer Bursary) to help with the cost of summer time accommodation, see: http://www.lusi.lancs.ac.uk/funding/Detail.aspx?AwardID=26
3) Your local council authority
They may offer additional funding to help with accommodation and/or tuition fee costs, so that you do not need Government (fee or living cost) loans. Help varies between local education departments so contact your local education department directly for information. Find details here:http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/Localcouncils/index.htm
New - from 22/08/09 a HE Bursary is payable by the local authority to care leavers who started a course on or after 1st September 2008. The bursary is non-taxable and will be disregarded in the income assessment for Government student support.
Useful resources
The Care Leavers Association - http://www.careleavers.com/acessingeducation
Frank Buttle Trust - http://www.buttletrust.org/grant_aid/students_and_trainees_grants/
Foyer Federation - http://www.foyer.net
