University undergraduates studying in the Monica Partridge building. Friday November 5th 2021.Cole Pearce; Sara Bintey Kabir (yellow top); Zoe Markham-Lee (ponytail) and Khaqan Khan (red jumper).

Care experienced and estranged bursary

For UK students who have been in care or are estranged from their family

This bursary has been introduced to provide additional financial support to students who are care experienced or estranged. This is a guaranteed bursary, meaning all students who meet the eligibility criteria will receive the funding.

You don't have to apply* for this bursary and you don't have to pay it back after you graduate. The funding is paid directly to your bank account in three instalments over the academic year for you to spend in any way you like to support your studies.

The amount you receive and the eligibility criteria for the bursary can differ based on your start date. For current students looking for specific details of their bursaries, please see the information below.

If you have any questions about this bursary or your eligibility, please contact us.

*Students may be contacted by the bursaries team to provide evidence confirming they meet the eligibility criteria.

Are you eligible?

Eligibility criteria explained

To receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary in the 2024/25 academic year, you must:

be registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course (or PGCE/Graduate Entry Nursing/Graduate Entry Medicine) at Nottingham which you commenced in September 2024/25
have a household income below £35,000 and had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance
have UK home status for funding purposes
be liable for the tuition fee set in 2024/25
be currently or have been in public care for a minimum period of three months, since your 14th Birthday; if you were under special guardianship or kinship care during this period may also qualify or you have been granted independent status by Student Finance England due to estrangement

However, you will not receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary if you are in receipt of:

other University of Nottingham scholarships or bursaries (excluding the University of Nottingham Core Bursary and University of Nottingham Accommodation Bursary)
an external sponsorship for their course, e.g. from industry/employers

Students in receipt of the Nottingham Potential Bursary will be able to claim £1,000 of the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary per year of study, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any award made on this basis will be at the discretion of the Financial Support Team.

How to claim your bursary

You don't need to apply* for the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary. Students who meet the eligibility criteria will be automatically assessed based on the information provided to us by Student Finance.

If you believe you are eligible for the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary and we have not contacted you by November, please contact us.

Once you have been assessed as eligible for the bursary, it will be paid directly to your bank account in three instalments over the academic year.

*Students may be contacted by the bursaries team to provide evidence confirming they meet the eligibility criteria.

What happens if my eligibility changes while at university?

Once you have been assessed as eligible, you will continue to receive the bursary, even if your current circumstances change.

If you believe your circumstances have changed while at university and you have become eligible based on the above criteria and we have not contacted you about this, please contact us.

Bursaries for current students

Bursary value: £2,000 per academic year (£1,000 per academic year, if in receipt of Nottingham Potential Bursary)

Eligibility criteria explained:

To receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary in the 2024/25 academic year, you must:

be registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course (or PGCE/Graduate Entry Nursing/Graduate Entry Medicine) at Nottingham which you commenced in September 2024/25
have a household income below £35,000 and had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance
have UK home status for funding purposes
be liable for the tuition fee set in 2024/25
be currently or have been in public care for a minimum period of three months, since your 14th Birthday; if you were under special guardianship or kinship care during this period may also qualify or you have been granted independent status by Student Finance England due to estrangement

However, you will not receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary if you are in receipt of:

other University of Nottingham scholarships or bursaries (excluding the University of Nottingham Core Bursary and University of Nottingham Accommodation Bursary)
an external sponsorship for their course, e.g. from industry/employers

Students in receipt of the Nottingham Potential Bursary will be able to claim £1,000 of the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary per year of study, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any award made on this basis will be at the discretion of the Financial Support Team.

Bursary value: £2,000 per academic year (£1,000 per academic year, if in receipt of Nottingham Potential Bursary)

Eligibility criteria explained:

To receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary in the 2023/24 academic year, you must:

be registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course (or PGCE/Graduate Entry Nursing/Graduate Entry Medicine) at Nottingham which you commenced in September 2023/24
have a household income below £35,000 and had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance
have UK home status for funding purposes
be liable for the tuition fee set in 2023/24
be currently or have been in public care for a minimum period of three months, since your 14th Birthday; if you were under special guardianship or kinship care during this period may also qualify or you have been granted independent status by Student Finance England due to estrangement

However, you will not receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary if you are in receipt of:

other University of Nottingham scholarships or bursaries (excluding the University of Nottingham Core Bursary and University of Nottingham Accommodation Bursary)
an external sponsorship for their course, e.g. from industry/employers

Students in receipt of the Nottingham Potential Bursary will be able to claim £1,000 of the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary per year of study, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any award made on this basis will be at the discretion of the Financial Support Team.

Bursary value: £1000 per academic year

Eligibility criteria:

Be registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course (or PGCE/GEN/ 1st year GEM) at Nottingham which you commenced between September 2020 and September 2022
Have a household income below £25,000 as assessed by Student Finance England
Be currently or have been in public care for a minimum period of three months, since their 14th Birthday; students who are under special guardianship or kinship care during this period may also qualify or students who have been granted independent status by Student Finance England due to estrangement

However, you will not receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary if you are in receipt of:

other UoN Scholarships or bursaries (excluding the Core and Nottingham Potential Bursaries)
the £5,000 NHS Learning Support Fund Training Grant
an external sponsorship for their course, e.g. from industry/employers
substantial financial support from their Local Authority (more than the minimum one-off bursary of £2,000)
the NHSBSA Social Work Bursary

Exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any award made on this basis will be at the discretion of the Financial Support Team.

More funding options

See all

Scholarships and bursaries

Care experienced and estranged bursary

For UK students who have been in care or are estranged from their family

Scholarships and bursaries

Core Bursary

For students with a household income of less than £35,000 as assessed by student finance

Scholarships and bursaries

The Stoneygate Award

For academically able students who face or have overcome barriers to attend university

Scholarships and bursaries

Potential scholarships

To encourage potential in students from lower-income backgrounds or who have faced significant difficulties

Scholarships and bursaries

The Halford Scholarship Programme

For students showing strong academic ability who have overcome significant obstacles to their academic progression

Scholarships and bursaries

Local Scholarships

For students who live and/or attended school in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire or the wider East Midlands area

See all

Ask us anything

Our webpages contain detailed information about all processes in your student journey. Check them out alongside our student enquiry centre to find the information you need. If you’re still struggling, head to our help page where you can find details of how to contact us in-person and online.