Unite Foundation Scholarship

What the Unite Foundation Scholarship gives you

You get a free furnished en-suite bedroom in a student hall run by Unite Students, for up to three years of your undergraduate degree. This is accommodation, not a cash payment. You pay no rent, no bills and no deposit, and you need no guarantor. Electricity, heating, water and WiFi are all included. You keep the room for all 52 weeks of the year, including Christmas and summer, so you never move out during the holidays. You share a communal kitchen with other students. You can even stay the summer after you graduate to plan your next step. The Unite Foundation team also runs events and offers job opportunities. The scholarship comes from the Unite Foundation, a charity set up by student-housing company Unite Students, and is offered here at the University of Edinburgh.

Who can apply

• Your background: You are a care leaver, care experienced (in Scotland, this means you were looked after by a local authority at any point from age 16), or estranged from your family (no contact with both parents).
• University: You are applying to, or already studying at, the University of Edinburgh.
• Study stage: This is your first and only undergraduate degree. Foundation years, second degrees, repeat years and master's studies do not count.
• Age: You are 25 or under on 1 September 2026.
• Fee status: You have UK home-fee status. International students cannot apply.
• Student finance: You get, or are applying for, student finance from your regional funding body, such as Student Finance England or SAAS in Scotland.

How to apply

You apply online through the Unite Foundation's application portal and upload evidence of your care or estrangement status. The University of Edinburgh then confirms parts of your eligibility. The window for the 2026/27 cycle has closed. Applications for the 2027/28 cycle open on 1 January 2027.

How realistic are your chances?

Only 70 places are shared across 22 partner universities each year, and the scheme is heavily oversubscribed: in a recent cycle around 400 eligible people applied for those 70 rooms. Selection is not based on grades but on keeping a balance between care-experienced and estranged students across the network, so meeting the criteria does not guarantee a place. If you clearly fit the strict conditions, apply as early in the window as you can and make sure your evidence is complete.