Widening Participation Bursary for Independent Students who are Care Leavers or Estranged (Foyer and Care Leavers Bursary)

Foyer and Care Leavers Bursary

You get up to about 1,750 EUR per year (up to £1,500) for the full length of your undergraduate degree at the University of Warwick, as long as you stay eligible. You do not have to pay this money back. You can combine it with two other Warwick awards if you also qualify: the income-based Warwick Bursary (up to about 2,900 EUR / £2,500 a year) and the Warwick Scholars Bursary (up to about 2,350 EUR / £2,000 a year). On top of the cash you get one named contact in Warwick's Widening Participation team for one-to-one help before and during your studies.

Who can apply

• University: You are starting an undergraduate degree at the University of Warwick in autumn 2025.
• Your situation: You are either a care leaver or estranged from your parents. You count as a care leaver if you are 16 to 25 and spent at least 13 weeks in the care of a local authority since turning 14, including some time after your 16th birthday. Foster care, a children's home, a supervision order at home or kinship/guardianship care all count. You count as estranged if you are under 25 and have had no contact with both parents for at least 12 months, with no likely change.
• Independent status: Student Finance England (or the equivalent body in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland) has assessed you as an independent student for the reason above.
• Fees: You qualify for UK/Home tuition fees.
• Field of study: Any subject.

How to apply

Apply to Warwick through UCAS and mark your care-experienced or estranged status on the form. Ask your referee to confirm it in your reference. Separately, apply to Student Finance as an independent student. Care leavers need a supporting letter from their local authority. Once you hold an offer, the Widening Participation team contacts you to check your evidence. There is no interview and no competition: the bursary depends only on your status.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is not a contest. If you meet the conditions (care leaver or estranged, confirmed independent-student status and UK/Home fees), you receive it. Nobody ranks you against other applicants. The main thing is the paperwork, so sort your Student Finance independent-student assessment and any local-authority letter early.