De Montfort University - Care Leavers Bursary

DMU Care Leavers' Bursary

Throughout your Bachelor’s degree, you will receive £1,000 cash per year (about 1,150 EUR), paid by De Montfort University (DMU) in Leicester. These payments will continue even if you take a break from your studies. In your final year of study, you may also be eligible to receive a DMU Final Year Award of £1,000 (about 1,150 EUR), subject to certain conditions. Together with the additional support provided by DMU for former residential students, the total package can amount to up to £4,000 (approximately 4,600 EUR).

Who can apply

• University: You are studying at De Montfort University itself, rather than at one of its partner universities.
• Enrolment: You are studying full-time on an eligible Bachelor’s degree programme.
• Fees: You pay the tuition fees in full.
• Home student: You are a student from the UK (domestic). International students are not eligible to apply.
• Care leaver status: You must have spent at least 13 weeks in the care of a UK local authority after your 14th birthday, as well as at least one day after your 16th birthday. Your local authority must confirm this.
• Timing: You’re coming straight from a career in nursing to university.

How to apply

If you are applying to a university via UCAS, tick the box asking whether you have spent time in care. DMU’s ‘Transitions Team’ will then contact you to assess your eligibility. To apply for the scholarship, please submit a letter from your social worker or personal adviser confirming your status as a former care leaver. The team will arrange an appointment with you during the first semester of your first year of study. There is no specific application deadline.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is not a competition. It is awarded to all former children in care from the UK who are studying full-time at DMU and can provide evidence of their status as a former child in care; there is therefore no ranking based on grades or marks. If you meet the definition of a former care leaver and submit the letter of confirmation, you will receive the scholarship. The greatest risk is failing to provide the necessary evidence, not competing against others. You should therefore contact the Transitions Team at an early stage and ask your social worker to issue the letter.