Care Leaver Bursary and Student Finance UK 2026

Many local authorities in England provide a one-off Higher Education Bursary for care leavers going into higher education, commonly up to £2,000 (exact amounts and eligibility rules vary by local authority, since it is a locally-administered scheme, not a single national scheme with identical terms everywhere), intended to help with the additional costs of starting university without family financial support to fall back on.

Generally, anyone who was looked after by a local authority (in foster care, residential care, or another care arrangement) for a defined period, commonly at least 13 weeks including some time after their 14th birthday, and who has since left care. Exact eligibility criteria for specific bursaries and support schemes can vary, so check both your local authority's specific policy and your university's own care leaver support offer.

Yes — care leavers are automatically treated as independent students for Maintenance Loan assessment purposes, meaning the loan is calculated without reference to any parental or foster carer income, since a care leaver by definition does not have the same ongoing parental financial relationship assumed for most other students.

Many universities guarantee care leavers access to university accommodation during holiday periods (when many student halls would otherwise close), recognising that care leavers often have no family home to return to during closures. This is typically arranged directly with the university's student support or accommodation team, rather than through the local authority bursary itself.

Some local authorities and universities offer additional discretionary hardship funds, dedicated care leaver support workers, mentoring, and sometimes small ongoing grants or vacation support, on top of the one-off bursary — provision varies significantly, so it is worth asking both your local authority's leaving care team and your chosen university's student support service what specifically is on offer, since neither system alone captures the full picture.

Yes, generally — local authorities are required to provide continued support (including a Personal Adviser) to eligible care leavers up to a certain age (commonly 25 if in education), which can include support around applying for the bursary, liaising with the university, and helping navigate the wider student finance system.

Some local authorities and charities provide support toward application-related costs (travel to open days, UCAS fees) for care leavers considering higher education, recognising these upfront costs can be a barrier before any bursary or student finance is actually received — ask your Personal Adviser or a relevant care leaver education charity about what pre-application support might be available.

Yes — each devolved nation runs its own care leaver support framework and student finance system, with different specific bursary amounts, eligibility ages, and support structures. If you are a care leaver in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, check the specific national and local schemes that apply to you rather than assuming England's arrangements apply directly.

Applications are usually made through your local authority's leaving care team (often via your Personal Adviser) once you have accepted a university place, alongside your standard UCAS and student finance applications. Applying as early as possible after accepting your place, and keeping your Personal Adviser informed of your plans well before results day, helps ensure the bursary and any accommodation support are arranged in time for the start of term.