Funding for care leavers and estranged students
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Funding for care leavers and estranged students
Funding for Young Independent Students (YIS)
The University of East London (UEL) is proud to support students who have been in care or are estranged from their parents through our Young Independent Students (YIS) project.
Award Summary
Eligible students will receive a non-repayable cash award of £1,000. If you choose to live in university housing, you'll also get an additional £500 paid directly toward your rent, unless your rent is already covered by your local authority.
Eligibility
This award is for new and continuing home undergraduate students who have been in care, lived in a foyer, or are estranged from their parents.
To qualify, you must:
- Be a home student for fee purposes.
- Be studying full-time with fees of £9,790 per year.
- Be under 25 when you begin your course.
- Be receiving a Student Finance Maintenance Loan.
You will need to provide evidence of your care-leaver or estranged status.
How to apply
Please visit our Bursary Intranet page for more information and the application form.
If you require any further assistance or advice, please contact youngindependent@uel.ac.uk
Additional support
You may also be able to get a £2,000 grant from your local authority if you are a care leaver under 25 and in full-time undergraduate study. Some local authorities may also contribute to postgraduate studies. You can find contact details for your local authority by visiting their website.
For more information, contact our SMART team on 020 8223 4444 or log in to My Portal, ensuring you have your login details (email and password) to hand.
Funding for Young Independent Students (YIS) – FAQ
What is the YIS award and how much is it?
The Young Independent Students (YIS) award is a non-repayable £1,000 cash bursary for eligible care-experienced or estranged students.
Do I need to pay the YIS award back?
No. It’s a bursary, so you never repay it.
Who is eligible?
You must be a home undergraduate student, studying full-time, paying £9,790/year, under 25 when your course starts, and getting a maintenance loan.
Can postgraduate students apply?
No. YIS is undergraduate-only. Care leavers doing postgraduate courses should ask their local authority about support.
What evidence do I need?
Proof you lived in care/foyer in the year before UEL or that you are currently estranged.
Can I receive the YIS award alongside other bursaries or scholarships?
Yes, in most cases, the YIS award can be combined with other financial support such as UEL scholarships, government loans, or local authority grants.
What if I turn 25 after starting my course?
As long as you are under 25 when you begin your course, you will remain eligible for the YIS award throughout your undergraduate studies.
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