University undergraduates studying in the Monica Partridge building. Friday November 5th 2021.Cole Pearce; Sara Bintey Kabir (yellow top); Zoe Markham-Lee (ponytail) and Khaqan Khan (red jumper).

Care experienced and estranged bursary

For UK students who have been in care or are estranged from their family

Please scroll down for 2025 entry details

This bursary has been introduced to provide additional financial support to students who are care experienced or estranged. This is a guaranteed bursary, meaning all students who meet the eligibility criteria will receive the funding.

You don't have to apply* for this bursary and you don't have to pay it back after you graduate. The funding is paid directly to your bank account in three instalments over the academic year for you to spend in any way you like to support your studies.

The amount you receive and the eligibility criteria for the bursary can differ based on your start date. For current students looking for specific details of their bursaries, please see the information below.

If you have any questions about this bursary or your eligibility, please contact us.

*Students may be contacted by the bursaries team to provide evidence confirming they meet the eligibility criteria.

Are you eligible?

Eligibility criteria explained

To receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary in the 2024/25 academic year, you must:

be joining the university for the first time in September 2024
be under the age of 25 at the start of your course (1 September 2024)
be registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course (or PGCE/Graduate Entry Nursing/Graduate Entry Medicine) at Nottingham which you commenced in September 2024/25
have a household income between £0-£35,000 and had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance
have UK home status for funding purposes
be liable for the tuition fee set in 2024/25
be currently, or have been in public care for a minimum period of three months since your 14th birthday; if you were under special guardianship or kinship care during this period may also qualify or if you have been granted independent status by Student Finance England due to estrangement

However, you will not receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary if you are in receipt of:

other University of Nottingham scholarships or bursaries (excluding the University of Nottingham Core Bursary and University of Nottingham Accommodation Bursary)
an external sponsorship for your course, e.g. from industry/employers

Students in receipt of the Nottingham Potential Bursary will be able to claim £1,000 of the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary per year of study, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any award made on this basis will be at the discretion of the Financial Support Team.

Part-time students - The university offers financial support through the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary on a pro-rata basis for part-time undergraduate students from September 2024. You will need to have a means-tested assessment carried out by Student Finance (SF) in order for us to assess your eligibility for the bursary. Your award will depend on your household income taken from the SF assessment and the number of credits you are taking. Further information can be found on our web page 'Funding for part-time undergraduates'.

How to claim your bursary

You don't need to apply* for the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary. Students who meet the eligibility criteria will be automatically assessed based on the information provided to us by Student Finance.

If you believe you are eligible for the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary and we have not contacted you by November, please contact us.

Assessments will close for the 24/25 academic year on Friday 20 June 2025.

Once you have been assessed as eligible for the bursary, it will be paid directly to your bank account in three instalments over the academic year.

If you are experiencing difficulties in obtaining evidence for this bursary, please contact us before assessments close.

* Students may be contacted by the bursaries team to provide evidence confirming they meet the eligibility criteria.

What happens if my eligibility changes while at university?

Your circumstances will be assessed for the bursary each academic year to establish whether you will continue to receive the bursary (i.e. if your independent status due to estrangement is removed by Student Finance you will no longer be entitled to the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary).

If you believe your circumstances have changed while at university and you have become eligible based on the above criteria and we have not contacted you about this, please contact us.

Bursaries for current students

Bursary value: £2,000 per academic year (£1,000 per academic year, if in receipt of Nottingham Potential Bursary)

Eligibility criteria explained:

To receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary in the 2025/26 academic year, you must:

be joining the university for the first time in September 2025
be under the age of 25 at the start of your course (1st September 2025)
be registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course (or PGCE/Graduate Entry Nursing/Graduate Entry Medicine) at Nottingham which you commenced in September 2025/26
have a household income between £0-£35,000 and had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance
have UK 'Home' status for funding purposes and be liable for the tuition fee set in 2025/26
be currently or have been in public care for a minimum period of three months, since your 14th Birthday; if you were under special guardianship or kinship care during this period may also qualify or you have been granted independent status by Student Finance England due to estrangement

However, you will not receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary if you are in receipt of:

other University of Nottingham scholarships or bursaries (excluding the University of Nottingham Core Bursary and University of Nottingham Accommodation Bursary)
an external sponsorship for your course, e.g. from industry/employers

Students in receipt of the Nottingham Potential Bursary will be able to claim £1,000 of the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary per year of study, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Special consideration will be given to exceptional cases. In some instances, we may consider applications from students who are 25 or over. Any award made on this basis will be at the discretion of the Financial Support team. If you feel that you have a case relating solely to your care experience or estrangement (not academic extenuating circumstances) please email care@nottingham.ac.uk to explain your circumstances.

Part-time students - The university offers financial support through the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary on a pro-rata basis for part-time undergraduate students (for those starting from September 2024). You will need to have a means-tested assessment carried out by Student Finance (SF) in order for us to assess your eligibility for the bursary. Your award will depend on your household income taken from the SF assessment and the number of credits you are taking. Further information can be found on our web page here.

Bursary value: £2,000 per academic year (£1,000 per academic year, if in receipt of Nottingham Potential Bursary)

Eligibility criteria explained:

To receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary in the 2024/25 academic year, you must:

have first joined the university in September 2024
be registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course (or PGCE/Graduate Entry Nursing/Graduate Entry Medicine) at Nottingham which you commenced in September 2024/25
have a household income between £0-£35,000 and had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance
have UK 'Home' status for funding purposesbe liable for the tuition fee set in 2024/25
be currently or have been in public care for a minimum period of three months, since your 14th Birthday; if you were under special guardianship or kinship care during this period may also qualify or you have been granted independent status by Student Finance England due to estrangement

However, you will not receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary if you are in receipt of:

other University of Nottingham scholarships or bursaries (excluding the University of Nottingham Core Bursary and University of Nottingham Accommodation Bursary)
an external sponsorship for your course, e.g. from industry/employers

Students in receipt of the Nottingham Potential Bursary will be able to claim £1,000 of the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary per year of study, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any award made on this basis will be at the discretion of the Financial Support Team.

Bursary value: £2,000 per academic year (£1,000 per academic year, if in receipt of Nottingham Potential Bursary)

Eligibility criteria explained:
To receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary in the 2023/24 academic year, you must:

have first joined the university in September 2023
be registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course (or PGCE/Graduate Entry Nursing/Graduate Entry Medicine) at Nottingham which you commenced in September 2023/24
have a household income between £0-£35,000 and had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance
have UK 'Home' status for funding purposes
be liable for the tuition fee set in 2024/5
be currently or have been in public care for a minimum period of three months, since your 14th Birthday; if you were under special guardianship or kinship care during this period may also qualify or you have been granted independent status by Student Finance England due to estrangement

However, you will not receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary if you are in receipt of:

other University of Nottingham scholarships or bursaries (excluding the University of Nottingham Core Bursary and University of Nottingham Accommodation Bursary)
an external sponsorship for your course, e.g. from industry/employers

Students in receipt of the Nottingham Potential Bursary will be able to claim £1,000 of the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary per year of study, if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any award made on this basis will be at the discretion of the Financial Support Team.

Bursary value: £1000 per academic year

Eligibility criteria:

First joined the University of Nottingham between September 2020 and September 2022
Be registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course (or PGCE/GEN/ 1st year GEM) at the University of Nottingham
Have a household income between £0-£25,000 as assessed by Student Finance England
Be currently or have been in public care for a minimum period of three months, since their 14th Birthday; students who are under special guardianship or kinship care during this period may also qualify or students who have been granted independent status by Student Finance England due to estrangement

However, you will not receive the Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary if you are in receipt of:

other UoN Scholarships or bursaries (excluding the Core and Nottingham Potential Bursaries)
the £5,000 NHS Learning Support Fund Training Grant
an external sponsorship for their course, e.g. from industry/employers
substantial financial support from their Local Authority (more than the minimum one-off bursary of £2,000)
the NHSBSA Social Work Bursary

Exceptional circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any award made on this basis will be at the discretion of the Financial Support Team.

More funding options

See all

Scholarships and bursaries

Core Bursary

For students with a household income between £0-£35,000 as assessed by student finance

Scholarships and bursaries

The Stoneygate Award

For academically able students who face or have overcome barriers to attend university

Scholarships and bursaries

Potential scholarships

To encourage potential in students from lower-income backgrounds or who have faced significant difficulties

Scholarships and bursaries

The Halford Scholarship Programme

For students showing strong academic ability who have overcome significant obstacles to their academic progression

Scholarships and bursaries

Local Scholarships

For students who live and/or attended school in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire or the wider East Midlands area

See all

Help and support

If you’re looking for more information, please head to our help and support hub, where you can find frequently asked questions or details of how to make an enquiry.