Care Leavers and Estranged Students Bursary

The Care Leavers and Estranged Students Bursary is a comprehensive support package offered by Cardiff Metropolitan University to help care leavers and estranged students succeed in higher education. A care leaver is defined as a person aged 25 or under who has been looked after by a local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14. An estranged student is someone studying without the support of a family network and who is irreconcilably estranged from their parents. The bursary provides up to £1,000 per year in financial support that does not need to be repaid, along with year-round accommodation in suitable halls of residence for the duration of the course, including during Christmas, Easter, and summer holidays. Students also receive dedicated support from a staff mentor who can advise on all aspects of university life and act as a link between the student, their local authority, and the university. Eligible students also receive the Study Life Award. Additional support services include pre-entry support meetings, money and welfare advice, disability and mental health support, and access to non-academic information services.