Higher education

Higher education (HE) can be a life changing opportunity, opening up career pathways, increasing your employment prospects and making lifelong connections.

As a care leaver, there is a wide range of help available to support you along the way. We will continue to support you in HE up to the age of 25.

Reasons to get a degree

• You want to know more about a subject you love 
• You want a job which needs a degree. For example, a medical doctor or an engineer 
• You want to earn more money. Graduates tend to earn more than those without a degree!
• You want time to gain work experience while you continue learning

If you are currently studying a Level 3 course, then your sixth form or college will help you decide on the best course and university for you. They will help you make an application to UCAS.

If you are returning to learning, your life beyond care personal advisor can help you apply to UCAS. 

Do your research

• Visit the Propel website. It is for care leavers and has information about different universities, including:
  • If they offer bursaries to care leavers
  • The additional support care leavers can get on campus
• Look at The Complete University Guide website
• Find general advice on being a student on The Student Room website

Make sure you talk to your life beyond care worker and carers. They will be able to support you to make this important decision.  

Try being a university student

If you are interested in going to university, the University of East Anglia (UEA) may be able to offer you a chance to 'shadow' a student for a day. You can experience first-hand what it is like to be a university student. 

Admission interviews

We will support you to attend up to three university admission interviews. If you want to attend more, talk to your personal advisor. We will usually pay your travel costs and overnight accommodation if needed. Your personal advisor, carer, or a friend can go with you if you want. Make sure you arrange this well in advance.  

To be accepted onto a university course, you will usually need a full Level 3 qualification such as A Levels or a T Level.

If you do not have all the qualifications needed for university entry, you might consider studying for an Access to Higher Education (HE) Diploma.

These diplomas are designed for adult learners who want to progress to higher education. They are offered by all colleges in Norfolk and our Adult Learning service.

You may need English and maths GCSE at Level 4/ Grade C or above to apply for an access course. Check before applying.  

Your life beyond care personal advisor can support you to apply for a GCSE or access course.

Some universities may make a 'contextual offer' to Care Leavers where the entry requirements for a course may be lowered. Check the UCAS and University webpages for further information.

You will need to apply for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England to cover the cost of your course.

In order to pay for your living expenses, e.g. food, household bills, day to day travel, internet, etc. you will need to apply for a maintenance loan. Care leavers are entitled to claim the maximum amount for a maintenance loan.

Your tuition and maintenance loan will need to be repaid once you have completed your course and are earning above the minimum repayment threshold.

Find out about student finance loans.

Find out about extra money to pay for university.

How we can help you financially

Let us know as soon as you accept your university place. We want to make sure everything is agreed and arranged before you start.

Accommodations costs

We will meet the full cost of your accommodation while you are studying as an undergraduate.

Higher education bursary

You are entitled to a higher education bursary, if your course lasts at least two academic years.

Travel costs

We will contribute to your return home travel costs, if your university is away from where you lived before. You will need to talk to your worker about how often you want to return home and agree what our contribution will be. 

Further information about money and financial support.

Former relevant child 18-21 and 21-25

University of East Anglia (UEA) encourages and supports students with experience of being in care into higher education. UEA has been the proud host of Norfolk County Council's annual Celebration of Achievement for Children in Care since 2017.

UEA's Outreach team supports care experienced students who are considering university with:

• Fully funded individual, group, and residential trips to UEA for teenagers and young adults. These visits can help you explore Higher Education options and answer your questions
• Increased consideration for places at other activities and residential trips
• Travel Funding for attending a UEA Open Day, Applicant Day, or other campus visit.

Visit the UEA webpage for looked after children and care leavers.

UEA's support for current students includes:

• A Care Leaver bursary of £2,500 each year for students studying at undergraduate level
• A dedicated contact for Care Leavers within Student Support Services
• Careers advice, CV workshops and more from Careers Central.

As well as free, optional advice and guidance from support staff for:

• mental health,
• wellbeing and disability support,
• financial advice, and
• help with academic study skills

Contact inclusion@uea.ac.uk for more information about any of these opportunities.

Qualifying child 18+ and Special Guardianship Order

University of East Anglia (UEA) encourages and supports students with experience of being in care into higher education. UEA has been the proud host of Norfolk County Council's annual Celebration of Achievement for Children in Care since 2017.

UEA's Outreach team supports care experienced students who are considering university with:

• Fully funded individual, group, and residential trips to UEA for teenagers and young adults. These visits can help you explore Higher Education options and answer your questions
• Increased consideration for places at other activities and residential trips
• Travel Funding for attending a UEA Open Day, Applicant Day, or other campus visit.

Visit the UEA webpage for looked after children and care leavers.

UEA's support for current students includes free, optional advice and guidance from support staff for:

• mental health,
• wellbeing and disability support,
• financial advice, and
• help with academic study skills

As well as careers advice, CV workshops and more from Careers Central.

Contact inclusion@uea.ac.uk for more information about any of these opportunities.

During your final year, up to the age of 25, your life beyond care personal advisor will:

• Discuss where you plan to live when you finish studying
• Make sure you have access to professional careers advice and are supported to update your CV

We hope that you will want to attend your graduation ceremony! We will support you to do this and will cover the cost of gown hire and a standard set of graduation photos.

If you wish to continue your studies beyond your first degree e.g. a masters or PhD course, make sure this is recorded in your pathway plan.

To help with the cost of postgraduate studies, you can apply for a Masters loan or Doctoral loan via Student Finance to cover your tuition and some of your living costs.

You may also be able to apply for additional bursaries, grants and scholarships from your college/ university as well as charitable organisations.

Many postgraduate students will work part time alongside their course to support themselves. Any additional financial support required to enable you to complete your programme of study would need to be discussed with your life beyond care worker and agreed in your pathway plan.