The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme
2024/2025
This guidance provides important information.
Please read before filling out an application form.
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
Guidance and Information
1 What is the Unite Foundation Scholarship?
The scholarship gives care leaver/experienced and estranged students a free ensuite student
bedroom in a designated purpose-built student accommodation building for a maximum of 3 years
of your university life. No rent, no bills; 365 days a year for up to 3 years of eligible study.
2 Which universities are part of the 2024/25 network?
In order to apply and be eligible for a Unite Foundation Scholarship from 2024/25 onwards you
must be applying to one of the following universities:
+ Aston University
+ Bath Spa University
+ Bournemouth University
+ Brunel University London
+ Canterbury Christ Church University
+ De Montfort University
+ Edinburgh Napier University
+ Glasgow Caledonian University
+ Imperial College London
+ King’s College London
+ Kingston University
+ Leeds Beckett University
+ Liverpool John Moores University
+ London Metropolitan University
+ Manchester Metropolitan University
+ Northumbria University
+ Queen Mary University of London
+ Robert Gordon University
+ Sheffield Hallam University
+ University of Bristol
+ University College London
+ University of Edinburgh
+ University of Portsmouth
+ University of Salford
+ University of Sheffield
+ University of Strathclyde
+ University of the West of England
+ University of Westminster
+ University of Winchester
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
3 Who is eligible for a Unite Foundation scholarship?
Please read the descriptions below very carefully to see if you meet the principal scheme criteria of
care leaver, care experienced (Scotland), OR estranged. If you are unsure of your eligibility or the
evidence documentation needed, please get in touch with Unite Foundation. We will be able to offer
help with this application or give you advice on other avenues of support to pursue. Please contact
Unite Foundation on info@unitefoundation.org.uk
We do not provide scholarships for postgraduate courses, foundation years, second
undergraduate degrees or second attempts at a first degree.
The Unite Foundation adopts the same definitions around care and estrangement that the different
national governments use so that we can understand and communicate our impact in the same policy
contexts.
Care Experienced (Scotland) (see appendix 1 for an example).
The Scottish authorities define a care experienced student as being aged 16 years or over but under
26 and having, at any time in their lives, been looked after by a Local Authority.
Share your SAAS letter confirming your Care Experience Bursary or alternatively provide an LA
letter. Please ensure your LA letter explicitly states, ‘looked after’, ‘care experienced’ or ‘care leaver’
– if you are unsure, please send this application guidance to your LA for assistance or again discuss
with your University contact.
Statutory Care Leaver (NI, Wales, England) (see appendix 2 for an example)
Care Leaver is a legal status that can begin at age 16 and lasts until 25 if in Higher Education. There are
several different categories of Care Leaver, but all legal definitions are eligible for the Unite Foundation
Scholarship Scheme.
Ask your Local Authority for a letter on headed paper confirming that you are a statutory care
leaver; ideally stating which category you fall into, i.e. Relevant, Former Relevant, Eligible or Qualifying.
Ask them to include in this letter the support they will provide for you whilst you are at university.
Alternatively, please provide a copy of your most recent national (SFE, SFW or SFNI) student finance
award confirming explicitly you are in receipt of funds specifically for care leavers.
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
Estranged from family (see appendix 3 for an example).
If you are estranged from both of your biological parents, adoptive parents, or only living parent, you
may be eligible to apply for the Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme as an estranged student.
Student Finance (SFE, SFNI, SFW) or Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), considers you an
independent student on the basis of being estranged from your parents if you are permanently not in
contact with your parents. Please note, you are not eligible to apply if you have been assessed as an
independent student due to self-funding as a result of bereavement, marriage etc.
For guidance on how to prove estrangement to Student Finance England, visit the SFE page,
for Northern Ireland, visit the SFNI enquiries page, for Wales, visit the SFW page and for the SAAS in
Scotland, visit the SAAS page
Ask your student finance/award office for a document on headed paper stating that you have been
assessed as an independent student on the basis of irreconcilable parental estrangement.
If you are unable to provide a supporting document for estrangement as it has not yet been
decided, please enclose the application and supporting documents that you have submitted to
Student Finance to apply for independent status as an estranged young person. You must provide
evidence of successful application outcome before 30
th
August 2024 if successfully awarded a
scholarship.
Additional eligibility criteria
In addition to care or estranged status, applicants must also meet all the following criteria:
+ Aged 25 or under on 1
st
September 2024 and
+ Undertaking first attempt at, and only, course of undergraduate study and
+ NOT undertaking Foundation or Masters level study in year beginning September 2024
+ Studying at, or holding a firm choice offer from, a Unite Foundation partner university and
+ UK home fee status student, i.e. not an international student and
+ In receipt of, or applying for, tuition fee and maintenance loans via Student Finance reflecting
care leaver/care experienced/estranged student status for the full duration of your course (or
NHS funding).
Note
Students undertaking a Foundation year in 2024/25 are NOT eligible to apply for this current
application cycle but should consider application in 2025/26.
Students that have had previous study at undergraduate level are not eligible. If you are unsure of
your eligibility, please email [email protected]k
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
4 What are my chances of receiving a scholarship?
In 2024/25 there will be 95 Unite Foundation Scholarships available for award.
In the 2023/24 cycle we awarded 106 scholarships and received 360 eligible applications.
Therefore, 29% of eligible applications were successful.
We are always oversubscribed and are not able to accurately predict the number of eligible
applications we will receive. Do not rely on the Unite Foundation Scholarship for your 2024/25
accommodation provision as sadly we cannot award all eligible applications.
An application therefore represents a chance, but not a guarantee, of a scholarship.
5 How do I apply?
The application has three stages:
+ + fully read this information and guidance document until you are confident you are eligible
to apply.
+ + apply online here. You will be asked to upload evidence of eligibility so get that organised
before you start. We operate a ‘double submission’ system – ensure you have submitted
and then confirmed submission on the next page. You will receive an email confirmation
(check junk and clutter folders). If unsure, email info@unitefoundation.org.uk to confirm we
have received your application.
+ + your current/future university will check elements of your eligibility and connect you to
university staff dedicated to supporting you in achieving your potential in Higher Education.
Your application will only be considered if it is complete, eligible, and confirmed by your university
by the specified deadline (see Section 8).
6 How are the scholarship awards decided?
The Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme is sadly not able to provide awards for every eligible
young person and applies scheme priorities to decide how awards are allocated each year. These
priorities are to:
+ balance scholarships between estranged and care leaver students
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
+ reflect a range of academic ability and course choice.
+ balance scholarships throughout the partner university network.
This means that an eligible application offers only a chance and not a guarantee of a scholarship
award. No single scheme priority carries greater weight than another and applicants cannot
influence the outcome of the award in any way. If your eligible application is unsuccessful initially,
you will be put on the reserve list and can go through the adjustment and clearing process.
7 Reserve list, adjustment and clearing process
+ Scholarships made vacant for any reason will then be made available for students in the
‘reserve’ list category from the same city. Where multiple candidates exist, the Unite
Foundation will select replacement scholarship students.
+ If no suitable candidates exist to fill vacant scholarship places in a specific location, other
university partners will be contacted to increase their overall scholarship populations
from their ‘reserve’ list.
8 Timeline of application process
The timeline and important dates for the 2024/25 application process:
1st January 2024 - 14th June 2024
Scholarship applications can be completed, evidenced, and
submitted. Each university will need time to review your
application and support you if you have any queries.
Application Deadline - 23:59 on 14th
June 2024
You must submit a complete and properly evidenced
application before 23:59 on 14
th
June 2024.
11:59 on Friday 21st June 2024
Deadline for applications to have been approved by
universities (incl all supporting evidence approved by
Foundation)
Thursday 4th July 2024
Confirmation of awards and reserve list detail
communicated directly to student applicants and university
partners after 3pm
July – August 2024
Accommodation arrangements made for awarded students.
Until 30th August 2024
Reserve list, adjustment and clearing process period.
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
9 Benefits of the Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme
+ If awarded a scholarship, and on becoming a Unite Foundation Scholarship Student, you will be
entitled to up to a maximum three years of free accommodation in a designated student halls.
+ The standard of free accommodation is usually a single occupancy, en-suite, bedroom in a
purpose-built student flat with a communal fitted kitchen; the flat will be shared with a mixture
of other students most likely at the same university. Some buildings have different flat options
(e.g. studio) that you can choose but may need to contribute toward.
+ Tenancy contracts include all utilities, have wi-fi throughout and are served by maintenance
and on-site support teams. Many buildings have other facilities like a laundry and bike storage.
Flats are furnished and the buildings have areas suitable for both study and leisure.
+ For each year that you take up the free accommodation offer, your room will be available for
the full calendar year; 365 or 366 days on leap years. Occasionally you might need to move
flats temporarily to allow for maintenance and redecorating etc.
+ You will not require a rent guarantor, a deposit, or any rent payments.
+ Once you become a Scholarship Student you can choose annually if you would like to take up
the free accommodation offer. Your award entitles you to up to three years free
accommodation. These do not need to be consecutive, but you do need to remain eligible each
year. Years of study that are excluded from support are:
+ Foundation year
+ years involving study credits toward a Masters whether that be post graduate or
integrated with a Bachelors
+ resit years
+ repeat years arising as a result of changing courses
+ years in which you are aged 26 or older on 1 September.
Miscellaneous support:
Where appropriate the Unite Foundation will make available opportunities or benefits provided by our
donors and supporters. This may include products, activities or other items geared toward making the
most of your university experience.
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
10 Responsibilities of Foundation Scholarship Students
10.1 Administration
+ Each year that you take the benefit of free accommodation you must sign the normal rental
agreement for your room and abide by the standard terms and conditions of the tenancy.
Breaking the tenancy agreement will most likely result in loss of your scholarship.
+ You consent to data sharing once you join the scholarship (read our Privacy Policy here) and
must ensure that the Unite Foundation team and your university always have up to date mobile
and email contact details for you.
+ The Unite Foundation uses DocuSign. This is a service for digital signature of documents that
many of you will already be familiar with. We will be using DocuSign to record that you have
read our privacy policy (Unite Foundation Privacy Policy) which explains how and when we
share your information with other people. Your signature will also confirm you have read,
understood and accept the terms of the scholarship award in the event of you being
selected. You, the Unite Foundation and your university will receive a copy of this document
for future reference. If the privacy policy or terms of scholarship are updated, you will be
notified.
+ You must respond to deadlines that you’ll be given for annual room bookings.
+ Any refunds or credit occurring on the tenancy account will remain the property of the Unite
Foundation.
10.2 University experience
+ You should stay in regular touch with your university named contact; – they are a brilliant
source of information and support for all your academic, social and financial questions whilst at
university. The Unite Foundation University Partners can also manage queries about your
scholarship.
+ You should respond to termly communications from the Foundation. These will be a mix of
meeting the Unite Foundation team, small surveys, a competition or two and chances to take
part in Unite Foundation activities like media or events. You can also get in touch with us for
any questions related to the scholarship.
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
10.3 Scholarship scheme evaluation
+ As a registered charity we are continuously seeking to improve the way that we work as to have
a better impact on care leaver and estranged young students. In addition to tracking student
outcomes nationally, each year we will conduct a survey that collects numeric and qualitative
data. Fill this in and be completely honest so that the feedback can lead to improvements. We
hope to keep in touch with you for up to two years after you graduate. Your feedback and
progress can help improve the scheme and is invaluable to our development as a charity.
11 About the Unite Foundation
The Unite Foundation is a charitable incorporated organization, registered with the Charity
Commission in England and Wales and the Scottish Charity Regulator. The Unite Foundation is an
independent registered charity offering a unique accommodation scholarship for care
leaver/experienced and estranged young people at university.
There are 95 places available on the Unite Foundation scholarship this year. Education is for everyone,
and our vision is that free accommodation for estranged and care experienced students is provided
as standard support across all UK universities. Share this message and help us make this a reality.
The Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme provides free accommodation for a maximum of three
years of undergraduate study. So far 719 young people have been awarded a Unite Foundation
scholarship with 344 having graduated. In 2024/25 a further 95 scholarship places will be available
through our national network of partnership universities.
The Foundation itself was established in 2012 by Unite Students, a developer and manager of student
accommodation. Unite Students remains the principal donor and makes an annual donation to the
Unite Foundation having gifted a total of £15 million since inception.
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
Appendices
Appendix 1 – Example for Care Experienced applicants (Scotland).
The Scottish authorities define a care experienced student as being aged 16 years or over but under
26 and having, at any time in their lives, been looked after by a Local Authority.
Ask your Local Authority for a letter on headed paper confirming that you are care experienced or the
letter from SAAS confirming your Care Experience Bursary A letter from Student Awards Agency
Scotland confirming a Care Experience Student Bursary (Scotland).
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
Appendix 2 – Example for Care Leaver applicants (England, Wales, Northern
Ireland).
Statutory Care Leaver (NI, Wales, England) (see appendix 2 for an example)
Care Leaver is a legal status that can begin at age 16 and lasts until 25 if in Higher Education. There are
several different categories of Care Leaver but all legal definitions are eligible for the Unite Foundation
Scholarship Scheme.
Ask your Local Authority for a letter on headed paper confirming that you are a statutory care leaver;
ideally also stating which category you fall into, i.e. Relevant, Former Relevant, Eligible or Qualifying. Ask
them to include in this letter the support they will provide for you whilst you are at university.
A letter from a local authority confirming Care Leaver status (England, Wales, Northern Ireland).
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
Appendix 3 – Example for Estranged applicants.
If you are estranged from both of your biological parents, adoptive parents, or only living parent, you
will be eligible to apply for the Unite Foundation Scholarship Scheme as an estranged student.
Student Finance (SFE, SFI, SFW) or Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), considers you an
independent student on the basis of being estranged from your parents if you are permanently not in
contact with your parents.
For guidance on how to prove estrangement to Student Finance England, visit
www.sfengland.slc.co.uk/estrangement.aspx
Ask your student finance/award office for a letter on headed paper stating that you have been
assessed as an independent student on the basis of estrangement.
If you are unable to provide a supporting letter for estrangement
Please enclose a copy of your student finance arrangement AND copies of the supporting documents
you supplied to them as evidence of your estrangement.
The Unite Foundation
is a CIO registered in
England and Wales 1198601
Scotland SC051987
A letter from Student Finance confirming the Independent Student Status of an Estranged Person.
