About this bursary
This bursary is for students resident in England, under the age of 25, who have been in the care of, or have been given accommodation by, their local authority for a period of at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 and were in care on or after your 16th birthday.
Students under a Special Guardianship Order or in supported housing including Foyer accommodation are also eligible. This bursary is for eligible students starting their course at the Ογ½ΆΦ±²₯ in academic year 2025-26.
The award is a cash bursary of £1,000 for each year of study.
Students on part-time courses studying between 30 and 90 credits during the year who meet the other criteria will receive a pro rata cash bursary in each year of study.
The Care Leaver's bursary will be paid in two instalments: the first at the start of the autumn 2025 term and the second in May 2026.
Brighton Boost
If you are a full-time, undergraduate student and are eligible for our care leaver’s bursary, you could get additional financial support in your first year to help with the cost of halls accommodation or travel costs if you make Brighton your firm choice and start your undergraduate degree with us in 2025.
Check out our Brighton Boost 2025 package to support your cost of living and university services.
Who is eligible?
You are eligible for a Care Leaver's bursary if you:
- are starting an eligible course in academic year 2025-2026
- are under the age of 25
- have been in the care of, or been given accommodation by, your local authority for a period of at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 and were in care on or after your 16th birthday
- a student under a Special Guardianship Order or in supported housing including Foyer accommodation are also eligible
- are a UK national or Irish citizen or have settled status (no restrictions on how long you can stay in the UK)
- have been living in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for 3 continuous years before the first day of your course• are normally resident in England
- have been assessed by Student Finance England as eligible to receive the full package of tuition fee loan and maintenance loan
- have a residual annual household income of up to £25,000
- are studying an undergraduate full-time course
- have not already completed an undergraduate degree previously.
Undergraduate part-time students who meet the other criteria will be eligible for a pro rata bursary if their study diet is between 30 and 90 credits.
Your eligibility for this bursary will be re-assessed each academic year.
Exceptions
Students in receipt of certain other bursaries or awards may not be eligible.
Students in receipt of the Ογ½ΆΦ±²₯ bursary or the Estranged Student’s bursary are not eligible for the Care Leaver’s bursary.
Students who repeat a year of study will not be eligible for additional bursary funding during their repeat year.
How to apply
When you complete your UCAS application form, make sure you that you indicate that you have been in local authority care.
Once you have been offered a place at the Ογ½ΆΦ±²₯, we will send you an eligibility questionnaire to complete. The information you provide us is treated in confidence.
We will email you by the end of November to confirm whether you will receive this bursary for the academic year.
Enquiries
Our Outreach team is here to answer your questions.
Contact
Amy Adams on 07792 396266
Or email the team on aboutuni@brighton.ac.uk.