The information on this webpage is for young people who are thinking of applying to Warwick as an Undergraduate student – or have an offer from the university – and are care leavers. A definition of what this means is included below. If you are a care experienced student or are independent because you are estranged from your parents, there is more information about the support available to you on the following webpages:
Warwick offers a wide range of pastoral, academic and financial support for students who come to study here. We have a named contact at the University (Emily Cannon) for young people who are independent because they are leaving care so that you have a single point of contact to help you with any questions or queries both before you get here and during your studies. Emily, and the Widening Participation Lifecycle Team, can offer one-to-one support throughout the various stages of applying and studying at Warwick:
Application stage – We can support you to navigate through the various stages of applying to Warwick and explain how you can share more information about your independent status.
Enrolment stage – We can signpost you to the support on offer across the University, including bespoke support for independent students who are care leavers.
During your studies at Warwick – We can support you to thrive in your studies and make the most of your experience at the University.
Applying to Warwick as a Care Leaver in 2024?
Take a look at our handout for Independent Students who are Care Leavers:
And don’t worry, we will only share your information with those who need to know, and who you agree should be informed.
Read about the support available and find links to support networks in the tabs below.
Care leaver: this means that you are care experienced and that you were in the care of your local authority for at least 13 weeks at any time since the age of 14, and were in care on your 16th birthday.
This care may have been provided in many different settings, including:
Living with foster carers
Living in a residential children's home
Being looked after at home under a supervision order
Living with relatives under a guardianship agreement
If you are under 19, have left care and have been living independently, we can also offer you additional support.
In addition to the wider support available to students at Warwick, the University offers a range of bespoke support for independent students who are care leavers.
The information below covers the main aspects of support, but please contact Emily and the WP Lifecycle Team at lifecycleteam@warwick.ac.uk if you have any questions or would like more information.
Application Support
Financial support for travel to Open Days/Offer Holder Open Days – please contact lifecycleteam@warwick.ac.ukto discuss this further
Warwick Scholars Bursary of up to £2,000 per year (there is more information about the Warwick Scholars Undergraduate Programme below)
Accommodation Support (Undergraduate)
Eligibility for 52-week on-campus accommodation for the duration of your studies (if desired). This accommodation offer includes a 40/44-week campus room, followed by alternative accommodation over the summer vacation and pre-term shut down period (in early September). There is more information about the term-time accommodation Warwick offers hereLink opens in a new window.
Please note that there is a charge for this accommodation and students are required to move rooms twice over the summer vacation as part of the University's 52-week campus accommodation package. You can find out more about this, and more information about 52-week accommodation costs, in our 52-Week Campus Accommodation FAQsLink opens in a new window.
Warwick Scholars Programme (Undergraduate)
Eligibility for the Warwick Scholars Undergraduate ProgrammeLink opens in a new window. This programme provides students with access to bespoke activities, along with academic, personal and professional development opportunities (such as internships and mentoring experiences) while students are at Warwick.
To help us to identify and support you, please make sure you tick the ‘care experienced’ box on your UCAS application and contact the Lifecycle Team (lifecycleteam@warwick.ac.uk) as early in the application process as you can.
Warwick will assess your university application and, in order to put the appropriate support in place, we will ask you to provide evidence of your care leaver status by completing this online form: Tell us more about youLink opens in a new window.
Evidence could include:
A signed letter or email from your school, social worker or personal advisor confirming you are a care leaver.
Evidence that you have been in receipt of Income Support and Housing Benefit during your post-16 education.
We would encourage you to contact us at lifecycleteam@warwick.ac.uk as soon as you can in the application cycle so that we can guide you through this process.
If you are leaving care to join us at Warwick, we hope this information has been useful for you, but please email us at lifecycleteam@warwick.ac.uk if you or your supporters have any questions.