Northumbria University is working in partnership with the Unite Foundation on the ‘Home at University: Widening Access & Participation Pilot’.

The scholarships are open to students who are care leavers or estranged from their family, and who are applying for their first year of undergraduate study at Northumbria University starting in the academic year 2023/24.  The scholarship covers accommodation and bills for 365 days a year for up to three years of study.  It provides students with year-round, fit for purpose student accommodation that includes support of social integration, proactive well-being engagement and rapid responsiveness to welfare matters. 

Students applying must be:

• Care leavers or students who are estranged from their parents and recognised as such by student finance  
• Aged 25 or under on 1 September of the year of application
• Undertaking first and only course of undergraduate study
• Holding a firm choice offer from the University 
• Entering their first year of their undergraduate degree at the start of the scholarship
• UK home fee status student, i.e., not an international student
• In receipt of, or applying for, student finance/NHS funding reflecting care leaver/care experienced/estranged student status

Study years not supported are:

• Foundation years
• Years involving study credits toward a Masters whether that be Postgraduate or Integrated with a Bachelors
• Repeat years
• Repeat years arising because of changing courses
• Years in which the student is aged 26 or older on 1 September  

Student Application Process:

The Unite Foundation has an online application process for the scholarship scheme - Applications are now open.

All applicants need to be in possession of a firm offer from Northumbria University and ensure they meet the eligibility criteria outlined above and the terms and conditions of the scholarship.

The deadline for student applications is Thursday 01 June 2023 at 23.59.  Students will be notified if they have been successful in their application by 15:00 on Thursday 29 June 2023.  Those who have been unsuccessful, but eligible, will go onto a reserve list.  Should a student drop out before the end of the clearing process (31st August) their place will be reallocated to someone on the reserve list.

For an informal chat about the scheme before applying, contact Sue Vout or Alice Holder.

Last Updated: 18/01/2023