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Student Carers

Am I a student carer?

You may be a Student Carer if you provide unpaid care for someone who cannot manage without your help and support due to an:  

  • An illness or physical health condition  
  • A disability  
  • A mental health problem  
  • An addiction  

Your caring role could be for a family member or a friend. You do not need to be the main or only carer as we recognise that caring is often shared.   

Please note general parenting responsibilities are not included in this definition, unless your child has a serious illness, disability, or mental health condition.  

 

What support is available? 

Pre Entry Support   

Student carers are likely to be eligible for a contextual offer and one of our Supported Entry Schemes to help you get here and prepare for Northumbria, to find out more please visit the webpages below:  

Application Support/Guidance for Offer Holders

  • If you need assistance in applying for a course at Northumbria, please contact Applicant Services.

On course Support   

Financial Support   

  • Eligible students can receive up to £2,000 per year through our NU Belong Fund. 

Carers Allowance

  • Full time students are not eligible for Carers Allowance. If you are in receipt of Carers Allowance, please notify them as soon as possible. Information on Carers Allowance can be found on the GOV.UK website.

Carers Element

  • You may be eligible for Carers Element as part of Universal Credit. To find out more please visit the GOV.UK website.  

Academic Support  

  • Support with Short Extensions (SE) on your assignments or Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC) which affect your assessments.

Wellbeing and Wider Support  

  • One-to-one appointments with a dedicated student adviser
  • Monthly Newsletter with updates on support and events   
  • Connections to wellbeing, mental health, accessibility and careers support
  • Connections and referrals to relevant external organisations including Newcastle Carers, Carents and Mobilise  

 

Frequently asked questions

To access support from NU Belong you will need to attend an appointment with a student adviser. During this appointment they will chat through all the support that is available to you and answer any questions that you may have.  

No. You do not need to be the primary or only carer. We recognise that caring responsibilities are often shared, if you are not sure if your caring role qualifies then please get in touch via our enquiry form.

No, you do not need to be in receipt of Carers Allowance to get support from NU Belong. We recognise that lots of carers will not be eligible or will not be aware of Carers Allowance. 

If you have any queries that have not been answered on our web pages, you can contact us by selecting either of the options below.   

There is a wealth of support available to student carers in their local area, carers organisations can provide vital advice, guidance, and support for student carers. We strongly recommend linking in with your local carer’s organisation.  

A list of local organisations can be found below:  

If you’re unsure about which organisation is local to you then visit the Carers Trust website and put in your postcode to find local services.  

In addition to the above local carers organisations there are also national caring organisations that can provide useful advice and guidance.  

  • Mobilise is an online service supporting unpaid carers. Empowering those that care to thrive.  
  • Carents - Navigating elder care? We offer resources, support, and a community. Connect with a community of caregivers. Share your experiences and find support.  
  • Carers Trust - Carers Trust is a major charity for, with and about carers. We work to improve support, services, and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring.  
  • Carers UK - National Charity with a range of advice and support.  
  • Props - Improving the lives of families affected by alcohol and drug abuse.  
  • Hope Support - offers online support for students with a close family member who has a serious illness. Amongst other things, they can offer advice on leaving home, living away, dealing with responsibilities, home visits and staying positive. Hope also to offer fortnightly chat sessions for university students through their online service. This can be a good way to meet other students who are experiencing similar emotions to yourself.  

Page last updated 30/07/26

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