Students facing estrangement

We are committed to ensuring that students facing estrangement from their parents can succeed at the University of Bristol. We want you to feel safe, supported, and able to reach your potential. Therefore, we provide a comprehensive support package for students who are studying without the support and approval of their parents.

How do we define estrangement?

We have a range of support available for students facing estrangement, but the definition of estrangement circumstances can often vary by institution.

Our definition is:

  • Estranged – students who are aged under 25 who have no communication with either of their parents.
  • Kinship Care - students who have been raised by friends or extended family members. If this has been formalised, such as through a Special Guardianship Order, you may be thought of as ‘care experienced’. If this was an informal arrangement and you have no communication with either of your parents, we would classify you as ‘estranged’.

Support for students facing estrangement

If you are a prospective student, teacher or advisor, you can contact Kat Whidden in our Widening Participation Team, who offers advice and guidance throughout the application process.

We deliver online webinars and offer advice at open days to help you and your support network find out more about applying, funding, and succeeding at university. To find out more about our upcoming events, sign up to our prospective student mailing list.

If you are a current student at the University of Bristol, you can contact Maria Tottle in our Student Inclusion Team, who offers 1:1 advice, support and coaching throughout your time here.

We run various in-person and online events for current students at the University of Bristol. If you’d like to stay up to date on what’s happening at the university, sign up to our current students email bulletin.

Alternatively, you can contact Kat and Maria in the Care Experienced and Estranged Students team directly:

Student finance

Estranged students are often eligible to be independently assessed for student finance. This means that your household income will not be considered when your student maintenance loan is calculated. Therefore, you are likely to qualify for maximum financial support. However, you are required to provide evidence of your estrangement to your regional funding provider to be independently assessed. Find out more information about funding here.

Our funding packages

  • Our Bristol Standalone Bursary offers care leavers, estranged or bereaved students (under the age of 25) £1,500 for each year of study (excluding NHS funded years). You will need to apply directly for this bursary.
  • Our University of Bristol Bursary is worth up to £2,500 for all Home UK undergraduates who have been assessed by Student Finance as having a household income of £50,000 or below. You will not need to apply directly for this bursary, but you will need to apply for a maintenance loan.
  • Use our financial support search tool to explore what other bursaries and scholarships you may be eligible for.

To be considered for our other financial support packages, you will need to complete our Additional Funding Form.

Specialised support

You can contact our Money Advice Service for support and guidance throughout the student finance application process, including on how to apply for independent status with Student Finance England/Wales/Scotland/NI. They also support current students.

Care leavers and estranged students are prioritised when we make accommodation offers. In your accommodation application, you should tell us if you are a care leaver or estranged student. This will help us offer you a suitable room.

Unite Foundation Scholarship

We work with the Unite Foundation, supporting students who have previously been in care or are estranged from their parents. The Unite Foundation Scholarship provides recipients with free en-suite accommodation in Unite House or Orchard Heights. With the Unite Foundation scholarship, you’ll have accommodation and bills covered for up to 3 years of study. That includes through the holidays too, so you don’t have to wonder where to go during reading weeks or over Christmas or summer. You can even stay the summer after you graduate to plan your next move. You can find more information about the scholarship and how to apply on the Unite Foundation Scholarship webpage. We recommend you read their information and guidance document before applying.

Summer Accommodation

If you need accommodation during the summer vacation, contact our accommodation team as early as possible. We will do our best to support you. You can also request to live in accommodation after first year and your application will be prioritised. 

Help with guarantors

Most of our halls of residence do not require a deposit or for you to have a guarantor. If you’re living in private rented accommodation, the University has established a relationship with Housing Hand, a company that offer a fully comprehensive guarantor service available to all students.

If you are unable to find a co-signatory for your guarantor application, or the fees are a barrier for you, please get in touch with Maria (maria.tottle@bristol.ac.uk) for help.

During your time as a student with us, you can contact Maria Tottle at any point in the year for wellbeing support. This might be for a chat to work through any challenges you may be facing or for 1:1 coaching. We have a broad range of specialist support that all students can access at the University which Maria can help signpost you towards.

Cake and chat events

We run regular social events for students with care experience and those facing estrangement to come together and meet students from similar backgrounds and find out more about university life and support services.

Peer mentoring

If you would like to talk to a current student before and during the first few months of university, peer mentoring is available for any first-year undergraduate. The mentors are current students themselves and can answer any questions that you might have and help you settle into university life. You have the option to indicate a preference for a mentor who shares similar characteristics.

Care Leavers and Estranged Students’ Network

The SU Care Leavers and Estranged Students Network was set up by and for students. To find out more about the network, their events and support on offer or to join this free network please see the SU Groups Webpage. Networks are an exciting way for students to build communities and create change through collective action. They are representative bodies that can lead campaigns, hold forums and organise social events.

For more information about our support for students facing estrangement please contact our team at care-leavers@bristol.ac.uk.

As well as University support, there are several organisations that provide support and information for people facing estrangement. These include: