Young people who are estranged from their family or leaving care and planning to go to Brunel University London this September are being urged to apply for a scholarship providing them with free off-campus accommodation for three years.
A total of 28 universities, including Brunel, will be awarding the Unite Foundation scholarship, which provides free accommodation to care leaver or estranged students under 25-years of age.
The Unite Foundation has been formed by independent accommodation provider Unite Students, and Unite residencies are home to a diverse community of national and international students from a number of London universities.
Applications for the scholarship close on Wednesday 31st May.
Helen Arber, Manager of the Unite Foundation said: “Too few young people estranged from their families or leaving care realise their full potential at university. We want to change that. A Unite Foundation Scholarship means a rent-free university home for three years of degree studies. It also brings other benefits, such as work placements and activities that support successful study and future careers.”
Since 2012, the Unite Foundation has supported 179 university students with scholarships, and with the inclusion of an additional 18 partner universities for the coming academic year, that number is set to grow.
Further information and a Unite Foundation scholarship application is available at www.unitefoundation.co.uk
Brunel University London provides a wide range of scholarships, studentships and bursaries, including tuition fee deductions, to eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Every care leaver (who meets care leaver criteria) registered on a Brunel undergraduate programme is guaranteed a Care Leaver Bursary of £1,000 per year for three years, and a range of other support.
Brunel has a dedicated named contact for care leaver and estranged students. Karen Western is able to offer guidance before students enrol and through the whole student journey.
Karen Western, Widening Support Coordinator at Brunel, said: “We are really pleased to be working in partnership with the Unite Foundation. The Scholarship will really add value to our current provision. We are dedicated to improving the outcomes of care leaver and estranged students and are sure this will directly benefit students.”
Karen can be contacted on karen.western@brunel.ac.uk
Reported by:
Sarah Cox,
Media Relations
sarah.cox@brunel.ac.uk