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Applying to Bath as a Care Leaver

Find out how to apply for support at the University of Bath

If you are a Care Leaver, or if you have a background in care, we will:

  • Give you advice and guidance throughout the application process
  • Support you throughout your studies with 1:1 Check in appointments with the Student Retention & Success Team
  • Provide financial assistance
  • Provide year-round access to University accommodation, 365 days a year
  • Offer opportunities to take part in activities outside of the classroom

Applying

If you have lived in care, organised via Social Services/your Local Authority, you should answer ‘yes’ to the relevant question on your UCAS application. This is so that we can contact you as early as possible about the support available at Bath. The Admissions Progression Team can help with any queries about applying to Bath, you can get in touch via ugadmissions-care@bath.ac.uk. They will consider your time in care status as part of their contextual admissions process.

If you feel that your circumstances have had an impact on your academic performance, then you may want to submit a mitigating circumstances form for them to consider alongside your UCAS application. The question for care experienced students is ‘Have you been in care?’ in the ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ section of the UCAS application. You will then see an additional question asking you how long you were in care. The LEAPS website contains video guides to completing both the care experienced and estranged student declarations. Provided that you have answered ‘yes’ to the UCAS question, you do not necessarily need to mention that you are a Care Leaver in your personal statement.

Apply to Bath as Care Experienced

If you have been in care and are not a ‘care leaver’, we will give you advice and guidance throughout the application process. We offer our 1:1 support pre-entry, on course and post graduation. You can apply for the Gold Scholarship Programme (GSP) or receive The Bath Bursary automatically.

In exceptional circumstances for Care Experienced students in financial need we will consider other data including benefit entitlement such as Universal Credit. Following a 1:1 appointment we will consider the above information to review whether an application for the University of Bath Student Retention & Success (SRS) Team Undergraduate (UG) Bursary or Hardship Fund is recommended.

Guaranteed Admissions Offers for Care Leavers

The University of Bath is committed to supporting the successful applications of those who have spent time in care. We understand that time spent in care can have a significant impact in all aspects of life. Accordingly, we appreciate that your educational journey is likely to be disrupted and more challenging, with barriers that you may face making your next steps into higher education. We believe that our applicants should be considered on an individual level and based on their potential. Therefore, we want to ensure that for applicants who have experienced such significant disruption we are offering you an equal chance of entering the university.

We therefore will make a guaranteed conditional offer to all applicants who meet our Care Leaver criteria, have demonstrated an interest in the subject that they have applied for and meet the minimum entry and subject requirements for the course they have applied for. In some cases, there will be an interview as part of the admissions process and a conditional offer will be made to applicants who are successful at interview. View our Care Leavers eligibility criteria and terms and conditions as Care Leavers can receive a guaranteed conditional offer if they meet the required criteria set out in these terms and conditions.

If you are eligible you will need to provide evidence of your Care Leaver status. This should include a letter from your local authority, case worker, social worker, or personal advisor. This letter must confirm:

  • that you were looked after by a local authority (this includes being placed in foster care by a local authority)
  • the dates you were in care.

Please email this information to the Undergraduate Admissions Progression Team as soon as possible once you have submitted your application. Our Undergraduate Admissions Progression Team will work with our key contacts in Student Retention & Success Team to both share and process your information.

Local Authority funding for Care Leavers

If you started your university course after September 2008 then your Local Authority is required to pay you a Higher Education Bursary worth £2,000. Please contact your Local Authority Leaving Care Services to find out more about the funding they have available for you. If you need assistance doing this please contact Student Money Advice.

What if you are not sure whether you are considered a Care Leaver/ Care Experienced?

Applicant
If you’re not sure whether you'd be considered a Care Leaver/ care experienced, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Progression Team via e-mail: ugadmissions-care@bath.ac.uk with a short paragraph of no more than 200 words to give us an overview of your circumstances. Include:

  • Details of time spent in care (Name of Local Authority)
  • Location of your time spent in care (Town, Country)
  • Length of time spent in care
  • Dates spent in care (approximate dates will be considered)
  • Any other information that could help clarify your situation and describe any disruption to your education.

This will ensure your application is given additional review from our Undergraduate Admissions Progression Team, and that we can send you any relevant information about additional support and funding at Bath. You may also contact the Student Retention & Success team for pre-entry support and non-admissions queries via: studentsuccess@bath.ac.uk and we’ll be happy to discuss your situation.

University of Bath Student
If you’re not sure whether you'd be considered care experienced, email Student Retention & Success team and we’ll be happy to discuss your situation.

If you have spent time in care but are not considered a care leaver you can receive 1:1 support from the Student Retention & Success Team, signposted to other support teams including Student Money Advice. Contact the Student Retention & Success Team to access personalised 1:1 advice and support and request a pre-entry/on course 1:1 appointment. If you have spent time in care but are not considered a ‘Care Leaver’ and are not in communication with your parents, you may be eligible to apply as an Estranged student.

Local Authority funding for Care Leavers

Since September 2008 your Local Authority is required to pay you a Higher Education Bursary worth £2,000. Please contact your Local Authority Leaving Care Services to find out more about the funding they have available for you. If you need assistance doing this please contact the Student Money Advice team.

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