We recognise that that it may be particularly challenging starting and studying at university if you are care-experienced, a care leaver, estranged from your family, or otherwise independent from your parents. You may experience specific difficulties which other students do not.
Starting in the academic year 2025/26 we are offering young independent undergraduates a range of support to help them navigate these challenges. We want everyone to be able to make the most of their time at Durham, regardless of background.
From 2025/26 our young independent undergraduates will have access to some or all of the following support:
In addition to being awarded a Durham Grant worth up to £2,721 per year, undergraduate students assessed as independent by Student Finance England (or equivalent in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales) who were under 25 years of age at the start of their studies will be awarded an Independent Student Bursary worth £3,000 for the duration of a three-year programme (or £4,000 for the duration of a four-year programme).
It will be paid as follows:
You do not have to apply for your Independent Student Bursary. It will be awarded automatically.
For more information on the Durham Grant Scheme and the Independent Student Bursary Scheme contact our Bursaries and Student Financial Support team on grants.bursaries@durham.ac.uk.
Undergraduate students assessed as independent by Student Finance England (or equivalent in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales) will receive a 20% reduction on their College accommodation charge worth up to £2,555 per year.
In addition, EaCE+ students will also have guaranteed access to College accommodation for the duration of their time at Durham. This will include the option of accommodation for 52 weeks per year if needed.
For those choosing to live in private rented accommodation during their time in Durham, we offer a free rent guarantor scheme for EaCE+ students. More information on this is available here: Rent Guarantor Scheme - Durham University
Undergraduate care-experienced students, care leavers, estranged students and other young independent students will have access to the University’s dedicated support network for EaCE+ students.
This provides support via multiple teams working collaboratively for each individual student. It includes pastoral support from our Colleges and dedicated advice and support from specialist trained advisors in the Careers and Enterprise Centre and the Student Money Advice Service.
EaCE+ students are given priority consideration for our access schemes: Supported Progression, Sutton Trust, and STEP.
EaCE+ Students are also counted in our contextual offer criteria. A contextual offer considers information from your application like your individual background and experiences, and the impact these might have on your qualifications when we make a decision on your application.
If you have any questions on the application and admissions process, you can contact our dedicated point of contact, Boawe Rankin-Carr.
We can provide you with individual advice and guidance on the UCAS process, personal statement writing and admissions support.
EaCE+ students can access an event bursary covering both travel and accommodation, to enable attendance at one of our pre-application open days or post-offer visit days.
We also run specific campus visits for EaCE+ students. These visits allow students to find out first-hand what Durham can offer, and students are accompanied by a member of the team, who can answer specific questions. Please contact Boawe Rankin-Carr for more information on campus visits.
A care-experienced student is someone who, at any stage of their life, and for any length of time, has been in care e.g. looked after by the local authority. This definition has been agreed in partnership with NERAP as part of the Care Leaver Covenant.
Make sure that you tick the box on your UCAS form that asks if you are care-experienced. That way, we will know before you arrive and can arrange for you to receive relevant information before you begin your degree.
Undergraduate students who have been assessed as care leavers by Student Finance England (or equivalent in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales).
Subject to certain exceptions, students will be assessed as care leavers if:
Student Finance England information for care leavers
Undergraduate students who have been assessed as estranged by Student Finance England (or equivalent in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales). Students will be assessed as estranged if:
Undergraduate students who have been assessed as independent by Student Finance England (or equivalent in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales) because they are under the age of 25 and:
Student Finance England information for independent students
If you think that you should be assessed as independent by Student Finance England (or equivalent), but are having trouble with the assessment process, we will support you. Contact our Student Loans team on ug-pgce.loans@durham.ac.uk.
Durham University has signed both the Care Leaver Covenant (in partnership with NERAP), and the Stand Alone Pledge to support care-experienced and estranged students respectively. In engaging with these, we have committed to provide a level of support for students from EaCE+ backgrounds.
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