Support for estranged students
As an Estranged student, you may encounter some unique challenges in the transition from a sixth form or college to higher education and we have a personalised package of support available to help you have a full, enriching, and enjoyable experience at Bradford.
We’re able to provide one-to-one support throughout the application process, as well as arrange individual visits to campus to see the facilities and for you to meet academics and current students. We’re also able to arrange meetings with current University of Bradford students who are estranged from their family.
Am I "estranged"?
We define an estranged student as a young person, aged 25 or under at the time of enrolment, who is studying without parental support due to a breakdown in the relationship with their biological or adoptive parents. This 'estrangement', or relationship breakdown, will have lead to no contact or communication and this situation is likely to remain permanent. You may also be classed as an estranged student if your parents are deceased.
To be eligible for our support package you also need to have permanent residence in the United Kingdom and be a ‘home student’ for fee purposes.
Progression Scheme
The progression scheme is designed to benefit undergraduate applicants whose personal and educational circumstances mean they could be less likely to receive an offer based on our standard entry criteria.
As part of the scheme, applicants will automatically receive a reduced offer of 8 UCAS points lower than our standard entry criteria.
Supporting your journey to university
Contact the Outreach team
The Outreach team is your named point of contact throughout your journey to university. The Outreach team is here to support you in deciding if university is right for you, and to provide advice and guidance in making your university application. The Outreach team will support you by:
- Being your point of contact to provide individual support and information during any part of your journey to University
- Providing one to one guidance with your UCAS application
- Arranging individual campus visits for you to visit the University and meet our student ambassadors
- Organising bespoke activity for you to find out more about university
If you are thinking about university, or a current applicant, please get in touch for further support.
Support once you're here
Tracy Teale - Your Named Point of Contact
Tracy is one of our Student Life Advisers and will be your named point of contact throughout your time at the university. Tracy will support you by:
- Arranging to meet with you within your first few weeks at Bradford to answer any of your questions and to produce a bespoke support plan.
- Helping you to apply for the Estranged Student Bursary, and any other financial support available to you.
- Being a central point of contact for you throughout your studies, supporting you with any questions or concerns you may experience.
- Liaising with Student Finance England and other funding bodies to help you apply for financial support.
- Signposting you to the wide range of Student Support teams available, as and when you need them.
If you are a current student please do get in touch.
More ways we can help
We have a number of champions within our faculties and professional services teams who are passionate about supporting estranged students. The drop-down boxes below explain how our champions can help you to make the most of your studies.
In addition to the standard 42-week contract available to all students, the University can support you in securing year-round accommodation, if needed. We can also help if you need a guarantor for a rental property.
For more information please visit our Accommodation website.
Our Career and Employability Services offer a welcoming, supportive environment where you can access impartial careers information, advice and guidance from professionally qualified staff. At Bradford we have a dedicated advisor in the team who can work with and signpost estranged students to a range of services and support offered by Career and Employability Services.
For more information please visit our Careers website.
An Estranged Student Bursary of £1,000 a year is available to all students who are estranged from their parents and who meet the eligibility criteria for the bursary. The Bursary is paid each year at the end of May, but we can consider earlier payments based on individual needs. For more information or to request an application form, email our team on estranged@bradford.ac.uk. Please note that this is in addition to any other entitlement to financial support you may have.
Additional financial help is also available from the University’s Student Support Fund which, depending on circumstances, can award grants of up to £2,000 a year. Estranged students have priority access to the Fund and it is open to them all year round.
You will also have a dedicated Money Adviser contact to help you with your finances and funding throughout your time at Bradford. This support is available from pre-application through to graduation.
For more information please visit our Fees, Financial Support and Scholarships website.
Our Counselling Service recognise that as an estranged student you may have additional pressures and challenges to face and offer someone for you to talk to confidentially about emotional and mental wellbeing issues.
The service is open all year round and is available via face-to-face appointments, email and telephone. The team also help with access to online therapeutic self-help resources and deliver group workshops. If there is a particular theme or topic you need help with, or would like us to run a group about, please get in touch. No issue is too small and we are here for you if you need us.
For more information please visit our Counselling Service website.
As an estranged student you will be invited to join the Step Up to HE programme at the start of the academic year. It is the perfect opportunity to meet other students and members of staff while beginning to develop some of the essential skills you will need to make a success of your studies.
For more information visit our Step Up to HE website.