Cambridge has signed up to the Care Leaver Covenant. This shows our commitment to supporting young people leaving the care system.
Find out more about the Care Leaver Covenant (external website).
If you spent time in care or you are without familial support (estranged), you may have specific needs or concerns when applying to or starting university. We are here to support you through the process.
What we mean by care-experienced and estranged
Being care-experienced means you have been placed in foster care, a residential home, formal kinship care or have been looked after at home under a supervision order.
Care-experienced has a different definition to care leaver. Care leavers may be eligible for additional financial support.
Being estranged means having had no contact with your parents or carer(s) for at least 12 months, which is unlikely to change. This is due to a permanent breakdown in your relationship with your biological, step or adoptive parents.
Visit Cambridge
We know that it can be important to visit the University before you apply.
We offer 2 open days per year specifically for care-experienced and estranged students. These take place in autumn and spring. This is part of Realise, the University’s information service for students from highly underrepresented backgrounds.
Sign up to our mailing list for care-experienced students to be contacted about the next visit.
Travel fund for Open Days and events
We have a travel fund for care-experienced prospective students to go to Open Days and events.
To be eligible, you must:
- be attending a University Open Day or a Visit Day organised by the Widening Participation Team
- be in Year 11 or above
- have spent at least 3 months in the care of a UK local authority since starting Year 10
- not have already received support from this fund 2 times this year
You should apply at least a month before the event for travel funding.
Once you apply, we'll explore what financial support is available from your local authority. If they can't help, we will offer support with your travel arrangements. Usually, we provide train tickets or financial support for travel by public transport within the UK.
Applying to Cambridge as a care-experienced or estranged student
The process for applying to Cambridge is the same as for other applicants. Check our guidance on how to apply.
You should also find out how to choose a College before you apply.
If you're care-experienced or estranged and living independently, let us know in your UCAS application. This helps us to put support in place for you.
You can find out more about how universities use this information on the UCAS website.
- Applying to university as someone with care experience (UCAS website)
- Applying to university if you're experiencing estrangement (UCAS website)
Application support
You may be eligible for the free Apply: Cambridge programme. If you’re a high-attaining student from an underrepresented background, it can support you to make a competitive application to Cambridge.
If you’re studying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects at A level (or equivalent), you can also apply to the STEM SMART programme. This can help you to prepare you for your exams by offering 17 months of tuition and support. Applications open in September and the programme starts in January of Year 12 (or equivalent).
Support at Cambridge
If you get a place at Cambridge, there’s a range of University and College support available to you.
This includes support through Realise which offers signposting to information and resources.
Find out about additional support for care-experienced and estranged students at Cambridge (Student Support website).
Student accommodation
You're usually expected to live in College-owned accommodation at Cambridge.
Contracts usually last less than a year. But care-experienced and estranged students are entitled to rent accommodation all year round and up to 10 weeks after graduation.
Accommodation options and arrangements vary by College. We advise you to research your options before you apply and contact any Colleges you’re considering if you have questions.
If you’re a current Cambridge student, let your College know if your accommodation needs change at any point during your course.
Financial support
The University offers some financial support. This includes the Cambridge Bursary Scheme, which offers non-repayable bursaries.
You may be eligible for a higher level of Cambridge Bursary if you're a care leaver or are estranged. Find out more about eligibility criteria on the Cambridge Students website.
Your local authority may also provide you with after-care support. Get in touch with your local authority to discuss the financial support available to you. You can also check the Care Leaver Local Offer website to find out about local authority support.
To make it easier to access support, contact the College you’re applying to so they are aware of your circumstances before you apply. If you are making an open application, contact the College you have been allocated to.
Working with foster carers, teachers and social workers
We work with foster carers, teachers, and social workers to help them understand the support that is available at Cambridge.
We welcome questions and opportunities to collaborate. Please contact realise@admin.cam.ac.uk or sign up to our mailing list for teachers and professionals.
We cannot help with queries about current Cambridge students. If you are a social worker with queries or concerns about specific on-course students, please contact the student or their College directly.