Care experienced students

Loughborough University welcomes all care experienced students who have the desire and potential to succeed in higher education.

We will provide encouragement and motivation throughout your studies and help to ease worries about accommodation and finance with bespoke support packages.

We offer support throughout your time at Loughborough University via wellbeing advisers based in schools and you can contact them on studentwellbeing@lboro.ac.uk.

Our flexible accommodation options include the ability to remain on campus on a 52-week basis (subject to availability), so you can set up permanent roots in Loughborough for the duration of your studies. If you’d like to continue to live on campus over the summer, a summer accommodation request can be made directly to the Student Accommodation Centre in Term 3.

You would be responsible for covering the costs of the accommodation, but you may be able to:

  • Access funding from your local authority for this period.
  • Make an application to the Hardship Fund Summer Scheme which is intended to help undergraduate students who face financial difficulties during the summer vacation. A successful application can provide funds to assist with your accommodation and outgoings over the vacation

There is a special package of support for care experienced students available from Loughborough University including the Care Leavers Bursary. To apply for this bursary you will need to complete the application form which will be available on this webpage at the beginning of the Autumn term. You can view the eligibility criteria on the same webpage. You only need to complete the application once to establish entitlement for the whole of your course (note that the Bursary is not paid during a placement year). If you need help with the application form please contact us via email.

Loughborough University is proud to partner with Dunelm to provide a Care Experienced Welcome Pack which includes bedding, cutlery, kitchenware, a Dunelm voucher and other necessities. The aim of the pack is to help you settle into University life with all the essentials you need. The pack is available to all students who confirm themselves as care experienced on their UCAS application.

The Student Advice and Support Service can support you to ensure that you are receiving all the funding you are entitled to from Student Finance, your local authority and from the university. They can assist you with planning your budget and provide advice about student finance, housing and other matters before and during your time as a student at Loughborough. Book an appointment and find contact details.

Propel is a free online resource that can help you to decide which University is the right choice for you. Local authorities can also signpost you to a range of additional support though charities like Become and the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL). More information can also be found on the Care Leavers’ Association pages and the UK Government website.

Like all students, we advise care experienced students to research their options and decide what type of University experience they would enjoy the most. Consider which subject areas interest you the most and if you are able to, try visiting Universities in person or through online events if you can.

Your teachers, friends, carers/guardians and social workers are all excellent sources of information and will be able to help you understand your options and make an informed decision about where to study. If you think Loughborough might be the right place for you, you can speak to our team and get advice on how to apply and/or write a personal statement on our School and Colleges liaison pages.

Contextual admissions

Consideration of contextual information may lead to an offer being made which is slightly lower than the typical entry requirements.

Contextual admissions