Financial support for students leaving local authority care.
The information on this page is correct for the 2024/25 academic year.
Overview
If you are leaving local authority care, you may be eligible to receive the Care Leaver Package.
"To not have to worry about my living situation and the costs involved in studying has been so reassuring. Because my past has been so unstable, I'm always thinking about the future, that's why I've used the financial support I receive to start saving for when I leave University and go off into the world."
Ella, media student
Read Ella's story.
What you could receive
Successful applicants will receive the maximum of £2,100 from the Student Success Scholarship, plus a bursary of £1,500.
Part-time students will receive a proportional award based on the number of credits they are studying.
You can only receive the package once per academic year, and you need to reapply each academic year.
Who can apply
You can apply for the Care Leaver Package if you:
- are a fully enrolled, full or part-time, undergraduate student,
- are paying a tuition fee of £9,250 or the part-time equivalent – this can be self-funded or through a student loan,
- are a home fee status student,
- are eligible for the Student Success Scholarship,
- have spent three or more months in local authority care in the school years including and after year ten, and
- are aged 25 or under at the time of enrolment at Sheffield Hallam.
If you receive benefits and/or any other financial support, it is your responsibility to check whether receiving an award will affect your entitlement(s)/payments.
How and when to apply
You will need to apply for the Student Success Scholarship in one of the application windows.
If you are eligible to apply for the Student Success Scholarship, the application form can be found in the scholarships section in My Student Record.
You must read the information about the Student Success Scholarship before applying.
What happens next
The first payment will be made through the normal Student Success Scholarship process. The second payment will normally be made in the second semester.
If you are eligible to receive the care leaver bursary, confirmation will be included in your Student Success Scholarship outcome email, this is normally sent about a month after an application window closes.
If you believe you are eligible for the care leaver bursary but do not receive confirmation of this in the Student Success Scholarship outcome email, please contact Hallam Help.
Need help
If you have any questions about the Care Leaver Package, please contact Hallam Help.
If you are considering applying for Sheffield Hallam, or you are currently an applicant, as a care leaver, you may be eligible to join our SHU Progress applicant support scheme. It provides additional support throughout the application process, from the year you choose to apply to university through to becoming a university student.
