Support for Care Leavers

To be eligible for support we may ask you for evidence of your care leaver status. Our definition of a care leaver is:

“a person aged 25 or under, who was looked after away from home by a local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14; and who was looked after away from home by the local authority at school leaving age on or after that date.”

We can also help you if you have a background in care and have “been in the care of a local authority for at least 13 weeks whether away from home or in the home”

In addition, with your permission, we can liaise with your support worker to ensure you are supported appropriately throughout your time at QMU.

To help you get to QMU, we can provide you with:

• Advice on routes through education, including college opportunities
• Support to complete your UCAS application (If you are happy to do this without any help, remember to tick the box which asks if you have been in care, so we know to get in touch with you once we receive your application to discuss any appropriate support.)
• A guaranteed offer* to the course you have applied for at the minimum entry requirement

*We will try, wherever possible, to guarantee you a place on the specific course you have applied to, but this will not be possible in every circumstance. 

It might not be possible to offer you a place on your chosen course if, for example:

• it is a course with lots of applicants and not many places; or

• places are strictly limited by the Scottish Government (e.g. Education Studies (Primary), Nursing, Paramedic Science).

In some subject areas minimum entry requirements also include successful performance at interview or audition, or a successful portfolio assessment. Where entry to a course is determined largely by interview, audition, portfolio assessment or similar, we will guarantee your progression to that stage of the application process.

Your performance at this stage will determine whether you are offered a place. 

Once you arrive at QMU we can offer you:

• Individualised advice about funding and financial support
• Priority places on transition and support activities such as QMAdvance and QMConnect
• Extended leases in accommodation
• Priority access to opportunities for paid employment on campus

In addition, QMU is a key partner in Hub for Success that supports people with care experienced to get in, stay in or return to education. For further information please visit hubforsuccess

Please contact Callum Maguire, Head of Widening Participation and Outreach, if you would like to find out more about how we can support you at QMU - cmaguire@qmu.ac.uk 

In addition, QMU is a key partner in Hub for Success that supports people with care experienced to get in, stay in or return to education. For further information please visit hubforsuccess