Support for Student Carers

A student carer is someone who, at any point in their studies, provides unpaid care for a family member or friend who would not be able to manage without that support.

Student carers provide emotional and/or practical care, due to:

• illness
• disability
• a mental health problem
• an addiction

If you are unsure if you are a student carer, or to discuss your situation with us, please get in touch using the contact details below.

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 Gayle Green, QMCares Widening Participation Officer, if you would like to find out more about how we can support you at QMU- ggreen@qmu.ac.uk 

SAAS

SAAS have created this document specifically for Student Carers detailing what funding might be available to you.

Carers Trust Scotland

Carers Trust Scotland is the largest provider of carers support services in Scotland. To find out more about what they do, please visit their webpages.

Carers Scotland

Carers Scotland can help by giving advice, information and support. To find out more about how they can help, please visit their webpages.

Carers of East Lothian

Carers of East Lothian supports all adults in a caring situation in East Lothian to get information and services to help their individual caring role, enhance their own wellbeing, and strengthen their collective voice to improve services. To find out more how they can help, please visit their webpages.

Edinburgh Young Carers

Edinburgh Young Carers is a voluntary organisation that provides respite and support to young people between the ages of 5 and 20 who care for somebody at home. To find out more how they can help, please visit their webpages.

Mind

Mind work to ensure people look after their mental health. They have local carer support groups that can be a huge help for people. Visit these webpages for up to date information.

National Union of Students

This NUS webpage has some helpful advice and guidance for student carers.