Estranged Students (Students with no parental support)
“Estranged” is a legal term used by the Student Loan Company to describe someone who has no contact with their parents because of a breakdown in the relationship. This means that you won't be means-tested on your parental income for the maintenance loan. However, the impact of this situation is not all about money, it is more often about the trauma and hurt, the effect on your mental health and the isolation and lack of support you may feel.
We recognise this and have a small team that you can talk to. We offer a range of support for students that are estranged from their parents. This includes financial support via our Estrangement Bursary and guaranteed work as a student ambassador, accommodation support that includes access to year-round accommodation contracts, accommodation scholarships, and assistance with guarantors, as well as emotional support through 1-1 meetings with our team and group events with other students.
Contact the estrangement specialists
Phone: +44 (0)161 295 0023 (option 1, option 3)
Email: specialistsupport@salford.ac.uk
The legal side of “estranged”
- If you are “estranged” you are considered to have experienced “irreconcilable estrangement” from both your parents on or before the first day (usually 1 September) of the academic year you are applying for funding
- Usually you are classified as “estranged” if you have not been in contact with your parents or guardians for at least a year before your application, though the Student Loan Company does recognise that this is not always the best indicator of estrangement and are flexible on this
- All applications of "estrangement" are assessed on a case-by-case basis, with the outcome being based on the evidence you provide. So, if you have not had verbal or written contact with both of your biological or adoptive parents for a significant period of time, and that is not set to change in the foreseeable future, then you may be able to apply for Student Finance as an independent student
- If you have suddenly become estranged (either while at university or during application) or cannot find anyone to support your estrangement please seek advice from our Specialist Advisers (specialistsupport@salford.ac.uk) as we may be able to help fill in the estrangement form for you (acting as your third party, even if we have not met you yet)
Note for care-experienced students
If you have spent some time in care but are not being supported by a local authority Leaving Care Team, you may be able to get independent status as estranged.
- We can advise you on this. Please can you make an appointment with one of our advisers by emailing us on careleaver@salford.ac.uk
- It is always best to check with your local authority if you have had no contact with them for a while as gaining independent status as a care leaver can be easier than getting it via the estrangement route.
Support we can offer
If you need help or advice about your estrangement, register with us as a student who is estranged by emailing specialistsupport@salford.ac.uk. You can then make an appointment with us where we can:
- Advise you on collecting evidence for estrangement
- Act as your third party for Student Finance if necessary
- Help you with any other issues you may be facing
- Connect you to other University services such as wellbeing and counselling, accommodation and financial support within askUS
- Help refer you to other University services outside of askUS
Support
Applying for Student Finance
You can apply for Student Finance by yourself through the Government's Student Finance website.
- When you get to the section that asks whether you are a dependent or independent student, tick the box that states that you are “irreconcilably estranged from your family”
- Send in supporting evidence
- Complete the Confirmation of Estrangement Form with Student Finance England
It’s best to send as much supporting evidence as possible. All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis and the more evidence you provide, the quicker Student Finance can reach their decision. Any delay in this process could affect the date you receive your student loan payment.
If you'd like someone to help guide you through the process, you can contact our Specialist Advisers at specialistsupport@salford.ac.uk
Financial support
Estrangement Bursary
We offer up to £1100 per academic year within this bursary. This is split into two payments, with £300 awarded to eligible students at the end of November, and £800 awarded to eligible students at the end of May. This bursary is weighted towards the summer as we appreciate this can be a difficult time for students who are estranged with costs for accommodation and expenses during the summer break. This bursary is designed to assist with these costs.
Accommodation support
Student halls
If you stay with our Partner Accommodation that’s run by Campus Living Villages (Peel Park Quarter or John Lester and Eddie Coleman) then we may be able to provide additional support.
- CLV offer 52-week contracts for estranged students to make the gap between academic years easier for you by letting you stay in their accommodation over summer.
- They can organise for you to book your room without paying the deposit and rental advance up front, and delaying it until the first instalment of your student loan comes in.
- If required, we are able to organise for you to stay at the accommodation for all three years of your study through our ‘Protected Returner’ scheme.
If you’d like to find out more about any of the above, please get in contact with us.
Unite Foundation scholarship
We are also University partners with the Unite Foundation, who have a scholarship that can provide up to three years of free accommodation whilst you’re at university.
- You can find out how to apply on the This Is Us website and if you’re successful you’ll get your accommodation without having to pay rent or bills for up to three years.
Guarantors
We’ve also become partners with Housing Hand, which can act as a guarantor for your accommodation.
- If you’re in your second or third year at university then we may be able to cover the cost of using Housing Hand.
- If you are in your first year at Salford then we have an exclusive price. Please contact the team for further information.
Contact us for accommodation support
If you ever need any advice or support on accommodation, then we have accommodation specialists who can help. The accommodation team can be contacted on accommodation@salford.ac.uk or by calling +44 (0)161 295 0023.
Emotional support
The estrangement support team within askUS is here to be your first point of contact at the University and, while we usually only deal with non-academic enquiries, we can put you in contact with other areas of the University. Email specialistsupport@salford.ac.uk directly so we can provide you with support and set up a one-to-one appointment with you.
- It is completely normal to want or need to seek additional emotional support at university. We have a dedicated Wellbeing and Counselling team who will be able to speak with you about anything that is worrying you and refer you into counselling if you’d like. They can be contacted on +44 (0)161 295 0023 (option 1, option 1), on email at wellbeing@salford.ac.uk or through the referral form
- We also have a dedicated Disability Inclusion Service who will be able to support you with getting extra support in place. It’s best to contact them before you start university so they can get your support in place before you start. They can be called on +44 (0)161 295 0023 (option 1, option 2) or emailed on disability@salford.ac.uk
- We have also set up an instant messaging service to connect our estranged students and prospective students who are estranged. If you’re interested in joining, then please let us know by emailing specialistsupport@salford.ac.uk
External support
- Buttle UK provides thousands of grants to young people in the UK, often when there is no other source of help available to you. One particular grant that might be available to estranged young people is the Students and Trainees Programme
- The Students and Trainees Programme awards financial support to young people (aged 16-20), who are estranged from their parents to attend education. There are criteria and eligibility for this programme, so please ensure you check this first
- Brightside has some useful information for students whose parents are unwilling to provide their income details, as well as estranged students finding it difficult to evidence independence
- Turn2us is a free service that helps people in financial need to access welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help. Their website has a free and easy to use benefits calculator and grants search
- UCAS have launched a handy guide to applying as an Estranged student and how to access support whilst at university
- Stand Alone was a UK organisation that has been established to support anyone who has become estranged from their family, or primary care giver.
We still retain strong links with Stand Alone and the legacy of their work.
While Stand Alone was in operation they offered a wide variety of useful resources, and research into Estrangement Support. You can find some useful links to some of their reports below.
What happened next? Transitioning out of Higher Education
Hidden Voice: Family Estrangement in Students
Focus on access and retention. Risks for students who are estranged or disowned by their family
Estrangement Bursary Terms and Conditions 2024/2025
1. Award details
The award is to support a student’s learning and living costs and is available to UK full-time and part-time students who are struggling financially, have declared themselves as estranged or having a negative or poor relationship with family and were under the age of 26 when starting their current undergraduate programme of study at the University of Salford.
In Higher Education the word estrangement is used by Student Finance to describe a student with no relationship with either parent (adoptive or biological) and would not be able to provide information for means testing. At Salford we use a wider definition to include little, no or negative support from parents and carers. These students can also apply for this award.
2. Value
Eligible students will be awarded up to £1100 per academic year within this bursary. This is split into two payments, with £300 awarded to eligible students at the end of November, and £800 awarded to eligible students at the end of May. This bursary is weighted towards the summer as we appreciate this can be a difficult time for students who are estranged with costs for accommodation and expenses during the summer break. This bursary is designed to assist with these costs.
3. Application process
Application to the Salford Estrangement Bursary is by registering with the Specialist Support team by completing and having your evidence accepted. Please email specialistsupport@salford.ac.uk to receive the registration form.
4. Eligibility
To receive the Salford Estrangement Bursary, students must meet all the following criteria:
- Be verified as an estranged student or a student with no/negative support by the Residence and Campus Life Team.
- Be studying a course either delivered by the University on the University’s main campus (including Media City) or at a UK partner college: Salford City College or Bury College
- Be classed as a Home student (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Republic of Ireland) for fee purposes
- Have consented to the sharing of data submitted to Student Finance
- Have met the required progression criteria for their course.
- Must not have been previously registered with the University for any course except where the student is progressing from a foundation course to the first year of an undergraduate course (level 4).
For the 2024/25 academic year students must be registered and in attendance on a full-time or part-time course being delivered by the University at its main campus either at the University or a UK partner college (Salford City College or Bury College). This includes those students on a Higher National Certificate (HNC) course, certain postgraduate students (such as those on intercalated masters), and foundation course (level 3) students.
The bursary will be given to those who meet the eligibility criteria at the time of payment and meet all listed eligibility criteria.
Those not eligible for this award:
- Students who are not classed as home for fee purposes, or whose fee status is unresolved
- Students who were not ordinarily resident in the UK (i.e. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, also included is the Republic of Ireland) at the start of their course
- Students studying on a degree apprenticeship course
- Students already in receipt of any other bursary administered by the Residence and Campus Life Team (e.g. Care Experienced Bursary)
- Students who have been assessed by the Salford Support Fund team as ineligible for financial support due to money mismanagement.
- Students who have a relationship with their parents.
- Students deferring entry – subject to awards still being available, students holding offers for a deferred entry will be considered for an award the year they start their course.
- Students who are studying at postgraduate level. Please note that some Meng courses are UG courses and will be eligible for the bursary. Please email specialistsupport@salford.ac.uk if you are unsure if your course is eligible.
5. Verification of estrangement status
Verification will be undertaken by the Campus and Student Life Team, who will cross-reference information provided through UCAS, Online Registration and Student Finance. When necessary each student who has declared their status will be invited to attend a triage session to verify their status and eligibility for the Salford Estrangement Bursary.
Students who have self-declared as estranged will be asked to provide evidence. The evidence may take the form of any of the following:
- A letter from a member of staff at school or college which explains that they knew about the difficult relationship whilst the student was at school and their subsequent estrangement
- A letter from the student’s doctor explaining that they have consistently, and historically reported difficulties associated with estrangement
- A letter from a social worker or local authority that shows they were aware of the student’s difficult situation and/or they allocated them a child protection order
- A letter from a counsellor or an organisation such as National Association of People Abused in Childhood or Karma Nirvana that can vouch for the fact the student has been seeking support for their estrangement or disownment
- A letter from a housing support worker who may have helped the student find accommodation after they left home
- A letter from a member of the clergy, a rabbi or imam explaining that they were aware of the difficulties in the student’s family and their subsequent estrangement
- A statement of incident from the Police that shows any callouts, arrests or cautions involved in the case
- Appropriate evidence for any student who is still in contact with their family but has a poor, controlling or negative relationship with them
There are additional sources of evidence that would be considered suitable, but if the student is unable to provide the evidence requested, the specialist adviser will discuss this in further detail at a triage session. They should indicate this on the application form and an adviser will be in contact to discuss this further.
6. Use of awards
Awards are not transferable and should be used to assist with living costs.
7. Payment of the award
- All cash payments are paid through the Inspire scheme and details of how to download the cash will be provided when the award is made.
- Payments must be downloaded within one month of payment. Failure to do so will mean loss of award.
- If a student does not meet the eligibility criteria by Friday 15th November 2024, they will not receive the first instalment of this bursary for this academic year. If a student does not meet the eligibility criteria by Friday 9th May 2025, they will not receive the second instalment of this bursary for this academic year.
- Any students not claiming their bursary may claim at a later stage in their course, including if they have become estranged during their course. However, payments cannot be backdated.
8. Withdrawal or freezing of the award
- Changing a course and starting again at level 3 (foundation year) or 4 (first year undergraduate). Students who, having started a course, subsequently change courses starting again at either level 3 or 4, will not be eligible for the award against the new course. The original award will remain, but there will be no second payment against the new course. Once the student progresses onto the next level they will be eligible for the appropriate award to be made for that year of study.
- Temporary breaks in study. Students who arrange with the University to interrupt or leave their course on a temporary basis will have their award frozen until they resume studies.
- Suspension of study. If students are suspended by the University, their award will be frozen until the suspension has been lifted.
- Repeat/extended study. Repeat periods of study and temporary breaks in study that lead to repeat periods of study will not usually qualify for any additional award. The award entitlement is for the scheduled minimum duration of the course but may be extended if decided as necessary by the Specialist Support team. In instances such as this, students are expected to contact the team directly to discuss their individual circumstances
- Leaving or being removed from the course. Students who leave or are removed from their course will not be expected to repay the amount of their awards which have already been spent. However, the accounts of these students will be closed, and any remaining award will not be available to them and entitlement to all future payments will stop on the date they leave or are removed.
- In accordance with the Student Privacy Policy, the Campus and Student Life Team and the Schools will need to liaise to verify student status and eligibility to receive payment.
Stand Alone pledge
We were one of the first universities in the UK to sign the Stand Alone Pledge that recognises the hurdles you face and actively seeks to break down these barriers. In 2019 we won the Stand Alone award for best mental health support for Estranged Students. Unfortunately, in April 2024 Stand Alone closed. However, universities have been asked to sign a legacy pledge to continue to support students in Higher Education. We have committed to the Stand Alone Legacy Pledge. You can see both our pledges below.
Our University's Pledge
Our University's Pledge to Stand Alone
Original Pledge
October 14 2016
Dear Stand Alone
The University of Salford is proud to publicly pledge its support for students who are estranged from their families and who are studying at university without the support of a family network. By supporting the Stand Alone pledge in this public manner we hope to encourage a sector wide positive change and help to embed support for these students, not just at the University of Salford, but at all Universities. We know this can be achieved in this way by the difference that Buttle UK made with care leavers in a similar manner.
The resilience that the these students have already shown merely by making it this far is incredible and we would like to ensure that we are helping and encouraging estranged students at university by supporting them to succeed to the best of their ability. We recognise that, at present, estranged students are three times more likely to drop out due to lack of support. Equally we would like to encourage those estranged students that may be less resilient or confident, but still with the ability to study at university, to achieve that goal by extending our outreach work to address estrangement.
- Providing a single point of contact
- Developing webpages for estranged students with useful links and contact information
- Prioritising hardship funding via our Salford Support Fund.
- Providing advice and support around funding (including liaison with the Student Loan Company).
- Signposting to external organisations and internal teams for specific pastoral support
- Providing support regarding accommodation that is flexible to the needs of the student; priority to those who have been homeless before starting university; and deferment of deposits until after first loan payments
By signing this pledge we agree to work across the university to develop a two year action plan to further develop the above support and to ensure that it remains exemplary and relevant to the needs of estranged students. We will do this by encouraging estranged students to be critical partners in the development of the action plan. We look forward to sharing this plan with you.
To start this process off I will be meeting with a group of estranged students personally in the next month to fully understand the barriers and support that they may need.
Yours faithfully
Dr Sam Grogan
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Experience)
University of Salford
Stand Alone Legacy Pledge
March 18 2024
Continuing our support
We believe that supporting our estranged students is a critical part of helping them to thrive during their university experience, so we have taken the Stand Alone Legacy Pledge to continue our commitment to support students who are estranged, even after the closure of the charity.
Arron Pile, Manager of Residence and Campus life said regarding the Pledge:
We have used the pledge and our action plan to embed the really important support for students that are estranged, who can face multiple disadvantages and barriers in Higher Education.
We recognise the differences, but also the similarities that estranged students share with care experienced students. We will continue to include estranged students in our action plan of our NNECL Quality Mark Award so all actions in this will apply to estranged students where possible.
We will integrate our current pledge into the NNECL Quality Mark. We pledge that we will always ensure that the support for both groups will be equitable and will always offer the same level of support for both.
Signed by Arron Pile
Residence and Campus Life Manager
Specialist and Inclusive Support