Young carers

Young Carers

We appreciate that some students have a responsibility to care for parents, siblings or other relatives who are unwell, disabled or in need of support or supervision.

Caring for a loved one can take a considerable amount of time, effort and commitment. We have put together a package of support to ensure you don’t have to worry that your domestic circumstances will hold you back from getting into and thriving at university.

Is it for you?

This support is designed for:

  • young people who provide care for a friend or family member who could not cope without their support

  • carers who will be aged between 18 and 25 at the start of their undergraduate degree
 

 

Pre-entry support

Outreach events to help you explore your options

Open Day information stands 

Are you a young carer looking to apply for university but feeling unsure about the process? Come and chat with our friendly Widening Participation team at this year's undergraduate open days! We'll be stationed at an information stand and ready to answer any questions you may have.

We know that university can be daunting, but with the right support, it can also be an incredible experience. Our team will be happy to talk to you about general support services available to students and give you the lowdown on applying to university.

The dates for our 2026 undergraduate open days haven't been released yet.

In the meantime we are offering Virtual Open Days, from October through to January 2026

View open days information 

 

Support with student finance 

A key factor in making your decision about higher education is finance. At UoN, we have a wide range of financial support options available for undergraduate students. 

Starting university in 2026

  • The Core Bursary provides £1,400 per year to students with a household income below £35,000, as assessed by Student Finance, who meet certain criteria.   

Please visit the bursaries webpage for more details of eligibility criteria. Information is always subject to change for future years of entry, so we would recommend checking regularly for further updates.

We also suggest looking at the Scholarships page, we have a range of scholarships available for those with different skills, abilities and backgrounds.

Our Funding and Financial Support team provide information and advice on most aspects of student finance to both current and prospective students. The financial support team also provide information and useful advice about managing your money and budgeting

The funding mentioned on this page is for undergraduates. Our funding for postgraduates page explains the finance available for masters or doctorate programmes.

Check your eligibility for a lowered grade offer

Some students are eligible for contextual offers at the university. Although being a young carer is not one of the criteria for this, we would encourage you to  visit this page to check your eligibility. 

Part-time and flexible study

You could balance your study with family or professional commitments by studying part-time and spreading your degree over four to seven years. A large number of our courses are available part-time.

Please note, we only offer part-time study to students from/who reside in the UK.

Outreach programmes

The University of Nottingham has a range of outreach programmes for Year 12 and Year 13 students.

These will help you to explore your options, make informed choices and offer support through the application process. Find out more by clicking the links below:

Accommodation options available at university

Students who also have caring responsibilities may choose to live at home while studying. However, the University of Nottingham has a wide variety of university accommodation available if you choose to live away from home. Factors such as room type and length of contract will affect the overall cost, as shown on this webpage. You may also find out FAQ webpage useful.  

Support once you have enrolled

Help settling into accommodation

Moving into any new home can be a stressful situation. Our Residential Experience Team (ResX) provides support to students living in university halls of residence. They’re available 7 days a week, from the day you arrive, until the day you leave, to support you to settle and thrive in your new home, and the fantastic community that you will belong to as a student at the University of Nottingham

Working in collaboration with your lecturers

We appreciate that there can be a considerable amount of time, effort and commitment involved in caring for a loved one, so we want to support you with your studies or work as much as possible during this time. 

Therefore, we strongly encourage you to advise and work with your lecturers/tutors, who can help manage your studies alongside your caring responsibilities (for example, if you need to join a lecture later or leave earlier due to your responsibilities).

 

Useful links

There is a collection of external organisations* that support young carers in their journey to higher education:

*The University of Nottingham is not responsible for the content on external websites.

Contact us

We hope the above information is useful to you. If you have any further questions, please submit an enquiry using this form.