Education / Training
If you decide to leave school at 16 and would like to find out about getting practical skills like plumbing or more qualifications such as Level 2s (equal to GCSEs) in English and maths, T Levels, A levels or Diplomas (this is called ‘Further Education’) tap the links below
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/find-a-course
https://www.gov.uk/courses-qualifications
T levels are a new qualification, this site explains what they are https://www.tlevels.gov.uk
If you are 19 or over and want to do training to help you get a job, look here to find free courses https://www.skillsforcareers.education.gov.uk/pages/training-choice/free-courses-for-jobs
Up to age 25 you are entitled to get help applying for courses from your Personal Adviser
If you need more help contact the charity for care leavers Become https://becomecharity.org.uk/get-support/care-advice-service/
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Find out what funding is available for your college course https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
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Are you thinking of going to university? (also known as ‘Higher Education’)
http://propel.org.uk/UK/?country=uk
A university student’s story https://becomecharity.org.uk/inspiration/zions-story/
A Youtube film of care leavers at university https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2T0D6mW2Y
A celebration of the university achievements of care leavers at Cambridge https://www.homerton.cam.ac.uk/homersphere/news/celebrating-achievements-care-leavers
Scholarships from The Open University https://mycovenant.org.uk/opportunities/the-open-university-care-experienced-scholarship/
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All applications to university are made through UCAS https://www.ucas.com
When filling in your UCAS form tick the ‘Care Leaver’ box and you will get more support https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/individual-needs/ucas-undergraduate-support-care-leavers
(For information on applying to Student Finance to fund your university course go to the Money page)
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Many universities offer special support to care leavers, both during the application stage and once you arrive to start doing your course
Here are the websites for some of the universities offering special support:
University of London https://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/money/undergraduates/care-experienced-students/
Brunel University, London https://www.brunel.ac.uk/study/schools-and-colleges/widening-access/Care-Leavers Postgraduate study support at Brunel https://www.brunel.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/articles/Applications-open-for-5000-Santander-care-leaver-bursary
Bristol University https://www.uwe.ac.uk/life/health-and-wellbeing/uwe-cares/care-leavers
University of Bath https://www.bath.ac.uk/guides/additional-support-and-funding-for-care-leavers-foyer-residents-and-estranged-students/
University of Birmingham https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees/funding/scholarships/Care-Leaver-Scholarship.aspx
Bournemouth University https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/studying-us/information-care-leavers
Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/departments/support/studentservices/student-support-team/students-without-family-support/
University of Cambridge http://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/why-cambridge/support/care-leaver-support
University of Essex, Colchester https://www1.essex.ac.uk/students/groups/care-leavers.aspx
University of Wales, Swansea https://www.uwtsd.ac.uk/study/fees-and-finance/undergraduate-fees/undergraduate-funding-support/undergraduate-bursaries-2
University of Edinburgh https://study.ed.ac.uk/undergraduate/access-edinburgh/edinburgh-cares
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If you don’t get into the university you wanted you can apply through what is called ‘Clearing’ to see if you can get into a different one
https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/student-advice/final-choice/guide-to-ucas-clearing