Care Leavers: Your FAQs

We are committed to ensuring all care leavers at the University are given the necessary resources to achieve whilst studying with us. We understand that there are many barriers and challenges you will be facing which is why we have a range of services to support you during your time at Exeter.

What is a care leaver?

The University of Exeter follows the definition of Care Leaver used in the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000; we define a care leaver as a young people (up to the age of 25) who have been looked after by the local authority for more than 13 weeks since they were 14, including some time at age 16 or 17. 

We are defining a student with care experience as anyone who has been or is currently in care or from a looked after background at any stage of their life, no matter how short. This care may have been provided in one of many different settings, such as in residential care, foster care, kinship care or looked after at home with a supervision requirement.

Can I receive support in my application to Exeter University?

If you indicate on your UCAS application that you’re a Care Leaver, you’ll be contacted for further information to help us establish if you meet the criteria for Care Leavers as defined in the  Children (Leaving care) Act 2000.

If you don’t meet the eligibility criteria to be considered a Care Leaver, you may not be eligible for the full financial support package (see below), but you will still be offered pastoral support if you have particular needs or concerns.

I’m just outside the timeline to be considered care experienced, can I get support?

We would encourage you to contact us to talk through your situation and what support we can offer.