Unite Foundation Student Awards

An accommodation award for care experienced or estranged students.

UPDATE for 2021/22

The Unite Foundation have suspended the 2021/22 intake of students to be certain that they are able to respond to the impacts of Coronavirus.  They will review in the coming months, but currently there are no plans to reinstate this particular cycle .

Each award will cover the full accommodation costs at The Old Printworks in Edinburgh for three years of study.

Eligibility

Applications are open to Home-fee status students who meet the eligibility criteria listed below. These awards are intended to support access to higher education for students who have previously been in Local Authority care,  or similar residential provision for young homeless adults, or who are estranged from their family. Successful applicants will be provided with accommodation for 52 weeks each year for a period of three years.

To apply for the Unite Foundation award you need to satisfy the following criteria:

• Age 25 or under on 1 September 2020;
• A Home (UK) undergraduate starting your programme in September 2020;
• Have applied for a place at the University of Edinburgh, or be a continuing student at the University of Edinburgh;
• Undertaking a first and only programme of Undergraduate study;
• Be in receipt of, or applying for student finance from your regional funding body (e.g: Student Finance England (SFE) or Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
• A care leaver or estranged from your family.

Successful applicants will be offered a single study en-suite bedroom in a shared flat with a communal kitchen. The flats will be shared with other students. Your accommodation costs for this room will be fully covered for all 52 weeks of the year. 

Terms and conditions

Whilst receiving this award, you will be required to sign the normal rental agreement operating for the property in each academic year, and you will be bound by this agreement in the normal way. You will not require a guarantor. In certain circumstances, you may be permitted to opt out of the scheme for an academic year, to return to it in the subsequent year.

Permissible conditions may include an approved placement or study abroad year, or personal circumstances which may warrant a temporary break in study. However, any permitted break cannot exceed one year.

In accepting the award, you agree to make available to the donor (Unite Foundation) or their representative:

• your first name or a specified alias
• a short word profile of yourself (no more than one side of an A4 page) and allow this to be used (with permission) in marketing and publicity by the Donor.

You will also be encouraged to provide a photograph if appropriate, though this will be optional.

Applying

No applications are being accepted for 2021/22.