If you are an estranged student, then our We Care Team can help
Every one of our students is different and unique. That’s why we’ll work with you to create a personalised support package. We aim to support you in making informed choices, settle in quickly at university, enjoy your student experience, and achieve your potential.
We can also support you if you are just thinking of applying to university by assisting you with all aspects of the application process from course choices, feedback on a personal statement to interview tips and hints. We can accompany you to university Open Days, arrange an individual tour, or simply meet up for a chat.
Wendy Price, Head of Widening Access and Participation, is our dedicated contact for estranged students and is assisted by Lauren, Safeenah, and Jess. The We Care Team can offer individual, bespoke support whenever you need it. Any contact is kept confidential and your choices are respected at all times.
We can provide personalised support based on your individual needs. This could include the following:
- Accompany you to university events such as Open Days, individual tours, Applicant Days, interviews, and graduation.
- Help you move in and show you around campus when you start university
- Act as a central point of contact for you throughout your studies supporting you with any issues or concerns you might have. You can meet with us one-to-one for a coffee and a chat or contact us via phone, email, or Microsoft Teams. We can offer support every day that the University is open.
- Meet with you at the start of each academic year whether you’re new to the University or new to our support
We offer support with the following:
- Accommodation 52 weeks a year if you arrange it in advance
- Student finance and funding
- Employment and part-time work
- Academic queries such as taking time out of your course
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Accessing the ‘We Care’ bursary of £2,500 for each year of study
If you have any questions about studying at the University of Sunderland, or the support available, please contact the We Care Team on 0191 515 2216 or email estranged.contact@sunderland.ac.uk.
Dedicated support for you
If you are a UK ‘home’ student and irreconcilably estranged from both parents/carers, our We Care team can offer you individual, bespoke support whenever you need it. Any contact is kept confidential and your choices are respected at all times.
The term ‘estranged student’ is used to refer to students who are studying without the support of a family network. We have a support package in place to assist you if you are:
- Studying a full-time, undergraduate or taught postgraduate course
- Aged under 25 on the first day of the academic year (1 September)
- A UK ‘home’ student
- Irreconcilably estranged from both parents/carers
By 'irreconcilably estranged' we mean that either:
- You have had no contact at all with your parents/carers for at least 12 months and this is unlikely to change
- You can demonstrate on other grounds that you are estranged from your parents/carers, for example in exceptional circumstances
- You are assessed as independent by Student Finance England (SFE) because you are estranged from both parents/carers
For estrangement cases that cannot be confirmed by SFE, proof of evidence of ‘genuine estrangement’ would need to be supplied to the University. All applications of estrangement are assessed on an individual basis.
Please note, you will not be considered estranged simply on the basis that you live separately from your parents, have recently fallen out with your parents, or your parents are unwilling to complete income assessment forms or contribute towards your student finance.
If you are unsure whether you are an estranged student, or what you may be eligible for, please contact the We Care Team on 0191 515 2216 or email estranged.contact@sunderland.ac.uk.
For more information you can visit the University of Sunderland - Support for estranged students section.
