UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Finance
We offer advice and guidance about applying as an independent student to Student Finance England and support prospective and current students throughout the process. This takes place in person or via virtual meetings. All estranged students can apply to a discretionary Success for All (hardship) fund and estranged students are able to benefit from a ‘fast track’ application and decision process We provide an Estranged Students Bursary administered by our University Guild Advice Service which helps students based on individual need. The amount is not fixed and will be dependent on a student’s situation. Examples include providing non-repayable financial support for specific counselling, food parcels, and travel related costs and accommodation costs. We provide a welcome package which is administered in partnership with our Student Guild and Students’ Union. It is designed to help build a sense of belonging at the university and to support the development of healthy social connections. The package is worth up to £200 and includes funding towards laundry costs, bus pass, Sports pass, Society membership and general food costs.
Accommodation
We can provide access to accommodation during the whole calendar year including the holiday periods, to remove the obstacle of estranged students having to find temporary vacation accommodation.
Mental Health
The university offers a collaborative approach for support between the named contacts within the Student Guild and our Student Wellbeing team enabling efficient join-up with that service if required. Names and contact details are clearly displayed on both the Guild, and the University websites. We have recently launched Exeter Cares. A joint initiative, aimed at delivering activities and promoting the support, through a termly newsletter, that is available to care experienced students, student carers, estranged students, refugees, asylum seekers and mature students. We run regular social events for Exeter based students via our Student Guild that are both online and in person. We have found that students particularly value the opportunity to meet their fellow students in a similar situation to themselves. We are aware that Christmas time especially can be difficult. The university will invite and pay for students to have Christmas lunch on campus if they wish to attend. We send a Christmas card and a small present to those students that we are aware are estranged and will follow this up with a check in phone call during the Christmas vacation.
Outreach
Estranged school students are eligible for Exeter Scholars Access Programme. The free programme gives young people the opportunity to develop their knowledge about university and experience what it is like to study a subject of their choice at university level. University of Exeter applicants who successfully complete the programme and receive an offer from us will receive a three grade adjustment, our most generous contextual offer. We have an Estranged Student web page and encourage students and supporting staff to get in touch as early as possible in their applicant journey. Specific advice is available at our Offer Holder Days where offer holders can speak with specialist staff including Wellbeing and our Guild Advice Service. Estranged students are invited to attend the Enhanced Induction Programme. This transitional programme held at least a week before arrivals weekend is focused upon providing invited students with the opportunity to overcome any concerns that they may have had about making the transition to study at Exeter.
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