The one thing that students talk about the most at the University of Stirling is the sense of community. At Stirling, students from all different backgrounds come together on a beautiful campus and are able to settle in, make new friends and get involved in everything there is to offer.
Estranged students are young people (usually aged 18-24) studying without the support and approval of a family network. Young people in this position often have no contact at all with their family, and are usually financially self-reliant and required to be assessed as independent by their government funding body rather than their parental household income.
Here at the University of Stirling we provide support throughout the student journey for all estranged students.
The University will use contextual information alongside the UCAS application to assess the applicant, taking into account their personal and educational circumstances. Estranged students may be considered for an offer at the minimum entry requirement. For SQA S6 Higher qualifications, the minimum entry requirement is adjusted by two grades.
| SQA Higher typical entry requirement | SQA Higher minimum entry requirement |
|---|---|
| AAAB | ABBB |
| AABB | BBBB |
We've partnered with Stand Alone to enhance our support for estranged students. Stand Alone is an organisation which supports adults and students that have no contact with their family. In 2019 we signed the Stand Alone Pledge.
Signing the Stand Alone pledge showcases the University of Stirling’s commitment to helping estranged students overcome disadvantage and to support them through the student journey; from enquiry stage to post-graduation.
We have set out the following areas of targeted commitment for all estranged students at Stirling:
There's a financial bursary of £500 for estranged students. There's also no graduation fee and assistance for additional graduation costs such as gown hire. View more information about our discretionary and assistance funds.
365 days accommodation for students without family who want to stay on campus during vacation periods. Students can also apply for the Accommodation Enhancement Fund.
Each estranged student will be given a single point of contact to ensure an individualised package of support is implemented, including mental wellbeing support.
There's comprehensive pre-application and transition support including help to choose a course, find the right route into university and how to write a personal statement for your application. For more information email wp@stir.ac.uk.
Just get in touch - it’s as easy as that!
Our Student Recruitment Team are happy to advise estranged students and their supporters. All contact is confidential and impartial and, with your permission, we'll help make the road into university easier. We'll put you in contact with the right people and make sure you get the support you need.
We can arrange individual visits for you and a friend, adviser or supporter to let you see the campus, find out more about what we offer, and answer any questions you have. You might want to find out more about a particular subject, get advice about your qualifications or find out what specific support you could receive.
You'll meet with one of the Student Recruitment Team, and if you like you can also book onto one of our campus tours which are led by our Student Ambassadors.
All you have to do is get in touch via email and we'll do the rest.
Open Days are a great way to find out more about everything to do with university life. A range of information desks are available where you can speak to University staff, academics, and current students. We have a dedicated information stand manned by our widening participation staff who can help you get the most out of the day.
If you've been made an offer then you'll be invited to an Offer Holder Day. These are really useful for you and your supporters even if you live locally or have visited the University campus before. They give you time to ask staff and students about what it is like to study at Stirling and lets you find out all you need to know about the next steps in the application process.
If you're coming on your own to either of these events, or are unsure of what to do on the day, get in touch once you've registered online and we'll make sure you get the most out of your visit.
Our friendly and welcoming team are your first point of contact for all kinds of support and they would be happy to talk to you at any time - even before you come to university.
We have a named point of contact for estranged students within the Student Support Services Team who will be able to provide you with a range of support when you start studying with us and help you to access other assistance from across the university. If you are a current University of Stirling student you can get in touch with the team by emailing sssSPOC@stir.ac.uk.
Once you start studying at Stirling, Student Support Services can offer a range of services, including:
Accommodation - student carers can get advice from our accommodation team if they have any specific requirements. Just let them know and they will help you out in any way they can.
Finance - you should get in touch with our Money Advisers as soon as possible, even before you come to university. They'll help you to budget, manage your money and let you know about any additional sources of finance you could get.
Accessibility and inclusion support - our advisers offer one-to-one information, support and guidance before you arrive and throughout your time at university to assess what you need and help you to access it.
Personal tutor - personal tutors help students feel part of the university community. They're your first point of contact for everything from academic guidance to personal advice throughout your studies.
STEER - our peer mentoring programme in run by The Students' Union and offers one-to-one support from a current student for your first year of study.
Students’ Union - the Union provides support and guidance on issues ranging from academic to housing to finance; provided by trained staff who are on hand to talk through any issues you may face whilst at university.
If you'd like to discuss your options, or talk through what it might be like to come to university, contact our Student Recruitment Team who can provide advice online or, if you would prefer, arrange a visit.
We are also happy to work with key workers, foster parents, guardians and other support workers to provide any information, advice and guidance we can to help you.
The Student Awards Agency for Scotland are looking at ways to better support estranged students. They have some additional grants which you can claim on top of any student loan. You can find more information on the SAAS website.
Students from outside of Scotland should talk to their finance provider in the first instance. Alternatively you could contact our own money advisers who would be happy to help - email sssSPOC@stir.ac.uk.
You probably have loads of questions about coming to university. Just get in touch – we’re here to help.
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There’s lots of financial support, scholarship opportunities and specific bursaries through SAAS specifically for widening access students.
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At the University of Stirling, we offer an extensive range of support services to help you fulfil your potential and make the most of your time studying with us.
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Our team can support you right the way through to you starting at Stirling, so don’t hesitate to get in touch at any time. This information will help to guide you through the next steps after applying.