Group of students working together at a table on campus.

Care-Experienced

Edinburgh College is a proud Corporate Parent and we take our responsibility to support care-experienced students very seriously. Our role includes supporting you through the college application process, ensuring you have a positive learning experience and providing support during your studies.

What Does Care-Experienced Mean?

Care-Experienced individuals may have been, or are currently in, the following situations:

  • Foster care – Living with another family
  • Residential care – Living in a children’s unit
  • Kinship care – Living with friends or relatives
  • Care leaver – Someone leaving care or no longer in care, and under the age of 26
  • At home – Living with parent(s), but with formal social work involvement

Support for Care-Experienced Students

Disclosing on your application that you are Care-Experienced will allow us to contact you to tell you about the wide range of support we can offer. This support includes:

  • Funding and how to apply for your Care-Experienced Bursary and other funding you may be entitled to, including Childcare and Discretionary Funds
  • Putting you in touch with a member of staff who will be your key contact throughout your time at college
  • Discussing any learning support needs and assessment arrangements you might be entitled to, perhaps you had extra time and/or a reader for your exams in school
  • Letting you know about the range of support available at college, like our wellbeing and counselling services
  • Edinburgh College Students’ Association (ECSA) – the College has a very active Student’s Association which has a dedicated page for care-experienced students. You will be invited to join this once you have enrolled on your course

Care-Experienced Bursary

If you are studying at HNC or HND level, you can apply to SAAS for your Care-Experienced Bursary. There isn’t a separate application, you can just complete the usual application and indicate on the form that you are Care-Experienced.

Visit the SAAS website for more information about the Care-Experienced Bursary.

Care-Experienced Guide (PDF)