Student communities support

At Surrey we are committed to supporting students from diverse backgrounds. We have an inclusive community, allowing students to connect and make the best of their student experience. 

One-to-one support

You can access one-to-one support with a dedicated student adviser throughout your studies.

If you are a care leaver – a student who is under 25 and has been cared for by any local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 - then you will be eligible for further support. We also support care experienced students who may not fulfil the above description, but have had care provided in one of many different settings, such as:

• With foster carers under local authority care 
• In a residential children’s home
• Being ‘looked after at home’ under a supervision order
• Living with friends or relatives in kinship care.

We are connected to the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers (NNECL) enabling us to learn and share best practices and provide the best support.

One to one support

Your named contact for support, advice and guidance as a care leaver or care experienced student is Najaah Oozeer from the Student Success Team (n.oozeer@surrey.ac.uk). If you require ongoing, one-to-one pastoral support, Najaah or one of the other advisors from the Student Success team (StudentSuccess@surrey.ac.uk) can provide this for the duration of your studies at Surrey. The Team will also provide you with a Welcome Pack when you first make contact on arrival.

Financial support

You will be assessed on entry for The Care Leaver and Estranged Student Bursary. Care leavers and care experienced students may also be able to access other funds/bursaries to support them during their studies if not eligible for the above - see our bursaries page.

Accommodation

You will be given priority for on-campus accommodation during the summer breaks and in your second and third year of studying. Care leaver and care experienced students wishing to rent privately can access our Guarantor Scheme and have the administration costs paid by the University – please apply via the Student Success Team.

Laptops and learning 

You can take advantage of our long-term Laptop Loan Scheme, as well as applying to our Access to Learning Fund, for money towards books and other learning equipment for your programme – speak to Student Success for more information

Sports

If finances are a barrier to joining in with sports at Surrey, you may be eligible as a care leaver/care experienced student to access funding to support with this.  Referral required from Student Success.

Study abroad

You can apply for a study award to fund participation in summer programmes abroad Summer programmes | Study | MySurrey.

Careers and employability

There is a dedicated point of contact in the Careers and Employability service for care leaver/care experienced students – email careers@surrey.ac.uk for more information

Care Leaver Covenant

The University has signed up to the Care Leaver Covenant.

If you have caring responsibilities, we know that there are many challenges that you have to face and have extra support available to you.

University hardship support

Most UK students can make an application for hardship financial support if you experience financial difficulty due to unexpected bills to pay.

Government financial support

The UK government offers Carer's Allowance which is a benefit paid to you if you spend at least 35 hours a week looking after a disabled person (defined as a person claiming certain elements of Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or the Personal Independence Payment). In order to be eligible you must be a part-time student and earning no more that £123 per week.

Time out from studies

If your caring responsibilities have ceased and you are waiting to return to study you may be able to apply for universal credit for up to a year until you can recommence study.

We aim to create an environment which welcomes disabled and dyslexic students, enabling you to participate fully in university life. We provide our students and prospective students with a range of support, including advice on the Disabled Students’ Allowance.

Getting around campus

We have partnered with AccessAble to develop access guides to help you get around our sites and buildings more easily.

View our accessibility information to find out more about access around the University.

Admissions advice

Disability advisers are available to provide admissions advice, answering any specific enquiries or concerns from prospective students.

Study support

Our Disability and Neurodiversity team provide a wide variety of study support services tailored to your individual needs.

If you have lost contact with your family, we can help provide you with personalised support.

One to one support

Your named contact for support, advice and guidance as an estranged student is Najaah Oozeer from the Student Success team (n.oozeer@surrey.ac.uk). If you require ongoing, one-to-one pastoral support, Najaah or one of the other advisors from the Student Success team (StudentSuccess@surrey.ac.uk) can provide this for the duration of your studies at Surrey. The Team will also provide you with a Welcome Pack when you first make contact on arrival.

Financial support

You will be assessed on entry for The Care Leaver and Estranged Student Bursary. Estranged students may also be able to access other funds/bursaries to support them during their studies if not eligible for the above. See our bursaries page.

Confirmation of estrangement/SFE

If you complete the confirmation of estrangement form you may be able to be assessed as an independent student rather than on the basis of your household income.

New applicant – If you are a new applicant and have been a part of any pre-entry activity and the circumstances of your estrangement are known to us through this, we can help you to complete the Confirmation of Estrangement form.  If this is not the case, we will require you to have worked with a University service for up to a year before the form can be completed by a member of staff.

Current student – If you are a current student who is re-applying for student finance, we can only complete the Confirmation of Estrangement form if the circumstances of your estrangement are known to a University service or staff member.

For further guidance on any questions related to student finance as an estranged student, please look at information provided by Stand Alone.

Accommodation

You will be given priority for on-campus accommodation during the summer breaks and in your second and third year of studying.   Estranged students wishing to rent privately can access our Guarantor Scheme and have the administration costs paid by the University – please apply via the Student Success Team.

Laptops and learning 

You can take advantage of our long-term Laptop Loan Scheme, as well as applying to our Access to Learning Fund, for money towards books and other learning equipment for your programme – speak to Student Success for more information

Sports

If finances are a barrier to joining in with sports at Surrey, you may be eligible as an estranged student to access funding to support with this. Referral required from Student Success.

Study abroad

You can apply for a study award to fund participation in summer programmes abroad.

Careers and employability

There is a dedicated point of contact in the Careers and Employability service for estranged students – email careers@surrey.ac.uk for more information.

Stand Alone Pledge

The University has signed up to the Stand Alone Pledge.

We are committed to ensuring the very best student experience where all our community can flourish in a culture of respect and support, where we celebrate difference and thrive on each other’s success.

LGBT+ Society

The LGBT+ Society focuses on your welfare and provides support, knowledge and friendship to all. The group increases representation to LGBT+ students and work closely with community LGBT+ groups and charities.

Events

The LGBT+ society run a series of events throughout the year to promote to increase awareness LGBT+ identities and issues on campus and in the local community. Each year we also celebrate LGBT History Month to celebrate people and achievements, raise awareness of LGBTQ identities and issues, and broaden public understanding of the complex nature of gender, sexual prejudices, and romantic and sexual orientation.

If you are aged 21 or over and about to start an undergraduate course, you are officially recognised as a mature student. 12% of our undergraduate student population are mature learners [student key facts 2018-19 (PDF)], so whether you are returning to education for career progression, personal development or to pursue an interest, you are welcome here at Surrey.

One-to-one support

You can access one-to-one support with a dedicated student adviser throughout your studies.

Mature learner cafés

You have the opportunity to come along to a mature learners café, to meet other mature students, network and get involved with university life.

If you are are pregnant or have a caring responsibility for very young children (those who are breastfeeding or who are under six months old), we have a range of support services and appropriate study-related adjustments in place to help you succeed in your studies.

Useful links

• Bright Horizons Family Solutions Client Nursery
• Childcare provision in the local area
• Schools information for the local area
• Childcare Grant information
• Child Tax Credits.

If you are under the age of 18, you will be treated exactly the same as students who are 18 and over, as a mature, independent individual. As such, we will correspond with you directly, rather than your parents or legal guardians. You have access to the same study, accommodation, health and wellbeing, faith and spirituality, money and careers support offered to students over the age of 18.

Accommodation

If you are under 18 and select shared accommodation, you will live with other students over the age of 18. Other students who share accommodation with you aren't advised of your age and don't have any Disclosure and Barring Service checks made on them before moving in.