Close

Estranged students bursary

Key facts
Overview
Eligibility
Application process

Key facts

Start dates

January 2025 / September 2025

Available to home or international students?

Home

Study level

Undergraduate

Award value

£2,000

Eligible course awards

BA (Hons), BSc (Hons), BEng (Hons)

Number of awards

Unlimited

Application deadline

31 July 2026

Overview

If you are irreconcilably estranged from both your parents, you are a UK student who is under 25 and you are considering full-time undergraduate study at Oxford Brookes, you could be eligible for an additional bursary to support you while studying.

The bursary is worth £2,000 per academic year to eligible full-time study students. Applications must be received during the Academic Year and no bursary can be paid retrospectively for previous years of study. The bursary is paid in 2 equal instalment of £1,000, normally in November and February.

Further details

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, you must be enrolled on a full-time undergraduate or foundation degree and registered as a student at Oxford Brookes University, and:

  • start your course here in the 2024/25 or 2025/26 academic year;
  • be aged 25 years or under at the start of the course;
  • be in receipt of support from Student Finance England;
  • be formally estranged from your parents and recognised by Student Finance England as having independent status. or be irreconcilably estranged from both parents. This should be verified by an objective third party, which for the purposes of these regulations, refers to any relevant person acting in a professional capacity, providing evidence for which they are professionally accountable (e.g. teacher from school/college or GP). This person should normally have known about their situation for a substantial amount of time, and can verify that they do not have contact with their biological, adoptive or only living parents
  • GBS students are not eligible to apply for the Estranged Students Bursary

Please note:

  • The University reserves the right to terminate an award and demand repayment of funds already paid in the case of disciplinary action against an award-holder.
  • The University reserves the right to withdraw a Bursary from anyone who is found to have misled the University about any aspect of their eligibility and to seek repayment of any monies already paid by appropriate means.

This funding is available to students studying on the following courses:

Undergraduate

Application process

Students are requested to complete an application for the Estranged Student Bursary and evidence must be in the form of an original letter by an independent person such as a teacher from school/college, GP or social worker. This person should normally have known about your situation for a substantial amount of time, and can verify that you do not have contact with your biological, adoptive or only living parents.

Please email studentwelfare@brookes.ac.uk to request an application form or support with applying for estranged student status.