Equal Opportunities in Careers

You should live in a postcode area with a low level of participation in higher education (POLAR4 quintile 1) or a neighbourhood that is assessed as being in a lower quintile in the Governments Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD quintile of 1 or 2).

You should live in a neighbourhood that is assessed as being in a lower quintile in the Government's Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD quintile of 1 or 2).

You should have been entitled to free school meals at some point during the six years prior to your final KS4 year (the year you were aged 15-16). School pupils in the UK are normally entitled to free school meals if their parents or carers are on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits. If you’re not sure, your school will be able to confirm this for you. You may also be entitled if you're paid qualifying benefits directly, instead of through your parent or carer.

You should have lived in public care or as a looked-after child at any stage of your life up to the age of 18, including if you:

• were adopted from care or left care with a Special Guardianship Order before the age of 18
• lived with foster carers or in a residential children's home
• have been looked after under a supervision order; or
• have lived with friends or relatives in formal kinship care under a Local Authority but are not currently recognised by your Local Authority as a care leaver in receipt of statutory support

This doesn't cover time spent in boarding schools, working in care or healthcare settings, or if you're a carer yourself

You should be recognised by your Local Authority as a 'care leaver' or were in the past.

• Have been looked after by a local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14; and
• Were looked after by the local authority at school-leaving age or after that date

This doesn't cover time spent in boarding schools, working in care or healthcare settings, or if you're a carer yourself

You should be responsible for providing unpaid care to someone who has, for example:

• A long-term illness
• A physical or learning disability
• A mental health condition
• An addiction; or
• Temporary care needs following, for example, an accident or operation

Estranged students have no relationship with, or support from, their parent(s) or carer(s). We'll consider you an estranged student if:

• You haven't communicated with your parents for 12 months prior to the start of your degree course and the situation is irreconcilable; or
• Both your biological or adoptive parents are deceased; or
• Your parents can't be traced or it isn't practicable or safe for you to make contact with them

You should be a parent of, or responsible for the care and wellbeing of, a child aged 17 or under. This includes being:

• A biological parent
• A step-parent
• An adoptive or legal parent
• A legally-appointed guardian
• A foster carer; or
• Someone who provides kinship or other parental care to a child or a family member or friend