Information for Care Leavers

If you’ve been in care, we want you to know you’re not on your own at Coventry University. Here’s how we can support you before and during your studies.

Pre-entry Support

As a care leaver, you could benefit from our Fair Access Offer. This is an admissions policy designed to ensure everyone, including care leavers, has fair and equal access to higher education. This means we can adjust grade requirements and make those eligible a contextual offer to make higher education opportunities more accessible to you.

Care Leavers Accommodation Scheme

Our Care Leaver Accommodation Scheme (for students starting in 2025-26 or 2026-27) provides free accommodation for those benefiting from the scheme. Eligible students will be provided 52 weeks of guaranteed accommodation for the duration of their course (up to a maximum of 4 years) at one of our student halls: Bishop Gate, The Cycle Works or Godiva Place. Eligible students will also have access to pastoral care from the Accommodation Student Wellbeing and Halls Teams.

Eligibility criteria include:

You are a home-fee paying student domiciled in the UK
You are 25 years old or under at time of enrolment
Have been under the care of a UK Local Authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14 and been under the care of a UK Local Authority at the age of 16 years and thereafter.

To apply for the Care Leavers Accommodation Scheme, please let us know by indicating on your accommodation application form that you are a Care Leaver.

Please note: University accommodation is operated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and works on a cumulative year-on-year effect.

Student Wellbeing Team

Our friendly Wellbeing Team is here to help whenever you need, whether that’s for guidance and support, or even to share when things are going well. The support you need might look different from someone else’s therefore our team can shape their guidance around you. You’re always welcome to get in touch for a chat or some extra assistance throughout your journey at Coventry University:

Student Success Coaches

You’ll also have access to our Success Coaches. They can connect you with experiences and opportunities and give you practical tips to help you maximise your potential and get the most out university life.

Success coaches | Coventry University

Terms and conditions

CARE LEAVERS ACCOMMODATION SUPPORT SCHEME

Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions apply to Coventry University/CU Coventry students, studying towards a Coventry University course, commencing their study at the start of the Academic Year from September 2025 entry or thereafter.

1. Definitions

Academic Year” means the period of academic study relevant to the student’s course commencement date, which may begin in September, November, January, March, May or July, as applicable.

“Advance Licence Fee Payment” means the payment required to secure accommodation as part of the online acceptance process. For applications submitted for the 2026/27 academic year, this fee is £90. Any change to that fee will apply only to future application cycles and will be clearly communicated before a student submits their accommodation application.

‘Blended Learning’ means an Undergraduate Coventry University course delivered by Coventry University where part of the course is delivered through the traditional face-to-face instruction based at the Coventry University main campus and part of the course is replaced by web-based online learning.

‘Coventry University’ means Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB.

‘Coventry University Course’ means a full-time undergraduate Coventry University course commencing in the Academic Year from September 2025 or thereafter (to include a Blended Learning undergraduate Coventry University course)., studied in its entirety by a Coventry University student at the main Coventry University campus, on a full-time basis, and whom is residing in Coventry University owned accommodation.

‘Care Leaver’ means:

A person aged 25 years or under; and

(ii)Who has been under the care of a UK Local Authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14; and

Who has been under the care of a UK Local Authority at the age of 16 years and thereafter.

‘Leave of Absence’ means the temporary withdrawal of a Student from the University (including for reason of pregnancy or on other medical or personal grounds), such withdrawal being processed by Registry.

‘Scheme’ means the Coventry University Care Leavers Accommodation Support Scheme as published from time to time.

‘Licence Fee’ means the fee for the room for the residential year as determined by the university prior to the residential year and notified to the licensee in the offer of university accommodation.

‘Student’ means an individual registered as a student at Coventry University.

“University Accommodation” means Coventry University owned accommodation, currently The Cycle Works, Godiva Place and Bishop Gate. Coventry University may change the accommodation made available under this scheme only where reasonably necessary due to matters outside its control, health and safety requirements, maintenance issues, or other legitimate operational reasons. Where this happens, eligible students will be offered suitable alternative accommodation of broadly equivalent standard and location, so far as reasonably possible.

2. Coventry University Accommodation Support Scheme

The terms and conditions set out herein (unless otherwise expressly excluded in whole or in part) shall apply each time Coventry University confirms to a Student, who has evidenced Care Leaver status and fully meets the Eligibility Criteria that they are eligible to receive support under this Scheme.
The terms and conditions set out herein shall be subject to review, on a yearly basis, and may be subject to change at any time.

3. Eligibility Criteria

The Student must demonstrate that meet the following eligibility criteria, in order to be considered to receive support under this Scheme;
The Student must be:
A home (UK domiciled) Student;
A Care Leaver (as per the definition of ‘Care Leaver’ and subject to meeting the requirements of Clause 3.1(viii) below);
Registered as a full-time Student of Coventry University/CU Coventry;
Due to study and studies a full-time Coventry University Course;
Due to study and studies the duration of the Coventry University Course, referred to at (iv) above, at the Coventry University main Coventry campus;

(vi)Due to reside and resides in University Accommodation for the duration of the Coventry University Course;

(vii) ; and

In addition, the Student must have:

Provided written evidence, as follows, to directly confirm their Care Leaver status:

A letter from Social Services confirming the Student has been in care prior to taking up their place as a Student at Coventry University (as per the Care Leaver definition);

OR

The Student has been in receipt of Income Support, Housing Benefit or Universal Credit (including the housing element) during the entirety of their post-16 education.
Coventry University can reassess a Student’s eligibility under this Scheme at any time.
A Student who successfully secures support under this Scheme is not permitted to make any further Applications under this Scheme thereafter.

1. Coventry University Accommodation Support Scheme

A Student who successfully secures support under this Scheme will:
Be exempt from paying the Advanced Licence Fee Payment.
Have access to their secured University Accommodation, on a 52 week basis, Licence Fee free only for each year of their Coventry University Course and up to a maximum of 4 years whilst in receipt of support under this Scheme, subject to these terms and conditions and Clause 4.1(iv) below.
University accommodation 2025-26 is operated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and works on a cumulative year on year effect. Contact the Accommodation team for further details.
The Student must, if reasonably required by Coventry University, move to alternative University Accommodation where this is necessary because of an emergency, an unforeseen event, health and safety concerns, essential maintenance works, or other exceptional operational circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control. Any alternative accommodation provided will, so far as reasonably possible, be of a broadly equivalent standard and suitable to the Student’s needs

2. Deferrals, Resits, Repeats, Placements/Sandwich Years

Subject to Clause 5.2 below, the support under this Scheme will remain valid in the event the Student transfers onto a different full-time Coventry University Course, repeats part of, defers a year or undertakes any type of Placement/Sandwich Year linked to their Coventry University Course provided the Student continues to meet the Eligibility Criteria.
A successful Student will only receive support under this Scheme up to a maximum of four years in totality. Any time associated with a deferral, resit, repeat or Placement/Sandwich Year will count towards the four year period.

3. Leave of Absence

Any Leave of Absence taken by, or required to be taken by, a Student will be considered by the University on a case by case basis, and the University will have full discretion to determine whether or not the Student shall continue to receive support under this Scheme and when such support shall be withdrawn.
If the Student fails to return to the University after such Leave of Absence then the provisions of Clause 8 will apply.

4. Investigations and Proceedings

Subject to Clause 9.1.4 below, the receipt of support under this Scheme by a Student who is a subject of any investigation (to include criminal), form of proceedings (to include disciplinary or fitness to study proceedings) will be considered by the University on a case by case basis, and the University will have full discretion to determine whether or not the Student shall continue to receive support under this Scheme or and when such support shall be withdrawn.

5. Data Protection

The University will process the Student’s personal data collected in connection with this Scheme in accordance with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and as further explained in the Coventry University Student Privacy Notice.

The University will process the Student’s personal data for the following purposes:

(a) to administer the Scheme, including assessing the Student’s eligibility, allocating support under the Scheme, and making any bursary or related payments, where such processing is necessary for the performance of this Scheme or to take steps at the Student’s request before entering into it; and

(b) to monitor, review and evaluate the operation and impact of the Scheme, including contacting the Student during the Scheme and, where reasonably necessary, during their studies at Coventry University, where such processing is necessary for the performance of the University’s tasks in the public interest, including promoting equality of opportunity and widening participation.

Further details about how the University and, where applicable, other members of the Coventry University group process personal data, including the categories of data processed, lawful bases relied upon, recipients, retention periods and the Student’s rights, are set out in the Coventry University Student Privacy Notice, which will be made available to the Student at the point their personal data is collected.

6. Termination

Subject to Clauses 5, 6 and 7 above, support under this Scheme will be withdrawn immediately in any of the following circumstances:
the Student leaves the University voluntarily;
the Student is removed from University Accommodation and/or their licence to occupy is terminated;
the Student permanently leaves the University due to illness;
the Student is required to withdraw from the University or is withdrawn from the University pursuant to an investigation (including criminal), disciplinary, fitness to study proceedings or for any other reason.
The Student no longer meets the Eligibility Criteria.

7. Miscellaneous

A Student in receipt of support under this Scheme may also be eligible to apply for, and receive, other support, scholarships or bursaries offered by the University from time to time, subject to meeting the relevant eligibility criteria for such support.
Any dispute or complaint arising in connection with this Scheme should in the first instance be addressed in writing in accordance with the Coventry University Licence to Occupy.
Students receiving support under the Scheme must comply with the Coventry University’s Licence to Occupy, General Student Contract and the Regulations, Policies and Procedures contained therein.