Edinburgh Napier University

The programme, which offers free university accommodation to students fitting the criteria, has gone national and a total of 28 universities including Edinburgh Napier will now be awarding the Unite Foundation scholarship.

The closing date for this year’s applications is May 31.

Applicants must be under 25, a care-leaver or estranged from their family, and have a place at a participating university starting this September. 

However, young people who are eligible are urged to act now for a chance to win one of the 70 scholarships on offer for the 2017/18 academic year. 

Helen Arber, Manager of the Unite Foundation said: “Too few young people estranged from their families or leaving care realise their full potential at university. We want to change that. A Unite Foundation Scholarship means a rent-free university home for three years of degree studies. It also brings other benefits, such as work placements and activities that support successful study and future careers.” 

Dr Katrina Castle, Head of Widening Access at Edinburgh Napier University, offering the scholarship for the first time, said: “We are delighted to have become a Unite Foundation partner university. A Unite Foundation scholarship will undoubtedly help those students who lack family support and who, we know, face some very considerable challenges. We are very much looking forward to working with the growing network of universities involved to level the playing field.”

Paige, a student completely estranged from her family who won the scholarship this time last year, said of her experience: “The scholarship meant I could use the money that I would have used for rent to buy equipment to help me improve my skills.”

If you, or someone you know, would benefit from a Unite Foundation accommodation scholarship, please urge them to apply as soon as possible. Download the application via the Unite Foundation website.