New research shows that students estranged from their parents and those with experiences of children’s social care need more money
New research shows that students estranged from their parents and those with experiences of children’s social care need more money and a wider eligibility criteria to access support rather than additional advice.
The University of Portsmouth study focused on care experienced university students and those who study without the support of parents. It found that while many universities are trying to provide the support needed – it is far from adequate.
With around 3,000 students registered as estranged entering higher education every year, and nearly 9,000 UCAS applicants sharing details about a care background in 2022, this is a pressing issue.
Researchers highlighted mental health and wellbeing support for care experienced and estranged students as an area needing improvement. They found provision of counselling services by universities was too limited and often inappropriate. For example, students were offered ‘one size fits all’ 6-10 sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy, which was not appropriate for longer lasting or more profound diagnoses related to trauma. This approach often left students feeling distressed and isolated.
The study also showed that estranged students were regularly subjected to subtle and not-so-subtle forms of societal and structural stigma within and outside the classroom, which significantly undermined their sense of belonging.
These students are sometimes viewed through a lens of trauma and struggle, which hides the fact they bring amazing qualities, skills and insight to our institutions and classrooms. More education and training is needed.
Dr Rosa Marvell, Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Portsmouth, explained: “We found that circumstances often made care experienced and estranged students incredibly tenacious and passionate about education. However, there is a pervasive stigma around care experience and being estranged that is difficult to escape, and the ways in which universities structure their support offer and provision is not yet delivering what is needed.
“These students are sometimes viewed through a lens of trauma and struggle, which hides the fact they bring amazing qualities, skills and insight to our institutions and classrooms. More education and training is needed.”
More funding and less advice was another conclusion of the research. Care experienced and estranged students can have highly sophisticated financial literacy, but are not afforded workable budgets, even with the bursaries awarded to them. Some students who fall outside the bursary criteria are even more precarious, so the research recommends more funding is needed – not budget advice.
Dr Marvell added: “With the current cost of living crisis and new austerity budget, I am very concerned about how care experienced and estranged students will manage. Some universities provide bursaries, and if a student meets the very specific criteria to be a 'care leaver', the Local Authority may also provide money. However, even for those that do receive these bursaries, it's barely enough to cover living costs, let alone so-called 'extras'. There is then a subset of students who do not meet the eligibility criteria who are forced into really precarious economic positions and will really struggle financially.
“Some universities may signpost towards budgeting advice, but our research suggests what is needed is more money and more generous eligibility criteria, rather than yet more advice.”
The University of Portsmouth Student Finance Centre has recently been awarded for ‘best practice and innovation in support for mental health and emotional wellbeing aimed at estranged students’ by the Stand Alone Pledge Awards.
More information about the University of Portsmouth’s support for estranged students can be found here.